Zhipu AI GLM Coding Plan Pricing Guide (2026)
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A complete breakdown of Zhipu AI GLM Coding Plan tiers, per-token API pricing, free models, and how they compare to alternatives in 2026.
If you are comparing Zhipu AI GLM pricing before committing to a subscription, this guide outlines the Coding Plan tiers, per-token API costs for every GLM model, free options, and how the math translates to real coding workflows.
Important context: The promotional $3/month pricing was removed on February 11, 2026. Current pricing starts at ~$10/month.
Are There Free GLM Models?
Yes. Zhipu offers two models at zero cost to all registered users:
- GLM-4.7-Flash: Free, 203K context, suitable for simple completions and formatting tasks.
- GLM-4.5-Flash: Free, general-purpose lightweight model.
These models are genuinely free rather than trial-limited. You sign up, obtain an API key, and start using them in any compatible tool. For basic code completion, formatting, and quick lookups, the free Flash models are sufficient to handle routine work.
However, Flash models are optimized for speed over depth. Complex debugging, multi-file refactors, and agentic workflows require premium models.
GLM Coding Plan Tiers
The Coding Plan is a subscription service that bundles premium model access for coding tools. All plans are billed quarterly (not monthly).
| Plan | Quarterly Price | Monthly Equivalent | Models | Usage Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $30/quarter ($27 Q2) | ~$10/mo | GLM-5.1, GLM-5-Turbo, GLM-4.7, GLM-4.6, GLM-4.5-Air | ~3x Claude Pro usage |
| Pro | $90/quarter ($81 Q2) | ~$30/mo | Everything in Lite + GLM-5 | ~5x Lite usage |
| Max | $240/quarter ($216 Q2) | ~$80/mo | Everything in Pro | ~4x Pro usage |
All tiers include free Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools: Vision Analysis, Web Search, Web Reader, and Zread.
Lite (~$10/mo): The Entry Point
Lite gives you access to GLM-5.1, GLM-5-Turbo, GLM-4.7, GLM-4.6, and GLM-4.5-Air. Usage is roughly 3x what you would get from a Claude Pro subscription, measured in equivalent prompt volume.
For solo developers running one or two coding sessions per day, Lite covers the basics. You get strong models (GLM-4.7 scores 73.8% on SWE-bench) without paying for the flagship GLM-5.
Pro (~$30/mo): Unlocks GLM-5
Pro is where you get access to GLM-5, Zhipu's most capable model. Usage scales to roughly 5x the Lite tier. If you run agentic workflows, complex multi-file refactors, or need the strongest reasoning available from Zhipu AI, Pro is the tier that fits.
At a $30/month equivalent, Pro sits between Claude Pro ($20/mo) and Cursor Pro ($20/mo) in terms of cost, but you obtain API access that you can route through any compatible tool.
Max (~$80/mo): Volume and Speed
Max gives you 4x the Pro tier's usage with the same model access. This is built for teams, heavy agentic usage, or developers who hit Pro limits regularly. At an $80/month equivalent, it competes with Claude Team ($30/seat/mo) on a per-developer basis but offers significantly more throughput.
Per-Token API Pricing (All Models)
If you use the API directly instead of (or alongside) the Coding Plan, here is what each model costs per million tokens:
Premium Models
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-5.1 | $1.40 | $4.40 | 203K |
| GLM-5 | $1.00 | $3.20 | 203K |
| GLM-5-Turbo | $1.20 | $4.00 | 203K |
| GLM-4.5-X | $2.20 | $8.90 | - |
Mid-Tier Models
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-4.7 | $0.60 | $2.20 | 205K |
| GLM-4.6 | $0.60 | $2.20 | 205K |
| GLM-4.5 | $0.60 | $2.20 | 131K |
| GLM-4.5-AirX | $1.10 | $4.50 | - |
Budget and Free Models
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLM-4.5-Air | $0.20 | $1.10 | 131K |
| GLM-4.7-FlashX | $0.07 | $0.40 | - |
| GLM-4-32B | $0.10 | $0.10 | 128K |
| GLM-4.7-Flash | Free | Free | 203K |
| GLM-4.5-Flash | Free | Free | - |
Vision Models
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) |
|---|---|---|
| GLM-5V-Turbo | $1.20 | $4.00 |
| GLM-4.6V | $0.30 | $0.90 |
| GLM-4.6V-Flash | Free | Free |
| GLM-OCR | $0.03 | $0.03 |
How GLM Pricing Compares
Below is how Zhipu AI stacks up against the major alternatives for coding-focused API access:
| Provider | Model | Input (per 1M) | Output (per 1M) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhipu AI | GLM-5 | $1.00 | $3.20 | Budget frontier-level coding |
| Zhipu AI | GLM-4.7 | $0.60 | $2.20 | Best value mid-tier |
| Zhipu AI | GLM-4.7-Flash | Free | Free | Zero-cost simple tasks |
| Anthropic | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 | $15.00 | Balanced coding + reasoning |
| Anthropic | Claude Opus 4.6 | $15.00 | $75.00 | Top-tier reasoning |
| OpenAI | GPT-4o | $2.50 | $10.00 | General-purpose coding |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | $1.25 | $5.00 | Multimodal coding |
The cost difference is notable: GLM-5 costs roughly 3x less than Claude Sonnet for input tokens and 5x less for output tokens. GLM-4.7 is even more affordable. For high-volume coding workflows where token usage is high, the savings accumulate quickly.
What Changed: The Price Increase Explained
Zhipu's pricing has shifted since early 2026:
- Before Feb 11, 2026: Promotional first-purchase pricing made Lite as low as $3/month.
- Feb 11, 2026: Zhipu removed first-purchase discounts, moving Lite to $30/quarter (~$10/mo).
- Feb 2026: GLM-5 launched with ~30% higher per-token pricing than GLM-4.7 due to increased compute costs.
- Q2 2026: Quarterly discounts brought Lite to $27/quarter, Pro to $81, and Max to $216.
Even after these changes, the GLM Coding Plan remains an affordable way to access frontier-level coding models through external integrations.
Coding Plan vs. Direct API: Which Should You Pick?
Choose the Coding Plan if:
- You use tools like Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline daily.
- You prefer a predictable, fixed cost.
- You do not want to manage per-token usage calculations.
- You want the bundled MCP tools (Vision, Web Search, Zread).
Choose direct API access if:
- You are building custom tooling or integrations.
- Your usage is bursty (heavy some weeks, idle others).
- You want control over which model handles specific tasks.
- You already manage API keys across multiple providers.
For most developers using Zhipu AI as their primary coding model provider, the Coding Plan is simpler and more cost-effective for consistent, daily coding workflows.
Compatible Tools
The GLM Coding Plan works with tools that support OpenAI or Anthropic API formats, including:
- Claude Code (via Anthropic-compatible endpoint)
- Cursor (via OpenAI-compatible endpoint)
- Cline (direct integration)
- Kilo Code
- Continue.dev
- OpenClaw
Setup involves subscribing, obtaining an API key, and configuring the endpoint in your chosen tool.
Cost-Saving Tips
1. Use Free Flash Models for Simple Tasks
Route formatting, basic completions, and quick lookups through GLM-4.7-Flash (free) and save your Coding Plan quota for complex tasks. Most tools support configuring different models for different tasks.
2. Match Model to Task Complexity
Avoid sending one-line code formatting requests to GLM-5. Use GLM-4.7 or GLM-4.5-Air for routine work and reserve premium models for multi-file refactors, debugging, and agentic workflows.
3. Watch for Quarterly Discounts
Zhipu AI runs periodic quarterly discounts. Subscribing during discount windows saves 10% on every tier.
4. Batch Context
Sending one detailed prompt with full context is more efficient and cheaper than sending multiple small follow-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhipu AI GLM free?
Zhipu offers two free models: GLM-4.7-Flash and GLM-4.5-Flash, available to all registered users with no subscription required. The Coding Plan for premium models starts at ~$10/month (Lite tier, billed quarterly at $30).
How much does GLM Coding Plan cost?
There are three tiers, all billed quarterly: Lite at $30/quarter ($10/mo), Pro at $90/quarter ($30/mo), and Max at $240/quarter (~$80/mo). Q2 discounts bring these down to $27, $81, and $216 per quarter.
What happened to the $3/month plan?
That was a first-purchase promotional price available before February 11, 2026. Zhipu removed all first-purchase discounts on that date. The current Lite tier is ~$10/month billed quarterly.
What is the difference between GLM-5 and GLM-4.7?
GLM-5 is Zhipu's flagship model with stronger reasoning and coding performance. It costs $1.00/M input tokens vs. GLM-4.7's $0.60/M. GLM-5 is only available on Pro and Max Coding Plan tiers.
Can I use GLM models in Cursor?
Yes. GLM Coding Plan supports OpenAI-compatible API formats. You can configure the API endpoint and your API key in Cursor's settings.
Does Zhipu AI offer a free trial?
There is no formal trial for the Coding Plan, but the free Flash models allow you to test the infrastructure and API workflow at zero cost.
Is the Coding Plan worth it compared to Claude Pro?
If you primarily need a coding model to use across multiple tools (rather than a single IDE), the Coding Plan offers more usage per dollar. Lite (~$10/mo) offers roughly 3x the usage of Claude Pro ($20/mo). However, GLM models may not match Claude's reasoning depth on highly complex tasks.
How does billing work?
All Coding Plan tiers are billed quarterly (every three months). Your subscription auto-renews at the end of each quarter, and you can cancel before renewal to avoid the next charge.