Z.ai (GLM)vsMiniMax
Two subscription plans that give you model access for coding agents. Z.ai focuses on GLM models for coding and office work; MiniMax adds image, speech and video models and its own agent app. We compare pricing, models, tools 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.
MiniMax
M Plan — models, agent app and API key in one subscription
MiniMax's M Plan bundles its text models (such as M3.1 Flash), image and speech models, and on Explore and Build the H3 video model, with the MiniMax Code agent app (web, desktop, TUI, iOS, Android) and an API key for tools such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode.
Winner Badges
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | MiniMax |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | GLM model access for coding and office work | MiniMax models + MiniMax Code app |
| Plans | Lite · Pro · Max | Go · Explore · Build |
| Pricing | From $18 · approx. $80 · approx. $168 | approx. $22 · $54 · $130 |
| Text models | GLM-5.3, GLM-5.3-Flash | M3.1 Flash (e.g.) |
| Image, speech & video | Vision understanding only | Image & speech; video (H3) on Explore and Build |
| First-party app | ZCode (desktop) | MiniMax Code (web, desktop, TUI, iOS, Android) |
| Usage model | 5-hour + weekly credits | Tier multipliers (1× / 3× / 7.5×) + credit packs |
| Third-party tools | 20+ per Z.ai | 10+ per MiniMax |
| Best for | Coding-focused GLM usage | Coding plus multimodal creation |
Detailed Feature Matrix
| GLM-5.3 / GLM-5.3-Flash | ||
| MiniMax M3.1 Flash text model | ||
| Image generation | ||
| Speech generation | ||
| Video generation (H3) | Explore and Build | |
| Vision / image understanding | Vision MCP | Multimodal understanding |
| Web search | Web Search MCP |
Ideal User Profiles
Z.ai (GLM)
- •Developers who mainly want GLM models for coding agents
- •Users who want published 5-hour and weekly credit limits
- •People who want web reader, web search, vision and Zread tools bundled in
- •Anyone who wants to try ZCode, Z.ai's own desktop agent app
MiniMax
- •Developers who also want image, speech or video generation
- •Users who like a first-party agent app available on web, desktop, TUI and mobile
- •People who want to top up with credit packs instead of upgrading plans
- •Heavy users who want priority access at peak times (Build tier)
Basics
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | MiniMax |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Model subscription (GLM Coding Plan) | Model subscription (M Plan) |
| Made by | Z.ai | MiniMax |
| First-party app | ZCode — free, needs a plan or API key | MiniMax Code — included with the plan |
| API access | Anthropic- and OpenAI-compatible endpoints | OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible protocols |
Pricing & Plans
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | MiniMax |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Lite — from $18/mo | Go — approx. $22/mo ($264/yr list, $220/yr billed annually) |
| Mid tier | Pro — approx. $80/mo | Explore — approx. $54/mo ($648/yr list, $550/yr billed annually) |
| Top tier | Max — approx. $168/mo | Build — approx. $130/mo ($1,560/yr list, $1,320/yr billed annually) |
| Relative usage | Weekly credits: Pro 6× Lite, Max 14× Lite | Explore 3× Go, Build 7.5× Go |
| Extra usage | GLM API (pay per token) | Credit packs: $5, $25 or $100 (valid for one year) |
Usage Limits
| Feature | Z.ai (GLM) | MiniMax |
|---|---|---|
| 5-hour credits (Lite / Pro / Max) | 2,000 / 12,000 / 28,000 | — |
| Weekly credits (Lite / Pro / Max) | 10,000 / 60,000 / 140,000 | — |
| Peak vs off-peak | Off-peak usage charged at 50%; peak is Mon–Fri 14:00–18:00 (UTC+8) | Priority access during peak hours on Build |
| When you reach the limit | Wait for the 5-hour or weekly reset | Remaining credit-pack balance is used next; account balance is not charged with a Subscription Key |
| Checking usage | Charge Type page in the Z.ai console | Usage page, mmx quota CLI, or API endpoint |
Pros & Cons
Z.ai (GLM)
Pros
- Starts at $18/mo, the lowest entry price of the two
- Published 5-hour and weekly credit allowances for each plan
- Off-peak usage is charged at 50% of the standard credit rate
- Vision, Web Search, Web Reader and Zread MCP tools on all plans
- Free ZCode desktop app, plus compatibility with 20+ tools per Z.ai
Cons
- Only GLM text models are included — no image, speech or video generation
- The plan is limited to Z.ai's officially supported tools and products
- Max is the priciest top tier of the two at approx. $168/mo
- Pro and Max prices here are from third-party trackers — check Z.ai before buying
MiniMax
Pros
- Text, image and speech models in every tier, and video on Explore and Build
- MiniMax Code app is included on web, desktop, TUI, iOS and Android
- Credit packs let you add usage without upgrading
- Lower top-tier price: Build is approx. $130/mo
- Build adds priority access at peak times and early access to new features
Cons
- Entry price is slightly higher than Z.ai Lite
- Exact per-tier usage limits are expressed as multipliers rather than published credit counts
- Go has no video model, and some features are limited by tier
- Monthly prices are derived from yearly list prices — verify on MiniMax's site
Our Verdict
Both are subscriptions that give you model access for coding agents, and both work with Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode. Z.ai is the more coding-focused of the two: it starts at $18/mo, documents its 5-hour and weekly credit allowances, and bundles GLM-5.3 with web search, reader, vision and Zread tools. MiniMax's M Plan costs a little more at entry (approx. $22/mo) but includes image and speech models, video on Explore and Build, and a first-party agent app on web, desktop, TUI and mobile. Pick Z.ai if you mostly want GLM for coding and clear limits. Pick MiniMax if you also create media or want its app and credit packs. Note that usage units differ between vendors, so plan tiers cannot be compared one-to-one.
Choose Z.ai (GLM) if...
- You mainly want GLM models for coding agents
- You want published 5-hour and weekly credit limits
- You want the lowest entry price at $18/mo
- You want web search, web reader and vision tools bundled in
Choose MiniMax if...
- You also want image, speech or video generation in the same plan
- You want a first-party agent app on web, desktop, TUI and mobile
- You prefer adding credit packs when you run out
- You want the cheaper top tier (Build, approx. $130/mo)
Ready to try one? Check current plans and pricing on the official sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Z.ai and MiniMax cost?
Z.ai's documentation says GLM Coding Plan prices start at $18 per month (Lite); we list Pro at approx. $80 and Max at approx. $168 based on third-party trackers. MiniMax's M Plan shows Go at $264 per year list ($220 billed annually), Explore at $648 ($550) and Build at $1,560 ($1,320), which works out to approx. $22, $54 and $130 per month on list pricing.
Which models do the plans include?
Z.ai's plans support GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash; requests for GLM-5.2 or GLM-5.1 are routed to GLM-5.3 and GLM-4.7 requests to GLM-5.3-Flash. MiniMax's M Plan includes text models such as M3.1 Flash, image and speech models, and on Explore and Build the H3 video model.
Do they work with Claude Code?
Yes. Z.ai lists Claude Code among its supported tools, and MiniMax says its subscription key works with tools such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and OpenCode. Always follow each vendor's current setup guide.
How do the usage limits differ?
Z.ai publishes credits: 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. Off-peak usage is charged at 50%. MiniMax describes its tiers relative to Go — Explore is 3× Go usage and Build is 7.5× — and adds credit packs of $5, $25 or $100 that are valid for one year.
Does either plan include an agent app?
Both do. Z.ai's ZCode is a free desktop agentic development environment that needs a GLM Coding Plan or API key. MiniMax Code is included with the M Plan and runs on web, desktop, TUI, iOS and Android.
Which is cheaper?
Z.ai is cheaper at the entry level ($18 for Lite vs approx. $22 for Go on monthly list pricing), while MiniMax is cheaper at the top (approx. $130 for Build vs approx. $168 for Max). Because usage units differ between vendors, price alone does not tell you how much work each plan covers.
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 MiniMax monthly figures are derived from its yearly list prices. Plans change often, so confirm current details before you buy. We do not publish benchmark scores on this page.