DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $0.33 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55% lower; 2.22x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
GLM 5 vs DeepSeek V3.2 Exp
Pick DeepSeek V3.2 Exp for lower cost; pick GLM 5 only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick DeepSeek V3.2 Exp for lower cost; pick GLM 5 only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is estimated at $0.47 vs $1.56 for GLM 5, saving $1.08 (69.6% lower).
Cost-first pickDeepSeek V3.2 Exp
Context-first pickGLM 5
Sample savings$1.0869.6%
10x traffic gap$10.85
GLM 5 has more context, but DeepSeek V3.2 Exp saves $1.08 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $10.85. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
DeepSeek V3.2 Exp stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | GLM 5 | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | $3.96 | $1.56 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | $2.52 | $0.68 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | $10.2 | $2.32 |
DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $1.51 cheaper per 1M output tokens (78.6% lower; 4.68x difference).
GLM 5 has 38.91K more context (1.24x larger).
DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $1.08 cheaper on the standard workload (69.6% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
DeepSeek V3.2 Exp has the lower input price; DeepSeek V3.2 Exp has the lower output price; GLM 5 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $1.56 for GLM 5 and $0.47 for DeepSeek V3.2 Exp.
Choose GLM 5 when you care most about larger context window.
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 Exp when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is estimated at $0.47 vs $1.56 for GLM 5, saving $1.08 (69.6% lower).
- DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $1.08 cheaper on the standard workload (69.6% lower).
- DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $0.33 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55% lower; 2.22x difference).
- DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is $1.51 cheaper per 1M output tokens (78.6% lower; 4.68x difference).
- GLM 5 has 38.91K more context (1.24x larger).
| Feature | GLM 5 (Z.ai) | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp (DeepSeek) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.6 | $0.27 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $1.92 | $0.41 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $1.56 | $0.47 |
| Context Window | 202.75K | 163.84K |
| Release Date | ||
| Popularity | #38 | #98 |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, DeepSeek V3.2 Exp is estimated at $0.47 vs $1.56 for GLM 5, saving $1.08 (69.6% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | DeepSeek V3.2 Exp | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | GLM 5 | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- GLM 4.5 Air (free) can replace GLM 5 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- GLM 4 32B can replace GLM 5 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.15.
- GLM 4.7 Flash can replace GLM 5 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.26.
- GLM 4.5 Air can replace GLM 5 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.54.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
- Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.2 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Pro offers 1.05M context with $0.87 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash · DeepSeek · #1
- Hy3 preview · Tencent · #2
- Claude Opus 4.7 · Anthropic · #3
- Claude Sonnet 4.6 · Anthropic · #4
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