Updated September 28, 2026 · DeployCue Editorial Team
Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) vs Zhipu AI (Z.ai)
Compare Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) and Zhipu AI (Z.ai) using recorded catalog facts and pricing.
| Fact | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Published offerings | 6 | 2 |
Where Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) and Zhipu AI (Z.ai) differ
| Fact | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input price from | $0.25 to $4 | $0.030 to $2.20Lower |
| Output price from | $1.50 to $18 | $0.030 to $8.90Lower |
| Models offered | Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini 3 Pro Image, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Gemini 3.7 Flash, Gemini 3.6 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, Gemini 3 Flash, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Gemini 2.5 Flash Live API, Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite, Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image, Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite, Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite, Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber, Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, Gemini 3.8 Live, Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, Gemini 3.5 Live Translate, Gemini Embedding 2, Gemma 3, Veo 3.1, Lyria 3 | GLM 5.3 Flash, GLM 5.3 FlashX, GLM 5.3, GLM 5.2, GLM 5.1, GLM 5, GLM 4.7, GLM 4.7 FlashX, GLM 4.7 Flash, GLM 4.6, GLM 4.5, GLM 4.5 X, GLM 4.5 Air, GLM 4.5 AirX, GLM 4.5 Flash, GLM 4 32B 0414 128K, GLM 4.6V, GLM 4.6V FlashX, GLM 4.6V Flash, GLM 4.5V, GLM OCR, GLM Image, CogView 4, CogVideoX 3, GLM ASR 2512 |
| Largest context window | 1,048,576Higher | 1,000,000 |
| Free credits | $300 in free credits and 20+ free products | Free models: GLM-4.7-Flash, GLM-4.5-Flash, GLM-4.6V-Flash; cached input storage limited-time free |
Same on both: OpenAI-compatible API (Yes).
Key differences
- Zhipu AI (Z.ai) scores higher overall: 9.40 vs 8.80.
- Input price from is lower at Zhipu AI (Z.ai): $0.030 to $2.20 vs $0.25 to $4.
- Output price from is lower at Zhipu AI (Z.ai): $0.030 to $8.90 vs $1.50 to $18.
- Models offered: only Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) offers Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini 3 Pro Image, Gemini 2.5 Pro.
- Models offered: only Zhipu AI (Z.ai) offers GLM 5.3 Flash, GLM 5.3 FlashX, GLM 5.3.
- Largest context window is higher at Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI): 1,048,576 vs 1,000,000.
- Support channels: only Zhipu AI (Z.ai) offers Email.
Score breakdown
| Area | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.40Input fees of $0.25 to $4 and output fees of $1.50 to $18 sit above the site medians of €0.07 and €0.23. | 9.70HigherInput fees of $0.03 to $2.20 sit under the site median of €0.07, and free models add savings. |
| Offer | 9.20Pro, Flash, Flash-Lite, Live and Embedding models in a single catalogue, with 1,048,576 context and an OpenAI-compatible API. | 9.20A wide GLM family, an OpenAI compatible API and a 1,000,000 window, but support is email, help centre and community only. |
Cost in a real example
10M input and 2M output tokens, cheapest model
Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI)
$5.50 to $76
10 × $0.25 to $4 + 2 × $1.50 to $18
Zhipu AI (Z.ai)
$0.36 to $39.80
10 × $0.03 to $2.20 + 2 × $0.03 to $8.90
Zhipu AI (Z.ai) costs $5.14 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it.
Pick Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) if, pick Zhipu AI (Z.ai) if
Pick Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) if largest context window matter most.
Pick Zhipu AI (Z.ai) if cost, input price from, and output price from matter most.
Area by area
Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI)
- Cost8.4
- Offer9.2
Zhipu AI (Z.ai)
- Cost9.7
- Offer9.2
- Cost goes to Zhipu AI (Z.ai) by 1.3 points, led by output price from: $0.030 to $8.90 vs $1.50 to $18.
- Offer is level, 9.2 each.
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input price from | $0.25 to $4 | $0.030 to $2.20 |
| Output price from | $1.50 to $18 | $0.030 to $8.90 |
| Largest context window | 1,048,576 | 1,000,000 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | JINGSHENG HENGXING TECHNOLOGY PTE.LTD |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Singapore |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Country by country
| Country | Google AI (Gemini API / Vertex AI) | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.