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Z.ai

Zhipu AI's GLM platform — a free GLM-5.2 chatbot plus a low-cost GLM Coding Plan for agents and IDEs like Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline

Z.ai is the international platform for Zhipu AI's GLM models. Its free chatbot runs GLM-5.2, while the paid GLM Coding Plan routes GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7 into coding agents and IDEs like Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline. The Lite coding tier starts around $18/month, billed quarterly, for roughly 80 prompts every 5 hours. Best for budget-conscious developers who want frontier-class coding at a fraction of typical US pricing.

Unverified JUN 18, 2026 FREEMIUM Live
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Screenshot of Z.ai

What is Z.ai?

Z.ai is the international platform for Zhipu AI’s GLM models. It has two faces: a free, general-purpose chatbot powered by GLM-5.2, and a paid GLM Coding Plan aimed at developers. The chatbot handles everyday chat, reasoning, and writing at no cost, while the Coding Plan routes GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7 into coding agents and IDEs — it is built to plug into tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline rather than to replace them with a closed editor. A developer API exposes the same GLM models for building applications directly.

The main draw is price. The Coding Plan’s Lite tier starts at roughly $18/month and is billed quarterly, undercutting comparable US offerings, and GLM-5.2 is reported to support a long context window of up to one million tokens. Usage is measured in prompt quotas rather than hard token caps — Lite allows about 80 prompts every five hours — with the figures described as estimates that drain faster during peak hours. Pricing has been a moving target in 2026, with a reset in February and an increase in April, so the exact cost of the higher Pro and Max tiers should be confirmed on the official plan page before committing.

Who is it for?

Z.ai fits people who want frontier-class models without frontier-class prices, and who are comfortable working with a China-based provider. The free chatbot is open to anyone, while the Coding Plan targets developers already using agentic tools who care most about cost per prompt.

  • Budget-conscious developers who want capable coding models inside Claude Code, Cursor, or Cline at a fraction of US subscription prices.
  • Casual users who want a free, capable chatbot for questions, drafting, and reasoning without a subscription.
  • Builders on a tight API budget who need long-context GLM models for large codebases or documents.
  • Teams evaluating alternatives to US frontier providers who can accept quarterly billing and the data-residency trade-offs of a China-based vendor.

How much does Z.ai cost?

Starting price: $18/mo · Free tier: yes · Model: freemium

Pricing verified JUN 18, 2026

Price history tracked from June 2026

Z.ai pricing tiers, verified against the official pricing page
Plan Price Includes
Free Chat Free GLM-5.2 chatbot and agent at no cost · General chat, reasoning, and writing
Coding Plan — Lite $18/mo Starts around $18/month, billed quarterly · Roughly 80 prompts every 5 hours (about 400/week) · Includes GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7 · Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, and other tools

What are Z.ai's key features?

  • Free GLM-5.2 chatbot and agent for general use
  • GLM Coding Plan that routes GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7 into coding agents and IDEs
  • Integrations with Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, and other coding tools
  • GLM API access for developers building on the models directly
  • Long-context GLM-5.2 model (reported up to 1M tokens) for large inputs
  • Quota-based coding tiers (Lite, Pro, Max) that scale prompt volume

What people use Z.ai for

  1. 01 Using a free GLM-5.2 chatbot for everyday questions, writing, and reasoning
  2. 02 Powering coding agents like Claude Code or Cline with GLM models at low cost
  3. 03 Running GLM-5.2's long-context model over large codebases or documents
  4. 04 Building applications on the GLM API as a cheaper alternative to US frontier APIs
  5. 05 Pair-programming inside Cursor and other IDEs through the GLM Coding Plan

Pros and cons

Pros and cons of Z.ai
Pros Cons
Free, capable GLM-5.2 chatbot with no subscription required Coding Plan pricing changed twice in 2026 (a February reset and an April increase) and is billed quarterly — there is no month-to-month option
Coding Plan is far cheaper than comparable US offerings — Lite is around $18/month Prompt quotas are estimates and drain faster during peak hours (14:00–18:00 UTC+8)
Works inside popular agents and IDEs rather than a closed app As a China-based provider (Zhipu AI), data residency and access policies may concern some enterprises
One plan gives access to multiple GLM models (5.2, 5-Turbo, and 4.7) Exact Pro and Max tier prices shift over time; confirm current rates on the official plan page before committing

What are the best Z.ai alternatives?

Frequently asked questions

Is Z.ai free?

Yes, in part. The GLM-5.2 chatbot is free to use with no subscription. The GLM Coding Plan, which routes GLM models into coding agents and IDEs, is a paid subscription that starts at roughly $18/month for the Lite tier.

What is the GLM Coding Plan?

It is Z.ai's paid plan for developers, routing GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7 into coding agents and IDEs such as Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline. It comes in Lite, Pro, and Max tiers that differ mainly in prompt quota.

How much does the GLM Coding Plan cost?

The Lite tier starts around $18/month and is billed quarterly. The Pro and Max tiers cost more and include larger prompt quotas. Pricing changed during 2026 with a February reset and an April increase, so confirm the current rates on the official plan page before subscribing.

What models does Z.ai use?

Z.ai runs Zhipu AI's GLM family. The free chatbot uses GLM-5.2, and the Coding Plan includes GLM-5.2, GLM-5-Turbo, and GLM-4.7. GLM-5.2 is reported to support a long context window of up to one million tokens.

Does Z.ai work with Claude Code or Cursor?

Yes. The GLM Coding Plan is designed to plug GLM models into existing coding tools, including Claude Code, Cursor, and Cline, rather than requiring a separate editor.

Who makes Z.ai?

Z.ai is the international brand for Zhipu AI, a China-based AI company that develops the GLM model family. The platform offers the chatbot, the GLM Coding Plan, and a developer API.

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