Updated September 28, 2026 · DeployCue Editorial Team
MiniMax vs Zhipu AI (Z.ai)
| Fact | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Published offerings | 1 | 2 |
What sets them apart
| Fact | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input price from | $0.30 | $0.030 to $2.20Lower |
| Output price from | $1.20 | $0.030 to $8.90Lower |
| Models offered | MiniMax M3, MiniMax M2.7, MiniMax M2.7 highspeed, MiniMax M2.5, MiniMax M2.1, MiniMax M2, MiniMax H3, MiniMax H3 Max, Speech 2.8 HD, Speech 2.8 turbo, Image 01, Music 3.0, Music 2.6, Music cover | 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 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Free credits | Not confirmed | 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 8.60.
- Input price from is lower at Zhipu AI (Z.ai): $0.030 to $2.20 vs $0.30.
- Output price from is lower at Zhipu AI (Z.ai): $0.030 to $8.90 vs $1.20.
- Models offered: only MiniMax offers MiniMax M3, MiniMax M2.7, MiniMax M2.7 highspeed.
- Models offered: only Zhipu AI (Z.ai) offers GLM 5.3 Flash, GLM 5.3 FlashX, GLM 5.3.
- Support channels: only Zhipu AI (Z.ai) offers Help centre.
Score breakdown
| Area | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.40Input at $0.30 and output at $1.20 sit well above cheaper options such as Salad at $0.06, which is why cost scores 2. | 9.70HigherInput fees of $0.03 to $2.20 sit under the site median of €0.07, and free models add savings. |
| Offer | 8.90 | 9.20HigherA wide GLM family, an OpenAI compatible API and a 1,000,000 window, but support is email, help centre and community only. |
| Trust | 8.60 | Not confirmed |
The bill, worked out
10M input and 2M output tokens, cheapest model
MiniMax
$5.40
10 × $0.30 + 2 × $1.20
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 $5.04 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Singapore |
By the numbers
| Fact | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Input price from | $0.30 | $0.030 to $2.20 |
| Output price from | $1.20 | $0.030 to $8.90 |
| Largest context window | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | MiniMax | Zhipu AI (Z.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | JINGSHENG HENGXING TECHNOLOGY PTE.LTD |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Singapore |
| Founded | 2022 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Community | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
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