Which is cheaper, Claude or Z.AI GLM?

Z.AI GLM is 1.1x cheaper than Claude. Claude starts at $0/mo, Z.AI GLM starts at $18/mo.

Does Claude have a free tier?

Yes, Claude offers a free tier with .

Claude has drop-in switching cost. Z.AI GLM has drop-in switching cost. Both have similar switching complexity.

Ai Coding

Claude

Anthropic's AI assistant with extended thinking, Claude Code CLI, and agentic coding for software development

Switching Cost: drop-in

Z.AI GLM

← More affordable

Zhipu AI's GLM models with tiered coding subscriptions for AI-assisted development and code generation

Switching Cost: drop-in

The free tier advantage goes to Claude, which offers a no-cost entry point that Z.AI GLM lacks.

Claude stands out for teams needing a free tier — zero upfront costs for prototyping and testing is a genuine advantage.

Claude stands out for teams needing a free tier — zero upfront costs for prototyping and testing is a genuine advantage.

Price Difference

1.1x

Z.AI GLM is cheaper by $2/mo

Free Tier

Claude

Has a free tier option