Z.ai (GLM)vsCursor
Z.ai sells GLM model access for its own ZCode app and other supported agent tools. Cursor sells a complete AI editor with its own models included. We compare pricing, models, interfaces and usage limits as of October 2026.
Updated: October 2026
Z.ai (GLM)
GLM Coding Plan — GLM models for supported agent tools
Z.ai's GLM Coding Plan is a subscription for its GLM models (GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash). You use it in Z.ai's own free ZCode desktop app or in supported agent tools such as Claude Code, Cline, OpenCode and Codex. Every plan also includes Vision Understanding, Web Search, Web Reader and Zread MCP tools.
Cursor
AI code editor with agents
Cursor is an AI-first code editor with an in-editor Agent, a CLI and Cloud Agents. It is sold as part of The X Subscription. Paid plans include a weekly pool of usage for Cursor's own models (Grok and Composer); models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Z.ai and others are available on Premium and above at API list price.
Winner Badges
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | GLM model access (subscription) | AI code editor + agents (subscription) |
| Interface | ZCode desktop app or a supported agent tool | AI code editor · CLI · Cloud Agents |
| Pricing | From $18 (Lite) · approx. $80 (Pro) · approx. $168 (Max) | Free · $8 · $30 · $100 · $200 |
| Included models | GLM-5.3, GLM-5.3-Flash | Cursor's Grok 4.7 / 4.6 / 4.5 and Composer 2.5 |
| GLM models | Included in the plan | Third-party at API list price (Premium+) |
| Usage model | 5-hour + weekly credits; off-peak at 50% | Weekly pool + prepaid credit for extras |
| Extra tools | Vision, Web Search, Web Reader, Zread MCP | Cloud Agents, Automations, Bugbot (Premium+) |
| Best for | Low-cost GLM in tools you already use | An all-in-one AI editor |
Detailed Feature Matrix
| GLM-5.3 | API price (Premium+) | |
| GLM-5.3-Flash | API price (Premium+) | |
| Grok 4.7 / 4.6 / 4.5 | ||
| Composer 2.5 | ||
| Claude models | API price (Premium+) | |
| OpenAI GPT models | API price (Premium+) | |
| Google Gemini models | API price (Premium+) |
Ideal User Profiles
Z.ai (GLM)
- •Developers who already use Claude Code, Cline, OpenCode or a similar supported tool
- •Cost-conscious users who want GLM models on a subscription
- •People who want web search, web reader and vision tools bundled in
- •Users who are fine with ZCode or a supported third-party agent tool instead of a classic editor
Cursor
- •Developers who want a full AI editor out of the box
- •Users who want Cursor's own models plus optional Claude, GPT or Gemini
- •Teams that want centralised billing, analytics and SSO on Teams plans
- •Anyone who wants a free plan to try the editor first
Basics
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Model subscription for agent tools | AI code editor with agents |
| Made by | Z.ai | Cursor, sold as part of The X Subscription |
| Free plan | — | Agent and Chat with limited usage |
| Supported tools | 20+ per Z.ai (ZCode, Claude Code, Cline, OpenCode, Codex, AutoClaw, OpenClaw); plan is limited to officially supported tools | Cursor's own editor, CLI and Cloud Agents |
Pricing & Plans
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Lite — from $18/mo | Plus — $8/mo ($80/yr), Cursor models only |
| Mid tier | Pro — approx. $80/mo | Premium — $30/mo ($300/yr), 4x Plus usage |
| High tier | Max — approx. $168/mo | Super — $100/mo ($1,000/yr), 15x Plus usage |
| Top tier | — | Ultra — $200/mo ($2,000/yr), 50x Plus usage |
| Pay-as-you-go option | GLM API (separate pay-per-token pricing) | Prepaid credit top-ups, optionally auto top-up |
Models & Usage Limits
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Models in the plan | GLM-5.3 (1M context per ZCode docs) and GLM-5.3-Flash | Grok 4.7 / 4.6 / 4.5 and Composer 2.5 |
| Older model names | GLM-5.2 / 5.1 route to GLM-5.3; GLM-4.7 routes to GLM-5.3-Flash | — |
| 5-hour credits (Lite / Pro / Max) | 2,000 / 12,000 / 28,000 | Not used |
| Weekly credits (Lite / Pro / Max) | 10,000 / 60,000 / 140,000 | Weekly pool, 4x / 15x / 50x Plus on Premium / Super / Ultra |
| Peak vs off-peak | Off-peak usage charged at 50%; peak is Mon–Fri 14:00–18:00 (UTC+8) | No peak pricing — priority model access at peak on Super and above |
| GLM via API price | $1.40 in / $4.40 out per 1M tokens (GLM-5.3) | Same list price when GLM is used in Cursor (Premium+) |
Pros & Cons
Z.ai (GLM)
Pros
- Starts at $18/mo and works inside many agent tools
- Published 5-hour and weekly credit allowances for Lite, Pro and Max
- Off-peak usage is charged at 50% of the standard credit rate
- Vision, Web Search, Web Reader and Zread MCP tools are included on all plans
- Older GLM model names are routed automatically to GLM-5.3
Cons
- Mainly a model subscription — you pair it with ZCode or another supported agent tool
- The plan is limited to Z.ai's officially supported tools and products
- Only GLM models are included
- Limits are credit-based, so real-world usage depends on cache hit rate and model
- Pro and Max prices here are from third-party trackers — check Z.ai before buying
Cursor
Pros
- A complete AI editor with Agent, CLI and Cloud Agents
- Free plan, plus Plus at $8/mo for entry-level use
- Third-party models (including GLM) on Premium and above
- Weekly usage pool that resets, so one heavy day does not use up the month
- Per-seat Teams plans at $30, $100 or $200
Cons
- Third-party models are not in the plan — they cost API list price from prepaid credit
- Plus only includes Cursor's own models and locks settings (no Auto, Cloud Agents, Bugbot or third-party models)
- Several tiers plus prepaid credit make costs harder to forecast
- Legacy plans (Pro, Pro+, Ultra) still exist for existing customers, so older guides may not match today's pricing
Our Verdict
These products solve different problems. Z.ai's GLM Coding Plan is a low-priced way to use GLM models (GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash) in Z.ai's ZCode app or in supported agent tools, with published 5-hour and weekly credit limits. Cursor is a complete AI editor that includes its own Grok and Composer models, with other providers' models, including GLM, billed at API list price on Premium and above. If you already use a supported tool like Claude Code, Cline or OpenCode, or you are happy with ZCode, and want a cheaper model backend, Z.ai is the more direct fit. If you want one product that includes the editor, the agent and cloud agents, Cursor is the simpler choice. Compare them on how you work, not on sticker price alone.
Choose Z.ai (GLM) if...
- You already use Claude Code, Cline, OpenCode or another supported agent tool, or want to try ZCode
- You want GLM models and bundled web search, reader and vision tools
- You want published usage allowances and an $18/mo entry point
Choose Cursor if...
- You want an AI editor, agent and cloud agents in one product
- You want a free plan or an $8/mo starting point
- You want to mix Cursor's own models with Claude, GPT, Gemini or GLM
- You are buying for a team and want per-seat plans
Ready to try one? Check current plans and pricing on the official sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Z.ai GLM Coding Plan?
It is a subscription that gives you access to Z.ai's GLM models for coding and everyday office work. According to Z.ai's documentation it can be used with ZCode (Z.ai's own free desktop agentic development environment) and other agent tools such as Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, AutoClaw and OpenClaw. All plans support GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash plus Vision, Web Search, Web Reader and Zread MCP tools.
How much do Z.ai and Cursor cost?
Z.ai's documentation says plans start at $18 per month (Lite). We list Pro at approx. $80 and Max at approx. $168 based on third-party price trackers, so confirm them on Z.ai's site. Cursor has Free, Plus at $8/month, Premium at $30, Super at $100 and Ultra at $200, with annual prices of $80, $300, $1,000 and $2,000.
Can I use GLM models in Cursor?
Cursor's models and pricing page lists GLM 5.2, GLM 5.3 and GLM 5.3 Flash as third-party models, hidden by default, at API list price. Third-party models require Premium or above and are paid from prepaid credit. That is separate from a Z.ai Coding Plan subscription: Z.ai says the plan is limited to officially supported tools and products, and its overview page does not list Cursor, so check Z.ai's current tool guides before assuming it works there.
How do Z.ai's usage limits work?
Each Z.ai plan has a 5-hour limit and a weekly limit. Lite has 2,000 credits per 5 hours and 10,000 per week, Pro has 12,000 and 60,000, and Max has 28,000 and 140,000. Usage during off-peak hours is charged at 50% of the standard rate. Peak hours are Monday to Friday, 14:00–18:00 Singapore Standard Time (UTC+8).
What does Cursor's Plus plan include?
Plus ($8/month) covers Cursor's own models — Grok 4.7, Grok 4.6, Grok 4.5 and Composer 2.5 — at fixed settings. It does not include Auto, Cloud Agents, Automations, Bugbot, Origin, third-party models or your own API keys.
Which one should I choose?
Choose Z.ai if you already run a supported agent tool, or want to try ZCode, and want an inexpensive GLM backend. Choose Cursor if you want an AI editor with agents and cloud agents in one product. The two are not mutually exclusive, but they are separate subscriptions.
Sources & notes
Prices and features were checked against the vendors' official pages on October 26, 2026; Z.ai Pro and Max prices come from third-party trackers and are approximate. Plans change often, so confirm current details before you buy. We do not publish benchmark scores on this page.