Model Comparison
GLM-5 vs Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent BetaWhich is better in 2026?
Comparing GLM-5 and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Verdict: GLM-5 vs Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta — which is better?
GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta (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 1.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta also accepts a larger context window (2,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GLM-5 if…
- cost matters — it's about 1.9x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta if…
- you process long inputs — it offers a 2,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5 and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Betadon'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 2.0x cheaper than Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 1.9x cheaper than Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta ($6.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta is more expensive than GLM-5.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta accepts 2,000,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5's 200,000 tokens. GLM-5 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta is limited to 30,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5 does not.
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5 is licensed under MIT, while Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta 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 Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta was released on 2026-03-09.
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta is 1 month newer than GLM-5.
Feb 11, 2026
4 months ago
Mar 9, 2026
3 months ago
3w newerKnowledge 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. Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta is available from xAI.
GLM-5
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GLM-5
View detailsZhipu AI
Detailed Comparison
| Feature |
|---|
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5 vs Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta.