GLM-5.3 vs Grok 4.6
GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GLM-5.3 is 1.4x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · xAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5.3 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (DeepSWE 1.1, GDPval-AA, Terminal-Bench 3.0), while Grok 4.6 is better at 0 benchmarks. GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, GLM-5.3 is roughly 1.4x 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
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 3 of 3 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 1.4x 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 Grok 4.6
- you want predictable pricing at $2.00/M input and $6.00/M output
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5.3 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (DeepSWE 1.1, GDPval-AA, Terminal-Bench 3.0), while Grok 4.6 is better at 0 benchmarks.
GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
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 1.4x cheaper than Grok 4.6 ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5.3 ($4.40/1M tokens) is 1.4x cheaper than Grok 4.6 ($6.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok 4.6 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 Grok 4.6's 500,000 tokens. Only GLM-5.3 specifies output context (128,000 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok 4.6 supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-5.3 does not.
Grok 4.6 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-5.3
Grok 4.6
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14, while Grok 4.6 was released on 2026-08-12.
GLM-5.3 is 0 month newer than Grok 4.6.
Aug 14, 2026
1 weeks ago
2d newerAug 12, 2026
1 weeks ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok 4.6 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-02-01, while GLM-5.3's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok 4.6's training data extends to 2026-02-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-5.3's cutoff date.
—
Feb 2026
Provider Availability
GLM-5.3 is available from ZAI. Grok 4.6 is available from xAI.
GLM-5.3
Grok 4.6
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5.3 and Grok 4.6 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5.3 vs Grok 4.6.