OpenAI compatible API · Attested · Public status

Z.ai: GLM 5 vs Z.ai: GLM 5.1

Z.ai: GLM 5 vs Z.ai: GLM 5.1: compare current API pricing, context, provider routes, privacy, p50 latency, and OpenAI-compatible access.

Verify gateway

Onebase URL to migrate

100sof models and routes

0prompt or output logs. Always.

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

Z.ai: GLM 5 has the lower cheapest prompt+completion route on TrustedRouter. Z.ai: GLM 5.1 has more provider fallback routes, while Z.ai: GLM 5 has the larger context window. Current TrustedRouter probes show Z.ai: GLM 5.1 with the lower p50 TTFT.

$2.814/1MZ.ai: GLM 5 cheapest route

$4.263/1MZ.ai: GLM 5.1 cheapest route

1363 msZ.ai: GLM 5 fastest measured p50 TTFT via digitalocean

1079 msZ.ai: GLM 5.1 fastest measured p50 TTFT via wafer

Z.ai: GLM 5Z.ai: GLM 5.1

Model idz-ai/glm-5z-ai/glm-5.1

Publisher Z.AI Z.AI

AI IQ IQ 105#52 IQ 114#32

Context204,800 tokens204,800 tokens

Provider routes1324

Cheapest route$2.814/1M$4.263/1M

Privacy posturehas ZDR routehas confidential-compute route

Fastest measured p50 TTFT1363 ms via digitalocean1079 ms via wafer

Highest measured throughputnot enough datanot enough data

Recent route uptime range100.00%66.67% to 100.00%

Modes chat chat

Z.ai: GLM 5 routes

Overview13 endpoints
PricingPrompt and completion rates
BenchmarksTrustedRouter and external sources
ProvidersAll serving providers

Z.ai: GLM 5.1 routes

Overview24 endpoints
PricingPrompt and completion 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="z-ai/glm-5",
    messages=messages,
)

Questions

Which should I use, Z.ai: GLM 5 or Z.ai: GLM 5.1?

Is Z.ai: GLM 5 or Z.ai: GLM 5.1 cheaper?

The current cheapest TrustedRouter route is $2.814/1M for Z.ai: GLM 5 and $4.263/1M for Z.ai: GLM 5.1. The comparison uses current catalog prices and updates as provider pricing changes.

Is Z.ai: GLM 5 or Z.ai: GLM 5.1 faster?

Current measured p50 time to first token is 1363 ms for Z.ai: GLM 5 and 1079 ms for Z.ai: GLM 5.1. These are routed probe measurements, not vendor-advertised speeds, and update as new samples arrive.

Can I test Z.ai: GLM 5 and Z.ai: GLM 5.1 with the same API?

Yes. Use the same OpenAI-compatible TrustedRouter base URL and API key, then change only the model id between z-ai/glm-5 and z-ai/glm-5.1. This makes side-by-side evals possible without maintaining two provider integrations.