Z.ai pricing & plans
Z.ai offers 3 fixed-price plans we track. Each is scored by Value× — the API-equivalent compute it unlocks per dollar — so you can see which Z.ai plan stretches your budget furthest.
Key facts
- Z.ai's paid plans run from GLM Coding Lite at $18/mo to GLM Coding Max at $168/mo (as of August 28, 2026).
- Best value: GLM Coding Max at $168/mo unlocks an estimated $1.7k/mo of API-equivalent usage — a Value× of 10×.
- Z.ai plans include access to GLM-5.3, GLM-5.3-Flash.
| Plan | Price/mo | Est. value/mo | Value× | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLM Coding Maxbest value | $168 | $1.7k | 10× | See plan → |
| GLM Coding Probest value | $80 | $720 | 9.0× | See plan → |
| GLM Coding Litebest value | $18 | $120 | 6.7× | See plan → |
About Z.ai pricing
Zhipu GLM Coding Plan — GLM models inside Claude Code, Roo Code, Cline, Kilo Code, Crush, OpenCode/OpenClaw via an Anthropic-compatible endpoint. GLM-5.3 ERA (re-verified 2026-08-28 on docs.z.ai/devpack/overview + subscribe page): all plans now serve GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash; requests for GLM-5.2/GLM-5.1 are auto-routed to GLM-5.3 and GLM-4.7 to GLM-5.3-Flash. Prices unchanged (re-confirmed 2026-08-28): Lite $18, Pro $80, Max $168 monthly; Quarterly −20%, Yearly −30% (Lite $12.6, Pro $56, Max $117.6/mo effective). Quota is credit-based with a 5-hour window (dynamically refreshes 5h after consumption) PLUS a weekly window (resets every 7 days): Lite 2,000 credits/5h + 10,000/wk, Pro 12,000/5h + 60,000/wk, Max 28,000/5h + 140,000/wk. Off-peak hours (Mon–Fri 14:00–18:00 UTC+8 excluded) charge 50% of the standard credit rate. Docs publish estimated weekly GLM-5.3 token allowances at 95% cache hit: Lite 48–97M, Pro 290–580M, Max 676–1,352M, and state you can 'save up to 92%' vs the GLM-5.3 on-demand API ($1.4/M in, $0.26/M cached, $4.4/M out — same rate card as GLM-5.2). International pricing is ~2.3× the China-domestic price. Referral: 10% off for invitee, referrer earns up to 20% back.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Z.ai cost per month?
As of August 28, 2026, Z.ai's cheapest paid plan is GLM Coding Lite at $18/mo, with 2 more plans above it.
What is the best-value Z.ai plan?
GLM Coding Max at $168/mo delivers the most value per dollar: an estimated $1.7k/mo of API-equivalent usage, a Value× of 10× (as of August 28, 2026).
Does Z.ai have a free plan?
No — as of August 28, 2026, Z.ai does not offer a free tier; its plans start at $18/mo.
Which models are included in Z.ai plans?
Z.ai plans include access to GLM-5.3, GLM-5.3-Flash (as of August 28, 2026).
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