GLM Z.ai
Zhipu's GLM models — free chat on Z.ai, strong coding, and API pricing far below Western labs.
- Web
- Why it's listed
- Z.ai chat is free with no card required.
- Consider before using
- Branding is confusing — GLM, Z.ai and Zhipu all refer to the same family.
From the vendor's site: GLM is the model family from Zhipu AI, one of China's "AI tiger" labs. Z.ai is its international home — a free chat interface plus coding-oriented models and an API that undercuts Western providers. The GLM coding plans have become a popular low-cost route into agentic development tools.
What it is
GLM models (currently the GLM-4.x line) power a chat assistant and coding tools at z.ai. You can chat free in the browser, or plug the API into editors and agent frameworks as a drop-in OpenAI replacement.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Web chat | $0 | Free with rate limits |
| Coding plans | from about $3/mo | Usage included for editor and agent tools |
| API | pay per token | Among the cheapest capable models |
Verdict
The budget route into agentic coding and a solid free chat fallback. Best value when used through an editor like Cline or an agent harness rather than as a standalone chat.
Last checked: October 2026. Pricing and features change fast — confirm current numbers on the official site.