Z.ai: GLM 5.3
Analysis Summary
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 is a high-capability text model with an intelligence index of 44.8, a coding index of 74.8, and an agentic index of 53.1. Tool use and function calling are listed, alongside a 1.31M-token context window. Together, those results and features make it a strong candidate for software engineering, complex tool-connected work, and analysis over large document or code collections.
For an agency, it can support coding agents, multi-step research, and detailed analysis where execution quality matters. Its text-only modality is less flexible for visual workflows, and the listed input and output prices of $0.84 and $2.64 make it a considered choice for high-value requests rather than bulk routine traffic. Adopt it for tasks that benefit from coding strength, long context, and tool use, while routing simpler, high-volume work to a lower-cost option.
Assessed September 23, 2026
Editorial notes
GLM 5.3 pairs excellent reasoning with very strong coding and agentic results, tool calling, and a 1.31M-token context; its listed token prices favor high-value tasks over routine volume.
The DFO score ranks models on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index and is refreshed as new models launch. The write-up and verdict are our own. Feedback?
DFO Verdict
GLM 5.3 pairs excellent reasoning with very strong coding and agentic results, tool calling, and a 1.31M-token context; its listed token prices favor high-value tasks over routine volume.
Benchmarks
Artificial Analysis data refreshed Oct 8, 2026. Arena ratings from the Oct 2, 2026 text leaderboard, with style control.
How Z.ai: GLM 5.3 compares
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 ranks #14 of 435 AI models we track for overall intelligence, #14 of 198 for coding, #6 of 181 for agentic tasks. Its 1M-token context window is larger than 95% of the models we list. At $0.10 per million input tokens it is cheaper than 65% of comparable models.
Dark bar = input · light bar = output, scaled to the priciest peer.
1M tokens ≈ 8 full-length novels or ~2,500 pages of business documents in a single request.
Pricing
| Token Type | Cost per 1M tokens | Cost per 1K tokens |
|---|---|---|
| Input | $0.10 | $0.000100 |
| Output | $4.20 | $0.004200 |
What would Z.ai: GLM 5.3 cost your business?
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A website chatbot handling around 100 customer conversations a day, a few short messages each.
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These numbers get smaller with the right architecture.
We route routine calls to cheap models and save Z.ai: GLM 5.3 for the hard ones. Most clients cut their estimate by 60-80%.
Talk to our teamAbout Z.ai: GLM 5.3
GLM-5.3 is a large-scale reasoning model from Z.ai, built for complex software engineering and long-horizon agent tasks. It supports text input and output with a 1M-token context window, and improves..
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Frequently asked questions about Z.ai: GLM 5.3
How much does Z.ai: GLM 5.3 cost?
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 costs $0.10 per million input tokens and $4.20 per million output tokens.
What is the context window of Z.ai: GLM 5.3?
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 has a context window of 1,048,576 tokens (1M).
Is Z.ai: GLM 5.3 good for coding?
On our coding benchmark index, Z.ai: GLM 5.3 ranks #14 of 198 models, placing it in the top quartile of the field for code generation and debugging.
What can Z.ai: GLM 5.3 do?
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 supports tool use and function calling.
Who created Z.ai: GLM 5.3?
Z.ai: GLM 5.3 is developed by Z.ai and was released on August 18, 2026.