GLM-5.1 vs GPT-5.4
GPT-5.4 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. GLM-5.1 is 2.6x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5.1 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (Humanity's Last Exam, MCP Atlas, SWE-Bench Pro), while GPT-5.4 is better at 6 benchmarks (BrowseComp, FrontierSWE, GPQA, LiveBench, Terminal-Bench 2.0, Toolathlon). GPT-5.4 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
On price, GLM-5.1 is roughly 2.6x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.4 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GLM-5.1
- cost matters — it's about 2.6x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5.4
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 6 of 9 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5.1 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (Humanity's Last Exam, MCP Atlas, SWE-Bench Pro), while GPT-5.4 is better at 6 benchmarks (BrowseComp, FrontierSWE, GPQA, LiveBench, Terminal-Bench 2.0, Toolathlon).
GPT-5.4 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5.1 ($1.40/1M tokens) is 1.8x cheaper than GPT-5.4 ($2.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5.1 ($4.40/1M tokens) is 3.4x cheaper than GPT-5.4 ($15.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.4 is more expensive than GLM-5.1.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.4 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5.1's 200,000 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-5.4 supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5.1 does not.
GPT-5.4 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5.1
GPT-5.4
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5.1 is licensed under MIT, while GPT-5.4 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-5.1 was released on 2026-04-07, while GPT-5.4 was released on 2026-03-05.
GLM-5.1 is 1 month newer than GPT-5.4.
Apr 7, 2026
4 months ago
1mo newerMar 5, 2026
5 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
GLM-5.1 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI. GPT-5.4 is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5.1
GPT-5.4
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5.1 and GPT-5.4 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5.1 vs GPT-5.4.