GLM-5.2 vs DeepSeek V4 Flash
GLM-5.2 and DeepSeek V4 Flash are the value plays of the open ecosystem. GLM scores one Intelligence Index point higher (53 vs 52); DeepSeek is ten times cheaper hosted at $0.14/$0.28 per million tokens against $1.40/$4.40. Both are text-only with 1M-token context. For API workloads, DeepSeek's economics are decisive.
Side by side
| GLM-5.2 | DeepSeek V4 Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Z AI | DeepSeek |
| Released | 2026-06-16 | 2026-07-31 |
| Context window | 1M tokens | 1M tokens |
| Modalities in | text | text |
| Input $/MTok | $1.4 | $0.14 |
| Output $/MTok | $4.4 | $0.28 |
| Open weights | Yes (Open weights) | Yes (Open weights) |
Benchmark deltas
| Benchmark | GLM-5.2 | DeepSeek V4 Flash | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA Intelligence Index | 53 | 52 | +1 |
Δ is GLM-5.2 minus DeepSeek V4 Flash, in points. Shaded cell wins the row. Dashed values are vendor-published, not yet reproduced — methodology.
Cost calculator
- GLM-5.2
- $114/mo
- DeepSeek V4 Flash
- $9.8/mo
- Difference
- $104.2/mo
List prices as of 2026-08-11; excludes caching, batch, and long-context tiers — see model pages for tier notes.
Verdict
One Intelligence Index point cannot justify a 10× price difference: for hosted API workloads, DeepSeek V4 Flash is the obvious pick, and Artificial Analysis rates it the cheapest well-known model outright. GLM-5.2's advantages are operational — faster serving at 142 tokens per second, a proven self-hosting story with 40B active parameters, and Z AI's cleaner open-weights terms versus V4 Flash's pending license details. Batch pipelines and cost-capped products: DeepSeek. Self-hosters wanting speed under their own roof: GLM-5.2.
Verdicts are analysis, not measurement, and are labeled as such per our editorial policy.
FAQ
- Is GLM-5.2 cheaper than DeepSeek V4 Flash?
- No. DeepSeek V4 Flash is cheaper: $0.14 input / $0.28 output per million tokens against $1.4 / $4.4 for GLM-5.2 (prices as of August 11, 2026).
- Which has the longer context window — GLM-5.2 or DeepSeek V4 Flash?
- They match: both accept 1M tokens of context.
- Which is the more capable model, GLM-5.2 or DeepSeek V4 Flash?
- GLM-5.2 scores higher on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index: 53 (measured August 11, 2026) against 52 for DeepSeek V4 Flash (measured August 11, 2026).
Related news
Comparison published August 11, 2026; underlying data last changed August 11, 2026.