Model Comparison
GLM-5 vs GPT-5.1 Codex MiniWhich is better in 2026?
Comparing GLM-5 and GPT-5.1 Codex Mini across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Verdict: GLM-5 vs GPT-5.1 Codex Mini — which is better?
GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and GPT-5.1 Codex 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-5.1 Codex Mini is roughly 2.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.1 Codex 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-5.1 Codex 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-5.1 Codex Minidon'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-5.1 Codex Mini ($0.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 1.6x more expensive than GPT-5.1 Codex Mini ($2.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5 is more expensive than GPT-5.1 Codex Mini.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.1 Codex 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-5.1 Codex Mini supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.
GPT-5.1 Codex Mini can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5
GPT-5.1 Codex Mini
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while GPT-5.1 Codex 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-5.1 Codex Mini was released on 2025-11-12.
GLM-5 is 3 months newer than GPT-5.1 Codex Mini.
Feb 11, 2026
4 months ago
3mo newerNov 12, 2025
7 months 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-5.1 Codex Mini is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5
GPT-5.1 Codex Mini
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GLM-5
View detailsZhipu AI
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5 and GPT-5.1 Codex Mini side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5 vs GPT-5.1 Codex Mini.