Model Comparison

GLM-5 vs MiniMax M2Which is better in 2026?

GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. MiniMax M2 is 3.0x cheaper per token.

Verdict: GLM-5 vs MiniMax M2 — which is better?

GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) and MiniMax M2 (by MiniMax) 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.

GLM-5 outperforms in 2 benchmarks (BrowseComp, SWE-Bench Verified), while MiniMax M2 is better at 0 benchmarks. GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

On price, MiniMax M2 is roughly 3.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.

MiniMax M2 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.

Choose GLM-5 if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026

Choose MiniMax M2 if…

  • cost matters — it's about 3.0x cheaper per token
  • you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

2 benchmarks

GLM-5 outperforms in 2 benchmarks (BrowseComp, SWE-Bench Verified), while MiniMax M2 is better at 0 benchmarks.

GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Sun Jul 26 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Pricing Analysis

Price comparison per million tokens

MiniMax M2 costs less

For input processing, GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 3.3x more expensive than MiniMax M2 ($0.30/1M tokens).

For output processing, GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens) is 2.7x more expensive than MiniMax M2 ($1.20/1M tokens).

In conclusion, GLM-5 is more expensive than MiniMax M2.*

* 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
MiniMax
MiniMax M2
Input tokens$0.30
Output tokens$1.20
Best providerMiniMax
Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue→

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

514.0B diff

GLM-5 has 514.0B more parameters than MiniMax M2, making it 223.5% larger.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
744.0Bparameters
MiniMax
MiniMax M2
230.0Bparameters
744.0B
GLM-5
230.0B
MiniMax M2

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

MiniMax M2 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5's 200,000 tokens. MiniMax M2 can generate longer responses up to 1,000,000 tokens, while GLM-5 is limited to 128,000 tokens.

Zhipu AI
GLM-5
Input200,000 tokens
Output128,000 tokens
MiniMax
MiniMax M2
Input1,000,000 tokens
Output1,000,000 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

MiniMax M2

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

GLM-5 was released on 2026-02-11, while MiniMax M2 was released on 2025-10-27.

GLM-5 is 4 months newer than MiniMax M2.

GLM-5

Feb 11, 2026

5 months ago

3mo newer
MiniMax M2

Oct 27, 2025

9 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. MiniMax M2 is available from MiniMax, 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

MiniMax M2

minimax logo
MiniMax
Input Price:Input: $0.30/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.20/1M
novita logo
Novita
Input Price:Input: $0.30/1MOutput Price:Output: $1.20/1M
* Prices shown are per million tokens

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

Zhipu AI
Higher BrowseComp score (75.9% vs 44.0%)
Higher SWE-Bench Verified score (77.8% vs 69.4%)
MiniMax
Larger context window (1,000,000 tokens)
Less expensive input tokens
Less expensive output tokens

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against GLM-5 and MiniMax M2 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

GLM-5
✓ Preferred
MiniMax M2
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Zhipu AI
GLM-5
MiniMax
MiniMax M2

FAQ

Common questions about GLM-5 vs MiniMax M2.

Which is better, GLM-5 or MiniMax M2?

GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GLM-5 is made by Zhipu AI and MiniMax M2 is made by MiniMax. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does GLM-5 compare to MiniMax M2 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%. MiniMax M2 scores Tau2 Telecom: 87.0%, LiveCodeBench: 83.0%, MMLU-Pro: 82.0%, AIME 2025: 78.0%, GPQA: 78.0%.

Is GLM-5 cheaper than MiniMax M2?

MiniMax M2 is 3.3x cheaper for input tokens. GLM-5 costs $1.00/M input and $3.20/M output via friendli. MiniMax M2 costs $0.30/M input and $1.20/M output via minimax.

What are the context window sizes for GLM-5 and MiniMax M2?

GLM-5 supports 200K tokens and MiniMax M2 supports 1.0M 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 MiniMax M2?

Key differences include context window (200K vs 1.0M), input pricing ($1.00 vs $0.30/M). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes GLM-5 and MiniMax M2?

GLM-5 is developed by Zhipu AI and MiniMax M2 is developed by MiniMax.

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