GLM-5 vs GPT-5.3 Chat
GLM-5 and GPT-5.3 Chat are closely matched at 37.1 and 29.4 on the LLM Stats Score. GLM-5 is 3.1x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5 and GPT-5.3 Chat are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 37.1 and 29.4.
On price, GLM-5 is roughly 3.1x 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.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GLM-5
- cost matters — it's about 3.1x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 200,000 token context window
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5.3 Chat
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2026
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Individual benchmarks
5 reported for GLM-5 · 2 for GPT-5.3 Chat
GLM-5 and GPT-5.3 Chatdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 1.8x cheaper than GPT-5.3 Chat ($1.75/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 4.4x cheaper than GPT-5.3 Chat ($14.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.3 Chat 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-5.3 Chat's 128,000 tokens. GLM-5 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while GPT-5.3 Chat is limited to 16,384 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
GPT-5.3 Chat supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.
GPT-5.3 Chat can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5
GPT-5.3 Chat
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while GPT-5.3 Chat 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-5.3 Chat was released on 2026-03-04.
GPT-5.3 Chat is 1 month newer than GLM-5.
Feb 11, 2026
6 months ago
Mar 4, 2026
6 months ago
3w newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-5.3 Chat has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2025-08-31, while GLM-5's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-5.3 Chat's training data extends to 2025-08-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-5's cutoff date.
—
Aug 2025
Provider Availability
GLM-5 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI. GPT-5.3 Chat is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5
GPT-5.3 Chat
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5 and GPT-5.3 Chat side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5 vs GPT-5.3 Chat.