Model Comparison
GLM-5 vs GPT-5 miniWhich is better in 2026?
Comparing GLM-5 and GPT-5 mini across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Verdict: GLM-5 vs GPT-5 mini — which is better?
GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and GPT-5 mini (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.
On price, GPT-5 mini is roughly 2.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5 mini also accepts a larger context window (400,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GLM-5 if…
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5 mini if…
- cost matters — it's about 2.3x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 400,000 token context window
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5 and GPT-5 mini don't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 4.0x more expensive than GPT-5 mini ($0.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 1.6x more expensive than GPT-5 mini ($2.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5 is more expensive than GPT-5 mini.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5 mini accepts 400,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5's 200,000 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-5 mini supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.
GPT-5 mini can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5
GPT-5 mini
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while GPT-5 mini 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-5 mini was released on 2025-08-07.
GLM-5 is 6 months newer than GPT-5 mini.
Feb 11, 2026
3 months ago
6mo newerAug 7, 2025
10 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-5 mini has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-30, while GLM-5's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-5 mini's training data extends to 2024-05-30, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-5's cutoff date.
—
May 2024
Provider Availability
GLM-5 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI. GPT-5 mini is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5
GPT-5 mini
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GLM-5
View detailsZhipu AI
GPT-5 mini
View detailsOpenAI
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5 vs GPT-5 mini.