Z.ai
GLM 5.3
A capable A-tier builder, now backed by a complete visual benchmark suite.
API pricing
USD per million tokens · Z.ai API- Input
- $1.4
- Output
- $4.4
- Cached input
- $0.26
- Context window
- 1M
Try the visual runs
Open the generated scene to test it, or compare that prompt with another model.
City Scroll Journey
Cinematic scroll journey testing AI-generated scene continuity, scroll-scrubbed camera motion, and art-directed landing craft.
Ember Glider
Sunset gliding journey testing flight energy management, checkpoint flow, and atmospheric scene craft.
Helm's Deep
Fortress siege scene testing scale, lighting, architecture, and cinematic atmosphere.
Hogwarts Broom Flight Simulator
Broom-flight scene testing depth, motion cues, castle scale, and fantasy mood.
Jabberwock
Dark fantasy encounter testing creature design, forest mood, and narrative staging.
Low-Poly Tower Defense
Diorama tower defense testing economy balance, wave design, placement rules, and combat readability.
Low Poly World
Stylized island build testing composition, color, and low-poly worldbuilding.
Mechanical Watch Simulator
Interactive watch movement testing mechanical legibility, accurate relative motion, and real-time 3D controls.
Neon Drift
Synthwave time-trial racing testing drift physics, lap timing, ghost replay, and unlock progression.
Office Life
Workplace vignette testing everyday scene logic, objects, and believable office detail.
Petri Dish
Microscopic ecosystem testing organic forms, scientific clarity, and cellular detail.
Starfall Arena
Neon arena survival testing wave escalation, upgrade builds, particle feedback, and boss design.
Stormwind Trebuchet Simulator
Counterweight siege simulation testing coupled mechanics, trajectory prediction, projectile cameras, and interactive tuning.
Universe Simulator
Cosmic system testing orbital structure, glowing bodies, scale, and simulation readability.
Vice City
Neon coastal city testing vehicles, architecture, atmosphere, and dense urban layout.
Yingzao Fashi Assembly
Timber assembly scene testing structure, joinery, construction order, and material clarity.
How GLM 5.3 compares
2 peers with published comparison scores.
- GLM 5.3 This model
- Claude Mythos 5
- GPT-5.6 Sol
1 benchmarks · 3 models
Official benchmark profile
GLM-5.3 coding, agent, and cybersecurity results.
Terminal-Bench 3.0
28.3%DeepSWE v1.1
66.9%Agents’ Last Exam (CLI)
28.5%Full official benchmark table6 scores and peer comparisons
| Benchmark | Area | Score | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal-Bench 3.0 | Agentic coding | 28.3% | |
| DeepSWE v1.1 | Coding | 66.9% | |
| Agents’ Last Exam (CLI) | Terminal agents | 28.5% | |
| GDPval-AA v2 | Professional work | 1769 Elo | |
| CyberGym | Cybersecurity | 84.5% | |
| ExploitBench | Cybersecurity | 54.4% |
Sources, pricing details and methodology
Verified model facts
Model specifications
- Status
- Preview / limited access
- API model ID
- Not publicly verified
- Context
- 1M
- Max output
- 128K
- License
- Not publicly verified
- Access route
- Not publicly verified
- Modalities
- Not publicly verified
- Hardware
- Not publicly verified
- Z.ai API · USD / 1M tokens
- $1.4 input · $0.26 cached input · $4.4 output
Cached-input storage is currently free for a limited time.
Benchmark sources
Z.ai reports large gains over GLM-5.2 across coding, terminal-agent, and cybersecurity evaluations. These are vendor-reported launch results; the general GLM-5.3 API is still marked as coming soon.
Introducing GLM-5.3GLM-5.3 is available to GLM Coding Plan users. Z.ai says direct API access is coming soon.
Evaluation settings
- Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 4.6% in the same comparison.
- Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 46.2% in the same comparison.
- Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 23.8% in the same comparison.
- Z.ai-reported Artificial Analysis occupational-work result.
- Z.ai launch result.
- Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 24.4% in the same comparison.
Editorial verdict
Where this model fits
GLM 5.3 enters A tier after finishing all 16 Superbash visual benchmarks in one local session; every artifact validates and runs. The first attempt stalled when the account hit its usage ceiling, but the rerun at lower concurrency completed the full set, so the visual placement no longer rests on an incomplete run.
Best for
Watch out
Why it is ranked here
Evidence
Superbash editorial model ranking
Takeaway: GLM 5.3 is currently placed in Tier A.
The September 2026 editorial roster places GLM 5.3 at rank 7.
Open source →Introducing GLM 5.3
Takeaway: Use GLM 5.3 for cost-conscious coding work after reviewing the output.
The model is currently available through Z.ai's Coding Plan; verify general API availability before building a direct integration.
Open source →Related guides