GLM 5 API
The official API for Zhipu AI's GLM-5 model
Integrate frontier-level AI into your apps with one API. Chat, code, reason, and build agents — 200K context, tool calling, and streaming. Simple integration, transparent pricing.
What Is GLM 5 API?
GLM 5 API is the official API service for Zhipu AI's GLM-5 large language model. With a single API key you get access to chat completions, long-context reasoning (up to 200K tokens), code generation, tool calling, and streaming — so you can build assistants, apps, and automations without managing infrastructure.
Zhipu AI powers the GLM family of models and is known for cost-efficient, production-ready APIs. GLM 5 API brings the same reliability and transparent pricing to the latest model, with SDKs and docs to get you from signup to first request in minutes.
Overview
At a Glance
Easy Integration
REST API and SDKs for your stack. From signup to first request in minutes, with clear docs and examples.
Chat & Agents
Conversational API with tool calling and streaming. Build chatbots and agents that plan and act.
200K Context
Send long documents, codebases, or threads in one call. No chunking hacks — the model sees the full context.
Transparent Pricing
Pay per token with no lock-in. Cost-efficient compared to frontier alternatives; free tier available.
Core Capabilities
What GLM 5 API Delivers
Five capabilities available through a single API — use the ones you need for your product.
Chat & Content
Use the API for chat UIs, content generation, and copywriting. One endpoint, consistent quality and tone.
Code & Debug
Code completion, generation, and explanation via API. Integrate into IDEs, CI, or your own dev tools.
Reasoning
Multi-step reasoning over long inputs. Use for analysis, Q&A on documents, and structured output.
Tools & Agents
Tool-calling and function use in the API. Build agents that query data, call APIs, or run code.
Long Context
Up to 200K tokens per request. Send full documents or threads without splitting or losing context.
Use Cases
Where GLM 5 API Shines
Apps & Chat
Add chat or assistant UIs to your product. One API for conversation, streaming, and history.
Code & DevTools
Integrate code completion, generation, or explanation into IDEs, scripts, or CI pipelines.
Docs & Content
Generate or summarize docs, reports, and marketing copy from your data via the API.
Agents & Automation
Build agents that use tools, query APIs, or run code. Long context and streaming supported.
Technical Architecture
How GLM-5 Is Built
GLM-5 employs a Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture with approximately 745 billion total parameters, featuring 256 experts with 8 activated per token (5.9% sparsity) and 44 billion active parameters per inference — roughly twice the scale of its predecessor GLM-4.5. The model incorporates DeepSeek's sparse attention mechanism (DSA) for efficient long-context handling, enabling processing of sequences up to 200K tokens without the computational overhead of traditional dense attention. Trained entirely on Huawei Ascend chips using MindSpore, GLM-5 achieves full independence from US-manufactured semiconductor hardware.
| Total Parameters | ~745 Billion |
| Active Parameters | ~44 Billion |
| Expert Configuration | 256 total / 8 active (5.9%) |
| Context Window | Up to 200K tokens |
| Attention | DeepSeek Sparse (DSA) |
| Training Hardware | Huawei Ascend |
Why GLM 5 API
Competitive Edge
GLM 5 API gives you access to a frontier-level model with a simple, predictable API and competitive pricing.
- ✓ One API for chat, code, reasoning, and tool calling — no need to wire multiple services.
- ✓ 200K context in a single request. Send long documents or conversations without chunking.
- ✓ Streaming and structured output. Build responsive UIs and reliable pipelines.
- ✓ Transparent, usage-based pricing. Scale up without surprise bills; free tier to get started.
Open Source & Pricing
Access and Cost
GLM 5 API is the official way to use the GLM-5 model in production. Get an API key, call the API, and integrate into your app. No infrastructure to run — we handle scaling and updates.
Pricing is per token and published on the platform. You pay only for what you use, with a free tier to try. Compare with other frontier APIs; GLM 5 API is built to be cost-efficient for both startups and enterprises.
Release Timeline
Key Milestones
- Jan 8, 2026 — Zhipu AI completes Hong Kong IPO, raising ~HKD 4.35B (USD $558M) to fund next-generation model development.
- Jan 2026 — GLM-5 training nears completion on Huawei Ascend; internal testing and evaluation begin.
- Mid-Feb 2026 — GLM-5 becomes accessible via Z.ai platform and WaveSpeed API, with competitive benchmarks against Claude Opus series.
- Q1 2026 — Open-weight release under MIT license expected to follow initial API launch.
Get Started
How to Use GLM-5
Get an API Key
Sign up on the GLM 5 API platform (or Zhipu AI open platform), create a project, and copy your API key. No credit card required for the free tier.
Call the API
Use the REST API or official SDKs. Send a prompt, get a completion. Add streaming, tool calling, or long context as needed.
Integrate
Embed chat, code assist, or agents into your app. Docs and examples are available for popular languages and frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
What is GLM 5 API?
GLM 5 API is the official API service for Zhipu AI's GLM-5 large language model. You get chat, code, reasoning, tool calling, and long context (200K tokens) through a single API — no need to host the model yourself.
How do I get started?
Sign up on the platform, create a project, and copy your API key. Use the REST API or SDKs to send prompts and get completions. Docs and examples are available for quick integration.
What can I build with it?
Chatbots, code assistants, document Q&A, agents with tool use, content generation, and more. Any use case that needs strong language understanding and generation can use GLM 5 API.
How is pricing structured?
Pricing is per token (input and output). There is a free tier to try; paid usage is billed monthly. Exact rates are published on the platform and are cost-efficient compared to other frontier APIs.
Is there a free tier?
Yes. New accounts get free credits so you can test the API without a credit card. When you're ready to scale, you upgrade to paid usage.
Where is the documentation?
API docs, SDKs, and code examples are available on the platform. You'll find request/response formats, authentication, streaming, and tool-calling guides to integrate quickly.
Start with GLM 5 API
Get your API key, read the docs, and make your first request. Integrate chat, code, and agents into your app in minutes.
Get Started