StepFun 阶跃星辰 vs Z.ai (Zhipu GLM)
A side-by-side look at scores, pricing and features — with RECATOOLS' ASEAN-aware verdict for each.
StepFun 阶跃星辰
Shanghai frontier-model lab behind Step 5 Preview and open Step Flash...
Visit
|
Z.ai (Zhipu GLM)
Zhipu's GLM model family, open weights and a Singapore-run API
Visit
|
|
|---|---|---|
| RECATOOLS Score | 6.6 / 10 | 7.6 / 10 |
| Capability | ||
| Value for money | ||
| Ease of use | ||
| ASEAN readiness | ||
| API quality | ||
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free tier | Step 3.5 Flash and Step 3.7 Flash weights are free under Apache 2.0; StepAudio 3 preview models are free on the API for a limited time | GLM-4.7-Flash, GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.6V-Flash free on the API; free chat at chat.z.ai |
| Paid from | API from $0.10 per 1M input tokens (step-3.5-flash, international platform) | $18/month (GLM Coding Plan Lite; $12.60/month billed yearly); API priced per token |
| Has API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free to use | ✓ | ✓ |
| Users | — | — |
| Founded | 2023 | 2022 |
| Maker | — | Knowledge Atlas Technology (Zhipu AI) |
| Verdict | StepFun is one of China's best-funded labs and ships fast: Apache-licensed Step 3.5 and 3.7 Flash weights, a 600B Step 5 Preview with open weights promised for 15 October 2026, and a full StepAudio 3 voice stack. Step 3.... |
GLM is one of the strongest price-performance options among open-weight model families: GLM-5.3 lists at $1.40 and $4.40 per million tokens, Flash models are free, and the GLM Coding Plan from $18 a month plugs into Clau... |
| Full review → | Full review → |
← Back to AI Directory
Comparisons cover up to 4 tools. Scores are RECATOOLS editorial assessments; verify current pricing on each vendor's site.