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GLM-5 vs Gemini 3.5 Flash

Detailed pricing comparison and cost analysis.

Updated September 2026

Cost Simulator

GLM-5 Cost
$1.64
Gemini 3.5 Flash Cost
$3.30
GLM-5 is 50% cheaper
FeatureGLM-5Gemini 3.5 Flash
ProviderZhipu AIGoogle
Input Price (1M)$1.00$1.50
Output Price (1M)$3.20$9.00
Context Window1,000,0001,000,000

Verdict

GLM-5 costs $1.00 per 1M input tokens and $3.20 per 1M output tokens. Gemini 3.5 Flash costs $1.50 per 1M input tokens and $9.00 per 1M output tokens. GLM-5 is 33% cheaper on input tokens than Gemini 3.5 Flash. For output tokens, GLM-5 is the more affordable option at $3.20/1M vs $9.00.

On context window, GLM-5 supports 1,000,000 tokens — meaning it can fit more conversation history, documents, or code in a single request. This matters for RAG pipelines, long document analysis, and agentic workflows where context builds up over many turns.

When to choose GLM-5

  • ✓ You need the lowest input token cost ($ 1.00/1M)
  • ✓ Your workload is output-heavy — GLM-5 generates text cheaper
  • ✓ You are already integrated with Zhipu AI

When to choose Gemini 3.5 Flash

  • ✓ You are already integrated with Google

Use the calculator above to simulate your specific workload and find the exact break-even point. For most applications, the cheapest model is the one that minimises your total monthly bill given your input-to-output token ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GLM-5 cheaper than Gemini 3.5 Flash?

GLM-5 is cheaper on input tokens at $1.00/1M vs $1.50/1M for Gemini 3.5 Flash — a 33% saving.

What is the context window of GLM-5 vs Gemini 3.5 Flash?

GLM-5 has a 1,000,000-token context window. Gemini 3.5 Flash has a 1,000,000-token context window. GLM-5 supports the larger context, suitable for longer documents and agentic workflows.

Which model is better: GLM-5 or Gemini 3.5 Flash?

The best choice depends on your use case. For cost efficiency on input tokens, GLM-5 is the cheaper option. For maximum context length, GLM-5 supports 1,000,000 tokens. Use the comparison table above to find the right fit for your workload.