MiniMax vs 
Zhipu AI
Verdict
- Zhipu AI's flagship leads: GLM 5.3 at 63.5 vs MiniMax M3.1 Flash at 61.9.
- Zhipu AI has the better model in 4 of 4 price bands.
- MiniMax's fastest ranked model (MiniMax-M2, 99 tok/s) beats Zhipu AI's (GLM 5.2, 94 tok/s).
- Zhipu AI publishes more open-weights models (15 vs 10).
- Zhipu AI ships more often: one model every 28 days against every 57.
Best model per price band
Each provider’s highest-index model below the price ceiling. Purple marks the winner of the band.
| Price band | MiniMax | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Under $0.50/M | MiniMax M3.1 Flash 61.9$0.262/M | GLM 5.3 Flash 62.7$0.238/M |
| Under $2/M | MiniMax M3.1 Flash 61.9$0.262/M | GLM 5.3 Flash 62.7$0.238/M |
| Under $10/M | MiniMax M3.1 Flash 61.9$0.262/M | GLM 5.3 max 63.5$2.15/M |
| Any price | MiniMax M3.1 Flash 61.9$0.262/M | GLM 5.3 max 63.5$2.15/M |
Line-up
| Metric | MiniMax | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship index | 61.9 | 63.5 |
| Ranked models | 7 | 14 |
| Open-weights models | 10 | 15 |
| Cheapest ranked, $/M | $0.262 | $0.153 |
| Fastest ranked, tok/s | 99 | 94 |
| Release cadence, days | 57 | 28 |
| Last release | 19 Oct 2026 | 18 Sept 2026 |
| Next expected | 22 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | 4 Oct 2026 – 27 Oct 2026 |