GLM-5 Turbo vs MiniMax M2.5
Complete pricing and performance comparison between Zhipu's GLM-5 Turbo and MiniMax's MiniMax M2.5.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
MiniMax M2.5
4.0x cheaper input, 3.3x cheaper output
Larger Context
GLM-5 Turbo
200K vs 128K
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GLM-5 Turbo | MiniMax M2.5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Zhipu | MiniMax | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.2 | $0.3 | MiniMax M2.5 is 75% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $4 | $1.2 | MiniMax M2.5 is 70% more expensive |
| Context Window | 200K | 128K | 2x difference |
| Max Output | 128K | 33K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GLM-5 Turbo | MiniMax M2.5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | -- | 42 | N/A |
| Output Speed | -- | 48 tok/s | N/A |
| Value (Quality/$) | -- | 139.7 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | GLM-5 Turbo | MiniMax M2.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0024 | $0.0007 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.0017 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.024 | $0.0066 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.017 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.240 | $0.066 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $0.174 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $2.40 | $0.660 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $1.74 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $24.00 | $6.60 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $17.40 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $2400.00 | $660.00 | MiniMax M2.5 saves $1740.00 |
Pros & Cons
GLM-5 Turbo Strengths
- +Larger context window (200K vs 128K)
- +Higher max output tokens
MiniMax M2.5 Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
When to Use Each Model
Choose GLM-5 Turbo for
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
Choose MiniMax M2.5 for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GLM-5 Turbo or MiniMax M2.5?
For input tokens, MiniMax M2.5 is 4.0x cheaper at $0.3/1M tokens. For output tokens, MiniMax M2.5 is 3.3x cheaper at $1.2/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GLM-5 Turbo costs $2.40 vs MiniMax M2.5 at $0.660.
What's the context window difference?
GLM-5 Turbo supports 200K context (200,000 tokens), while MiniMax M2.5 supports 128K (128,000 tokens). GLM-5 Turbo can handle 2x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
When should I choose GLM-5 Turbo over MiniMax M2.5?
Choose GLM-5 Turbo when you need: Larger context window (200K vs 128K), Higher max output tokens. Choose MiniMax M2.5 when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens.
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GLM-5 Turbo = $24.00, MiniMax M2.5 = $6.60. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GLM-5 Turbo = $160.00, MiniMax M2.5 = $42.00.