GLM-5.3 vs Grok Code Fast 1
Comparing GLM-5.3 and Grok Code Fast 1 across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.
Zhipu AI · xAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-5.3 and Grok Code Fast 1 trade strengths across price, capabilities, and technical limits. The better choice depends on the workload.
On price, Grok Code Fast 1 is roughly 4.1x 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 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 Code Fast 1
- cost matters — it's about 4.1x cheaper per token
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GLM-5.3 and Grok Code Fast 1don'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 7.0x more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1 ($0.20/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-5.3 ($4.40/1M tokens) is 2.9x more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1 ($1.50/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5.3 is more expensive than Grok Code Fast 1.*
* 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 Code Fast 1's 256,000 tokens. GLM-5.3 can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while Grok Code Fast 1 is limited to 10,000 tokens.
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14, while Grok Code Fast 1 was released on 2025-08-28.
GLM-5.3 is 12 months newer than Grok Code Fast 1.
Aug 14, 2026
1 weeks ago
11mo newerAug 28, 2025
12 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-5.3 is available from ZAI. Grok Code Fast 1 is available from xAI.
GLM-5.3
Grok Code Fast 1
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-5.3 and Grok Code Fast 1 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-5.3 vs Grok Code Fast 1.