What is the best alternative to GLM 5.2?

Gemini 3 Pro is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (60.2 against 60.1). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.

Is there a cheaper alternative to GLM 5.2?

Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50) and Muse Spark 1.1 (62.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than GLM 5.2's $2.15.

Is there an open-source alternative to GLM 5.2?

The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1) and GLM-5 (60.2). 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 5.2, 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 5.2 alternatives

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

As of 2 Nov 2026, GLM 5.2 by Zhipu AI scores 60.1 on the BenchLeader Index at $2.15 per 1M tokens blended. Gemini 3 Pro scores higher (60.2); GPT-6.1 Terra is the best cheaper model within 4 points (65.2 at $2.00); Claude Sonnet 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 5.2 on the Index.

Gemini 3 Pro Google60.2 · –
GLM-5 Zhipu AI60.2 · $1.55
Qwen3.7 Alibaba60.3 · $3.75

Cheaper, nearly as good

Within 4 Index points, for less per token.

GPT-6.1 Terra OpenAI compare65.2 · $2.00
Gemini 3.7 Flash Google62.2 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.1 Meta62.2 · $2.00
Gemini 3.8 Flash Google61.9 · $1.50
Muse Spark 1.3 Meta61.9 · $2.00

Faster

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

Claude Sonnet 5.5 Anthropic65.1 · $4.00
GPT-6 Sol OpenAI63.5 · $4.00
Gemini 3.5 Flash Google62.5 · $3.38

Open weights

Open-weights models that score higher.

Kimi K3 Moonshot AI62.1 · $6.00
GLM-5 Zhipu AI60.2 · $1.55

Every alternative side by side

Model	Index	$ / 1M blended	Tokens / s	Why
GLM 5.2 (this model)	60.1	$2.15	89	–
GPT-6.1 Terra	65.2	$2.00	107	cheaper
Claude Sonnet 5.5	65.1	$4.00	137	faster
GPT-6 Sol	63.5	$4.00	149	faster
Gemini 3.5 Flash	62.5	$3.38	190	faster
Gemini 3.7 Flash	62.2	$1.50	91	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.1	62.2	$2.00	206	cheaper
Kimi K3	62.1	$6.00	66	open weights
Gemini 3.8 Flash	61.9	$1.50	131	cheaper
Muse Spark 1.3	61.9	$2.00	194	cheaper
Qwen3.7	60.3	$3.75	203	scores higher
Gemini 3 Pro	60.2	–	–	scores higher
GLM-5	60.2	$1.55	62	scores higher, open weights

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 5.2?: Gemini 3 Pro is the closest model that scores higher on the BenchLeader Index (60.2 against 60.1). For less money, GPT-6.1 Terra scores 65.2 at $2.00 per 1M tokens.
Is there a cheaper alternative to GLM 5.2?: Yes: GPT-6.1 Terra (65.2, $2.00), Gemini 3.7 Flash (62.2, $1.50) and Muse Spark 1.1 (62.2, $2.00), each within 4 Index points and cheaper than GLM 5.2's $2.15.
Is there an open-source alternative to GLM 5.2?: The best open-weights models on the BenchLeader Index are Kimi K3 (62.1) and GLM-5 (60.2). 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 5.2, 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.