Model Comparison

GLM-5 vs Grok-4.1 ThinkingWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing GLM-5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: GLM-5 vs Grok-4.1 Thinking — which is better?

GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and Grok-4.1 Thinking (by xAI) 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, GLM-5 is roughly 3.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

Grok-4.1 Thinking also accepts a larger context window (256,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose GLM-5 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 3.9x cheaper per token
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune

Choose Grok-4.1 Thinking if…

  • you process long inputs — it offers a 256,000 token context window
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

GLM-5 and Grok-4.1 Thinkingdon'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

GLM-5 costs less

For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 3.0x cheaper than Grok-4.1 Thinking ($3.00/1M tokens).

For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 4.7x cheaper than Grok-4.1 Thinking ($15.00/1M tokens).

In conclusion, Grok-4.1 Thinking is more expensive than GLM-5.*

* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens

Lowest available price from all providers
Wed Jun 24 2026 • llm-stats.com
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input tokens$1.00
Output tokens$3.20
Best providerFriendliAI
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking
Input tokens$3.00
Output tokens$15.00
Best providerxAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Grok-4.1 Thinking accepts 256,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5's 200,000 tokens. GLM-5 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Grok-4.1 Thinking is limited to 8,000 tokens.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input200,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking
Input256,000 tokens
Output8,000 tokens
Wed Jun 24 2026 • llm-stats.com

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Grok-4.1 Thinking supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.

Grok-4.1 Thinking can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.

GLM-5

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Grok-4.1 Thinking

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while Grok-4.1 Thinking uses a proprietary license.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

GLM-5

MIT

Open weights

Grok-4.1 Thinking

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GLM-5 was released on 2026-02-11, while Grok-4.1 Thinking was released on 2025-11-17.

GLM-5 is 3 months newer than Grok-4.1 Thinking.

GLM-5

Feb 11, 2026

4 months ago

2mo newer
Grok-4.1 Thinking

Nov 17, 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.

No cutoff dates available

Provider Availability

GLM-5 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI. Grok-4.1 Thinking is available from xAI.

GLM-5

friendli logo
FriendliAI
Input Price:Input: $1.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $3.20/1M
z logo
Unknown Organization
Input Price:Input: $1.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $3.20/1M

Grok-4.1 Thinking

xai logo
xAI
Input Price:Input: $3.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $15.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

Zhipu AI
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Has open weights
xAI
Larger context window (256,000 tokens)
Supports multimodal inputs

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
xAI
Grok-4.1 Thinking

FAQ

Common questions about GLM-5 vs Grok-4.1 Thinking.

Which is better, GLM-5 or Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GLM-5 (Zhipu AI) and Grok-4.1 Thinking (xAI) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does GLM-5 compare to Grok-4.1 Thinking in benchmarks?

GLM-5 scores t2-bench: 89.7%, SWE-Bench Verified: 77.8%, BrowseComp: 75.9%, MCP Atlas: 67.8%, Terminal-Bench 2.0: 56.2%. Grok-4.1 Thinking scores Creative Writing v3: 86.1%, WMDP: 84.0%, EQ-Bench: 79.3%, ProtocolQA: 79.0%, LMArena Text Leaderboard: 74.2%.

Is GLM-5 cheaper than Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GLM-5 is 3.0x cheaper for input tokens. GLM-5 costs $1.00/M input and $3.20/M output via friendli. Grok-4.1 Thinking costs $3.00/M input and $15.00/M output via xai.

What are the context window sizes for GLM-5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GLM-5 supports 200K tokens and Grok-4.1 Thinking supports 256K tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

What are the main differences between GLM-5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

Key differences include context window (200K vs 256K), input pricing ($1.00 vs $3.00/M), multimodal support (no vs yes), licensing (MIT vs Proprietary). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes GLM-5 and Grok-4.1 Thinking?

GLM-5 is developed by Zhipu AI and Grok-4.1 Thinking is developed by xAI.

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