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OpenAI: o4 Mini vs Z.ai: GLM 4.6

Head-to-head API cost, context, and performance comparison. Synced at 4:09:56 PM.

Executive Summary

When evaluating OpenAI: o4 Mini against Z.ai: GLM 4.6, the pricing structure is a key differentiator. Z.ai: GLM 4.6 is approximately 61% more cost-effective per 1 million tokens overall.

However, when looking at raw reasoning capabilities, OpenAI: o4 Mini leads with a statistical ELO score of 1427. For tasks involving complex logic, coding, or instruction-following, developers might prefer OpenAI: o4 Mini, provided their budget allows for the API burn rate.

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Raw Technical comparison

Metric
OpenAI: o4 Mini
Z.ai: GLM 4.6
Performance (ELO)
1427
1426
Input Cost / 1M
$1.10
$0.43
Output Cost / 1M
$4.40
$1.74
Context Window
200,000 tokens
202,752 tokens

Verdict

If you are looking for pure performance and capability, OpenAI: o4 Mini is statistically superior. However, if API burn rate is the primary concern, Z.ai: GLM 4.6 wins out aggressively in pricing.

People Also Ask

Is OpenAI: o4 Mini cheaper than Z.ai: GLM 4.6?

No. Z.ai: GLM 4.6 is the more cost-effective model, operating at a lower price point per 1 million tokens.

Which model has the larger context window?

The Z.ai: GLM 4.6 model has the advantage in memory, offering a massive 202,752 token limit for document ingestion.

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