GLM-5.1 vs GPT-5.4 Mini
GLM-5.1 and GPT-5.4 Mini are both current production-tier models. GLM-5.1 is meaningfully cheaper at $1 / $3.2 per 1M. GLM-5.1 leads on coding, reasoning, multilingual.
Specs side by side
| Metric | Z.ai GLM-5.1 | OpenAI GPT-5.4 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Input price (per 1M) | $1 | $0.75 |
| Output price (per 1M) | $3.2 | $4.5 |
| Context window | 200k tokens | 400k tokens |
| Speed tier | balanced | fast |
| Open weights | Yes | No |
| EU region | No | Yes |
| Free tier | bigmodel.cn | No |
| Prompt caching | No | Yes |
| Vision input | No | Yes |
| Extended thinking | Yes | Yes |
When to choose each
Choose GLM-5.1 if…
- You need open weights for self-hosting or fine-tuning
- You want a free tier for prototyping
- Coding is central to your workload
- Reasoning is central to your workload
Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if…
- You need 400k context (2× more than GLM-5.1)
- EU data residency is required
- HIPAA eligibility is required
- You need image input / vision
Benchmark delta
GLM-5.1 leads on
- Coding
- Reasoning
- Multilingual
GPT-5.4 Mini leads on
GPT-5.4 Mini has no meaningful benchmark lead in this pair.
FAQ — GLM-5.1 vs GPT-5.4 Mini
GLM-5.1 vs GPT-5.4 Mini — which is better?
GLM-5.1 and GPT-5.4 Mini are both current production-tier models. GLM-5.1 is meaningfully cheaper at $1 / $3.2 per 1M. GLM-5.1 leads on coding, reasoning, multilingual. The right pick depends on your use case — see "When to choose each" above for a data-driven decision.
How does GLM-5.1 pricing compare to GPT-5.4 Mini?
GLM-5.1 costs $1 / $3.2 per 1M vs GPT-5.4 Mini at $0.75 / $4.5 per 1M. GLM-5.1 is cheaper on output tokens by roughly 41%. Both support prompt caching, which reduces effective cost by 80-90% on repeat system prompts.
Does GLM-5.1 or GPT-5.4 Mini have the bigger context window?
GPT-5.4 Mini has a 400k-token context window — 2× the 200k context of GLM-5.1. Enough for long reports and multi-document analysis.
Is there a free tier for GLM-5.1 or GPT-5.4 Mini?
GLM-5.1: yes — Free tier with monthly token allowance. GPT-5.4 Mini: no — Near-free at $0.75/$4.50 per 1M; starter credits only.
Which is better for coding — GLM-5.1 or GPT-5.4 Mini?
GLM-5.1 leads on coding benchmarks (GLM-5.1: 93/100, GPT-5.4 Mini: 84/100). For production coding agents also weigh tool-use performance — GLM-5.1 scores 86, GPT-5.4 Mini scores 86.