GPT-4.1 vs GLM-4 Plus

Compare GPT-4.1 and GLM-4 Plus: pricing, performance, context window, latency, and best use cases. Side-by-side comparison on XALEN.

Updated 2026-05-21 · By Abhishek Raj · Our methodology

All OpenAI models All Zhipu AI models What is an LLM API? Python Quickstart What is inference?
Feature GPT-4.1 GLM-4 Plus
CategoryFrontierOpen Source
Parameters~1.8T130B
Context Window1M128K
Input Price$0.10/1M tokens$0.05/1M tokens
Output Price$0.30/1M tokens$0.09/1M tokens
Latency~500ms~350ms

Choose GPT-4.1 when:

  • ✓ Complex reports
  • ✓ Code generation
  • ✓ Enterprise workflows
Key Strengths:

1M context, Best instruction following, Best coding

Choose GLM-4 Plus when:

  • ✓ Buddhist text analysis
  • ✓ Cross-cultural content
  • ✓ Bilingual apps
Key Strengths:

Strong bilingual, Good classical Chinese, Reliable

Verdict: GPT-4.1 vs GLM-4 Plus

For cost efficiency, GLM-4 Plus wins at $0.05/1M input tokens. For speed, GLM-4 Plus is faster at ~350ms. GPT-4.1 excels at Complex reports while GLM-4 Plus is better for Buddhist text analysis. Both are available on XALEN through a single API — try them in the Playground to see which fits your workload.

Detailed Analysis

Pricing Comparison

GPT-4.1 costs $0.10/1M input tokens and $0.30/1M output tokens. GLM-4 Plus costs $0.05 input and $0.09 output. GLM-4 Plus is 2.0x cheaper on input tokens. XALEN offers batch processing at 50% discount on both models.

Performance & Context

GPT-4.1 has a 1M context window with ~500ms latency. GLM-4 Plus offers 128K context at ~350ms. GPT-4.1 has the larger context window.

Best For

GPT-4.1 (Frontier) is optimized for: Complex reports, Code generation, Enterprise workflows. GLM-4 Plus (Open Source) works best for: Buddhist text analysis, Cross-cultural content, Bilingual apps.

Try Both on XALEN

Both models are available through XALEN's OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between them by changing the model parameter:

from xalen import XALEN

client = XALEN(api_key="xln_test_YOUR_KEY")

# Use GPT-4.1
response_a = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4-1",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)

# Use GLM-4 Plus
response_b = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="glm-4-plus",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)

Start Building with XALEN

200+ AI models. One API. Pay-as-you-go.

Get API Key Try in Playground

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, GPT-4.1 or GLM-4 Plus?

GPT-4.1 (Frontier, ~1.8T) offers 1M context. GLM-4 Plus (Open Source, 130B) offers Strong bilingual. Choose GPT-4.1 for Complex reports or GLM-4 Plus for Buddhist text analysis.

How much does GPT-4.1 cost vs GLM-4 Plus?

GPT-4.1: $0.10/1M input, $0.30/1M output. GLM-4 Plus: $0.05/1M input, $0.09/1M output. Both available on XALEN with batch processing at 50% discount.

Can I use both models on XALEN?

Yes. XALEN provides 200+ models through a single OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between GPT-4.1 and GLM-4 Plus by changing the model parameter. No code changes needed.

Related Comparisons

GPT-4.1 vs GPT-4.1 Mini GPT-4.1 vs GPT-4o GPT-4.1 vs Claude Opus 4 GPT-4.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4 GPT-4.1 vs Claude Opus 4.5 GPT-4.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.5

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Pricing and specifications may change. Check pricing page for latest rates.