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

No common benchmarks found

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

GLM-5 costs less

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Thu Jun 18 2026 • llm-stats.com
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input tokens$1.00
Output tokens$3.20
Best providerFriendliAI
xAI
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta
Input tokens$2.00
Output tokens$6.00
Best providerxAI
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue

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.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input200,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
xAI
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta
Input2,000,000 tokens
Output30,000 tokens
Thu Jun 18 2026 • llm-stats.com

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

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta

Text
Images
Audio
Video

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.

GLM-5

MIT

Open weights

Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta

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.

GLM-5

Feb 11, 2026

4 months ago

Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta

Mar 9, 2026

3 months ago

3w newer

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-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta 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-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta

xai logo
xAI
Input Price:Input: $2.00/1MOutput Price:Output: $6.00/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion

Key Takeaways

Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens
Has open weights
Larger context window (2,000,000 tokens)
Supports multimodal inputs

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
xAI
Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta

FAQ

Common questions about GLM-5 vs Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta.

Which is better, GLM-5 or Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta?

GLM-5 (Zhipu AI) and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta (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-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta 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%.

Is GLM-5 cheaper than Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta?

GLM-5 is 2.0x cheaper for input tokens. GLM-5 costs $1.00/M input and $3.20/M output via friendli. Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta costs $2.00/M input and $6.00/M output via xai.

What are the context window sizes for GLM-5 and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta?

GLM-5 supports 200K tokens and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta supports 2.0M 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-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta?

Key differences include context window (200K vs 2.0M), input pricing ($1.00 vs $2.00/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-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta?

GLM-5 is developed by Zhipu AI and Grok-4.20 Multi-Agent Beta is developed by xAI.