Model Comparison
GLM-5 vs GPT-4oWhich is better in 2026?
GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GLM-5 is 2.8x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GLM-5 vs GPT-4o — which is better?
GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and GPT-4o (by OpenAI) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
GLM-5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (SWE-Bench Verified), while GPT-4o is better at 0 benchmarks. GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, GLM-5 is roughly 2.8x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GLM-5 also accepts a larger context window (200,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GLM-5 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 2.8x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 200,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-4o if…
- you want predictable pricing at $2.50/M input and $10.00/M output
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (SWE-Bench Verified), while GPT-4o is better at 0 benchmarks.
GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 2.5x cheaper than GPT-4o ($2.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 3.1x cheaper than GPT-4o ($10.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-4o is more expensive than GLM-5.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-5 accepts 200,000 input tokens compared to GPT-4o's 128,000 tokens. GLM-5 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while GPT-4o is limited to 16,384 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-4o supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.
GPT-4o can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5
GPT-4o
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while GPT-4o uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-5 was released on 2026-02-11, while GPT-4o was released on 2024-08-06.
GLM-5 is 18 months newer than GPT-4o.
Feb 11, 2026
3 months ago
1.5yr newerAug 6, 2024
1.8 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
GLM-5 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI. GPT-4o is available from Azure, OpenAI.
GLM-5
GPT-4o
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GLM-5
View detailsZhipu AI
GPT-4o
View detailsOpenAI
Detailed Comparison
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5 vs GPT-4o.