GLM-5.3 vs GPT-5.6 Terra
GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.6 Terra are closely matched at 53.4 and 51.0 on the LLM Stats Score. GLM-5.3 is 2.4x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · OpenAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.6 Terra are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 53.4 and 51.0.
In the 8 individual benchmarks reported for both models, GLM-5.3 wins 5; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
On price, GLM-5.3 is roughly 2.4x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.6 Terra also accepts a larger context window (1,050,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GLM-5.3
- your work emphasizes reasoning — it leads those capability indexes
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 5 of 8 exact shared results
- cost matters — it's about 2.4x cheaper per token
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GPT-5.6 Terra
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,050,000 token context window
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
17 reported for GLM-5.3 · 45 for GPT-5.6 Terra
GLM-5.3 outperforms in 5 benchmarks (AutomationBench, ExploitBench, Terminal-Bench 2.1, Terminal-Bench 4.0, Toolathlon), while GPT-5.6 Terra is better at 3 benchmarks (Agents' Last Exam, DeepSWE 1.1, ExploitGym).
GLM-5.3 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-5.3 ($1.20/1M tokens) is 1.7x cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5.3 ($4.00/1M tokens) is 3.0x cheaper than GPT-5.6 Terra ($12.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-5.6 Terra 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
GPT-5.6 Terra accepts 1,050,000 input tokens compared to GLM-5.3's 1,048,576 tokens. GLM-5.3 can generate longer responses up to 1,048,576 tokens, while GPT-5.6 Terra is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
GPT-5.6 Terra supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5.3 does not.
GPT-5.6 Terra can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5.3
GPT-5.6 Terra
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-5.3 is licensed under GLM-5.3 License, while GPT-5.6 Terra uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
GLM-5.3 License
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14, while GPT-5.6 Terra was released on 2026-07-09.
GLM-5.3 is 1 month newer than GPT-5.6 Terra.
Aug 14, 2026
3 weeks ago
1mo newerJul 9, 2026
2 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-5.6 Terra has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-02-16, while GLM-5.3's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-5.6 Terra's training data extends to 2026-02-16, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-5.3's cutoff date.
—
Feb 2026
Provider Availability
GLM-5.3 is available from DeepInfra, FriendliAI, Novita, ZAI. GPT-5.6 Terra is available from OpenAI.
GLM-5.3
GPT-5.6 Terra
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5.3 and GPT-5.6 Terra side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5.3 vs GPT-5.6 Terra.