Model Comparison

GLM-5 vs Kimi K2 InstructWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing GLM-5 and Kimi K2 Instruct across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: GLM-5 vs Kimi K2 Instruct — which is better?

GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and Kimi K2 Instruct (by Moonshot AI) 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, Kimi K2 Instruct is roughly 3.1x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

Choose GLM-5 if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026

Choose Kimi K2 Instruct if…

  • cost matters — it's about 3.1x cheaper per token

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

GLM-5 and Kimi K2 Instructdon'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

Kimi K2 Instruct costs less

For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 2.0x more expensive than Kimi K2 Instruct ($0.50/1M tokens).

For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 6.4x more expensive than Kimi K2 Instruct ($0.50/1M tokens).

In conclusion, GLM-5 is more expensive than Kimi K2 Instruct.*

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

Lowest available price from all providers
Sun Jul 26 2026 • llm-stats.com
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input tokens$1.00
Output tokens$3.20
Best providerFriendliAI
Moonshot AI
Kimi K2 Instruct
Input tokens$0.50
Output tokens$0.50
Best providerFireworks
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

256.0B diff

Kimi K2 Instruct has 256.0B more parameters than GLM-5, making it 34.4% larger.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
744.0Bparameters
Moonshot AI
Kimi K2 Instruct
1.0Tparameters
744.0B
GLM-5
1000.0B
Kimi K2 Instruct

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Both models have the same input context window of 200,000 tokens. Kimi K2 Instruct can generate longer responses up to 200,000 tokens, while GLM-5 is limited to 128,000 tokens.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input200,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
Moonshot AI
Kimi K2 Instruct
Input200,000 tokens
Output200,000 tokens
Sun Jul 26 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under MIT.

Both models share the same licensing terms, providing consistent usage rights.

GLM-5

MIT

Open weights

Kimi K2 Instruct

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GLM-5 was released on 2026-02-11, while Kimi K2 Instruct was released on 2025-07-11.

GLM-5 is 7 months newer than Kimi K2 Instruct.

GLM-5

Feb 11, 2026

5 months ago

7mo newer
Kimi K2 Instruct

Jul 11, 2025

1.0 years 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. Kimi K2 Instruct is available from Fireworks, Novita.

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

Kimi K2 Instruct

fireworks logo
Fireworks
Input Price:Input: $0.50/1MOutput Price:Output: $0.50/1M
novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.57/1MOutput Price:Output: $2.30/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

Zhipu AI

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

Moonshot AI
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against GLM-5 and Kimi K2 Instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

GLM-5
✓ Preferred
Kimi K2 Instruct
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Moonshot AI
Kimi K2 Instruct

FAQ

Common questions about GLM-5 vs Kimi K2 Instruct.

Which is better, GLM-5 or Kimi K2 Instruct?

GLM-5 (Zhipu AI) and Kimi K2 Instruct (Moonshot AI) 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 Kimi K2 Instruct 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%. Kimi K2 Instruct scores MATH-500: 97.4%, GSM8k: 97.3%, CBNSL: 95.6%, HumanEval: 93.3%, MMLU-Redux: 92.7%.

Is GLM-5 cheaper than Kimi K2 Instruct?

Kimi K2 Instruct is 2.0x cheaper for input tokens. GLM-5 costs $1.00/M input and $3.20/M output via friendli. Kimi K2 Instruct costs $0.50/M input and $0.50/M output via fireworks.

What are the context window sizes for GLM-5 and Kimi K2 Instruct?

GLM-5 supports 200K tokens and Kimi K2 Instruct supports 200K 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 Kimi K2 Instruct?

Key differences include input pricing ($1.00 vs $0.50/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes GLM-5 and Kimi K2 Instruct?

GLM-5 is developed by Zhipu AI and Kimi K2 Instruct is developed by Moonshot AI.

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