GLM-5.3 vs GPT-5.1 Codex
Comparing GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.1 Codex across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Zhipu AI · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.1 Codex trade strengths across price, capabilities, and technical limits. The better choice depends on the workload.
On price, GLM-5.3 is roughly 1.6x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GLM-5.3 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-5.3
- cost matters — it's about 1.6x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
Choose GPT-5.1 Codex
- you want predictable pricing at $1.25/M input and $10.00/M output
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.1 Codexdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5.3 ($1.40/1M tokens) is 1.1x more expensive than GPT-5.1 Codex ($1.25/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5.3 ($4.40/1M tokens) is 2.3x cheaper than GPT-5.1 Codex ($10.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.1 Codex is more expensive than GLM-5.3.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-5.3 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to GPT-5.1 Codex's 400,000 tokens. Both models can generate responses up to 128,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-5.1 Codex supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5.3 does not.
GPT-5.1 Codex can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5.3
GPT-5.1 Codex
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14, while GPT-5.1 Codex was released on 2025-11-19.
GLM-5.3 is 9 months newer than GPT-5.1 Codex.
Aug 14, 2026
1 weeks ago
8mo newerNov 19, 2025
9 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-5.1 Codex has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-09-30, while GLM-5.3's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-5.1 Codex's training data extends to 2024-09-30, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-5.3's cutoff date.
—
Sep 2024
Provider Availability
GLM-5.3 is available from ZAI. GPT-5.1 Codex is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5.3
GPT-5.1 Codex
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.1 Codex side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5.3 vs GPT-5.1 Codex.