What is the best alternative to GLM-5?

Qwen3.7 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (60.3 against 60.2). For less money, Gemini 3.7 Flash scores 62.2 at $1.50 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to GLM-5?

Yes: Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50), Gemini 3.8 Flash (61.9, $1.50) and Gemini 3.6 Flash (61.3, $1.50), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than GLM-5's $1.55.

Is there an open-source alternative to GLM-5?

The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.

How are these alternatives chosen?

From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above GLM-5, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.

Zhipu AI

GLM-5 alternatives

Data as of 2 Nov 2026 · ranked on the BenchLeader Index

As of 2 Nov 2026, GLM-5 by Zhipu AI scores 60.2 on the BenchLeader Index at $1.55 per 1M tokens blended. Qwen3.7 scores higher (60.3); Gemini 3.7 Flash is the best cheaper model within 4 points (62.2 at $1.50); Claude Opus 5.5 is at least 1.5× as fast at a similar score; Kimi K3 is the best open-weights option (62.1).

Scores higher

The closest models above GLM-5 on the Index.

Qwen3.7 Alibaba60.3 · $3.75
Grok 4.6 SpaceXAI60.5 · $3.00
Claude Opus 4.8 Anthropic60.6 · $10.00

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

Gemini 3.7 Flash Google62.2 · $1.50
Gemini 3.8 Flash Google61.9 · $1.50
Gemini 3.6 Flash Google61.3 · $1.50
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 DeepSeek59.2 · $0.525
Qwen3.6 Plus Alibaba59.1 · $1.13

Faster

At least 1.5× the output speed, within 4 points.

Claude Opus 5.5 Anthropic compare69.2 · $8.00
Gemini 4 Carbon Google compare68.9 · $8.00
GPT-5.6 Sol OpenAI65.4 · $8.00

Open weights

Open-weights models that score higher.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI compare62.1 · $6.00

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
GLM-5 (this model)	60.2	$1.55	62	–
Claude Opus 5.5	69.2	$8.00	96	faster
Gemini 4 Carbon	68.9	$8.00	95	faster
GPT-5.6 Sol	65.4	$8.00	127	faster
Gemini 3.7 Flash	62.2	$1.50	91	cheaper
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
Gemini 3.8 Flash	61.9	$1.50	131	cheaper
Gemini 3.6 Flash	61.3	$1.50	197	cheaper
Claude Opus 4.8	60.6	$10.00	66	scores higher
Grok 4.6	60.5	$3.00	70	scores higher
Qwen3.7	60.3	$3.75	203	scores higher
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017	59.2	$0.525	170	cheaper
Qwen3.6 Plus	59.1	$1.13	54	cheaper

Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output; speeds are measured medians, credited on each model page. The Index is BenchLeader's own, from independent benchmarks.

Questions people ask

What is the best alternative to GLM-5?: Qwen3.7 is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (60.3 against 60.2). For less money, Gemini 3.7 Flash scores 62.2 at $1.50 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to GLM-5?: Yes: Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50), Gemini 3.8 Flash (61.9, $1.50) and Gemini 3.6 Flash (61.3, $1.50), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than GLM-5's $1.55.
Is there an open-source alternative to GLM-5?: The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1). You can download and run them yourself; check each licence on its model page.
How are these alternatives chosen?: From the models ranked on the BenchLeader Index today: the ones just above GLM-5, cheaper ones within 4 points, ones at least 1.5× as fast within 4 points, and the best open-weights models. Prices are list prices blended three input tokens to one output.