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OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol vs Z.ai: GLM 5

Try both on us. Starter credit covers your first requests, then one key routes GPT-5.6 Sol and GLM 5. Switch by changing the model name.

Compare routesProviders, price, context, and policy posture in one view.

Use auto when uptime mattersKeep a primary model and let fallback handle provider failures.

Same API shapeUse the OpenAI client and set the model you want.

Practical read

Monthly evidence

GPT-5.6 Sol has the larger context window. Z.ai: GLM 5 has the lower published input-plus-output rate, more Credits provider routes and the lower measured p50 time to first token.

$12.66/1MOpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol cheapest route

$3.6925/1MZ.ai: GLM 5 cheapest route

2141 msOpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol fastest measured p50 TTFT via boundless

1787 msZ.ai: GLM 5 fastest measured p50 TTFT via venice

The price comparison adds each route's rate for one million input tokens and one million output tokens; your cost depends on your input/output mix. Prices and live route measurements can change. Use the monthly reports when you need a stable evidence window, then run a small task-specific eval before choosing a production default.

OpenAI: GPT-5.6 SolZ.ai: GLM 5

Model idopenai/gpt-5.6-solz-ai/glm-5

Publisher OpenAI Z.AI

AI IQ IQ 134#9 IQ 107#87

Context1,050,000 tokens202,752 tokens

Credits provider routes38

Cheapest route$12.66/1M$3.6925/1M

Cached input$0.211/1M to $0.844/1M$0.20045/1M to $0.45365/1M

Privacy posturehas ZDR routehas ZDR route

Fastest measured p50 TTFT2141 ms via boundless1787 ms via venice

Highest measured throughputnot enough datanot enough data

Recent route uptime range100.00%100.00%

Modes chat chat

OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol routes

Overview3 Credits routes
PricingInput, cached input, and output rates
ProvidersAll serving providers

Z.ai: GLM 5 routes

Overview8 Credits routes
PricingInput, cached input, and output rates
BenchmarksTrustedRouter and external sources
ProvidersAll serving providers

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Production choice

Pick a default model. Keep fallback enabled.

TrustedRouter is useful when you know the model you want, but still need provider rollover, budget limits, usage records, and a prompt path you can verify.

OpenAI clientPython

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.trustedrouter.com/v1",
    api_key="sk-tr-v1-..."
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="openai/gpt-5.6-sol",
    messages=messages,
)

Questions

Which should I use, OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol or Z.ai: GLM 5?

GPT-5.6 Sol has the larger context window. Z.ai: GLM 5 has the lower published input-plus-output rate, more Credits provider routes and the lower measured p50 time to first token.

Is OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol or Z.ai: GLM 5 cheaper?

The current cheapest TrustedRouter route is $12.66/1M for OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol and $3.6925/1M for Z.ai: GLM 5. The comparison uses current catalog prices and updates as provider pricing changes.

Is OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol or Z.ai: GLM 5 faster?

Current measured p50 time to first token is 2141 ms for OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol and 1787 ms for Z.ai: GLM 5. These are routed probe measurements, not vendor-advertised speeds, and update as new samples arrive.

Can I test OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol and Z.ai: GLM 5 with the same API?

Yes. Use the same OpenAI-compatible TrustedRouter base URL and API key, then change only the model id between openai/gpt-5.6-sol and z-ai/glm-5. This makes side-by-side evals possible without maintaining two provider integrations.