GLM-5.2 vs Qwen3-Max: API Pricing
Input and output token rates, context windows, and real monthly cost for GLM-5.2 (Z.ai) and Qwen3-Max (Alibaba), side by side. Prices are standard on-demand rates as of June 2026.
The short answer
For a typical coding-agent workload (60M in / 12M out per month), GLM-5.2 is the cheaper option at $137/mo versus $144/mo for Qwen3-Max - about 5% less. On the headline sticker of 1M input + 1M output, GLM-5.2 is $5.80 and Qwen3-Max is $7.20.
Rates at a glance
| GLM-5.2 | Qwen3-Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Input ($/1M tokens) | $1.40 | $1.20 |
| Output ($/1M tokens) | $4.40 | $6.00 |
| Blended (1M in + 1M out) | $5.80 | $7.20 |
| Context window | 200K | 262K |
| Type | Open-weight | Proprietary |
| Provider | Z.ai | Alibaba |
Monthly cost by workload
Estimated monthly API spend at each workload's token volume. Output usually costs several times input, so the winner can flip with your mix.
| Workload | GLM-5.2 | Qwen3-Max | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatbot / assistant10M in / 3M out | $27.20/mo | $30.00/mo | GLM-5.2 |
| Coding agent60M in / 12M out | $137/mo | $144/mo | GLM-5.2 |
| RAG / summarization40M in / 4M out | $73.60/mo | $72.00/mo | Qwen3-Max |
| Batch / classification20M in / 2M out | $36.80/mo | $36.00/mo | Qwen3-Max |
Want your own in/out split? Use the full interactive comparator to rank every model and provider for your exact workload.
Frequently asked questions
Is GLM-5.2 or Qwen3-Max cheaper?
It depends on your input/output mix, but for a typical coding-agent workload (60M in / 12M out per month) GLM-5.2 costs $137/mo versus $144/mo for Qwen3-Max - about 5% less. On the headline sticker (1M input + 1M output), GLM-5.2 is $5.80 and Qwen3-Max is $7.20.
What are the token rates for GLM-5.2 and Qwen3-Max?
GLM-5.2 (Z.ai) is $1.40 per 1M input and $4.40 per 1M output. Qwen3-Max (Alibaba) is $1.20 per 1M input and $6.00 per 1M output. These are standard on-demand rates, not cached or batch.
Is GLM-5.2 or Qwen3-Max open-weight?
GLM-5.2 is open-weight and Qwen3-Max is proprietary. Open-weight models can be self-hosted or run on third-party hosts at different rates, so the first-party price shown here is a starting point, not the only option.
What context window do GLM-5.2 and Qwen3-Max support?
GLM-5.2 supports 200K tokens and Qwen3-Max supports 262K tokens. Some models also step up pricing past a size threshold - check the source pricing pages for long-context tiers.
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