GLM-5.3-Flash vs DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: real-time API costs
For 100K input and 5K output, GLM costs $0.0175 uncached versus DeepSeek's $0.018 off-peak. At 50% cached input, DeepSeek off-peak wins at $0.01065 versus $0.0115.
Cache hits can change the cheaper option off-peak. Compare Z.ai and DeepSeek's direct rates.
GLM-5.3-Flash and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash have the same $0.15 per million uncached-input rate during DeepSeek's off-peak period. GLM has the lower output price, while DeepSeek has the lower cache-hit price. The cheaper real-time request therefore depends on how much input is reused and when DeepSeek processes the work. This comparison uses Z.ai and DeepSeek's own USD tables, checked on October 4, 2026. The chart includes both DeepSeek periods so the off-peak estimate isn't mistaken for an all-day rate.
By TechCompare · Updated
Cost Comparison
Based on 100,000 input tokens (50% cached), 5,000 output tokens, and 100 requests.Normal-speed, real-time provider USD rates, checked October 4, 2026.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GLM-5.3-Flash | DeepSeek V4.1 Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Uncached input per 1M tokens | $0.15 | $0.15 off-peak / $0.30 peak |
| Output per 1M tokens | $0.50 (better on this spec) | $0.60 off-peak / $1.20 peak |
| Cache-hit input per 1M tokens | $0.03 | $0.003 off-peak / $0.006 peak (better on this spec) |
| 100K input + 5K output, no cache hits | $0.0175 (better on this spec) | $0.018 off-peak / $0.036 peak |
| 100K input + 5K output, 50% input cached | $0.0115 | $0.01065 off-peak / $0.0213 peak |
| 100K input + 5K output, all input cached | $0.0055 | $0.0033 off-peak / $0.0066 peak |
| 100,000 requests, 50% input cached | $1,150 | $1,065 off-peak / $2,130 peak |
| Aggregate 1M input + 1M output, no cache hits | $0.65 (better on this spec) | $0.75 off-peak / $1.50 peak |
| Provider / delivery mode | Z.ai / normal-speed real-time | DeepSeek / normal-speed real-time |
How they differ
Z.ai charges $0.15 uncached input, $0.03 cached input, and $0.50 output per million tokens for GLM-5.3-Flash. DeepSeek charges $0.15, $0.003, and $0.60 off-peak, doubling those categories to $0.30, $0.006, and $1.20 at peak. A 100,000-input, 5,000-output request without cache hits costs $0.0175 on GLM and $0.018 on DeepSeek off-peak. GLM is about 2.78% cheaper in that example. With half the input cached, GLM costs $0.0115 and DeepSeek off-peak costs $0.01065, making DeepSeek about 7.39% cheaper. DeepSeek at peak costs $0.0213 for the same half-cached call. The starting chart multiplies those values by 100 monthly requests. DeepSeek's peak periods are 01:00 to 04:00 UTC and 06:00 to 10:00 UTC on weekdays, excluding Chinese public holidays. Other hours are off-peak. At 100K input and 5K output, the off-peak comparison flips at about 18.52% cached input. That threshold changes with output length, so an application with long generated answers can favor GLM even when an input-heavy workload favors DeepSeek.
Verdict
Use cache usage and request timing from your application to choose a pricing scenario. GLM has a lower output rate and doesn't use the peak schedule shown in DeepSeek's table. DeepSeek's low cache-hit rate can favor repeated long prefixes, especially outside peak periods. A model's accepted task quality, tool behavior, and total output usage still need testing. Apply these prices to measured complete tasks instead of choosing from an uncached rate or an isolated benchmark alone.
Which should you pick?
Choose GLM-5.3-Flash
Choose GLM when your evaluation favors its results or your traffic generates enough output for its $0.50 rate to matter. It is also a candidate when interactive requests often land in DeepSeek's peak hours and you can't change that timing. Test the actual coding, document, and visual tasks you need. Track reasoning output and cache hits, since the provider's model guide says GLM-5.3-Flash thinking can't be disabled.
Z.ai's official API pricingChoose DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
Choose DeepSeek when it passes your quality checks and your workload repeatedly reuses long input prefixes. Its off-peak cache-hit rate is one tenth GLM's, which can overcome the higher output rate. Jobs with flexible delivery timing can be scheduled outside peak periods. For live traffic that needs immediate processing, include the expected share of peak calls and avoid quoting the off-peak total as the whole month's bill.
DeepSeek's official API pricing