01.AI vs Zhipu AI
Which Agents AI tool is better in 2026?
01.AI
Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family.
Zhipu AI
Chinese foundation model lab behind ChatGLM and GLM-4.
Side-by-side
Zhipu AI is the more established option (raised $2.0B); pricing is comparable on both sides.
| Metric | 01.AI | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Founded by Kai-Fu Lee — maker of the Yi model family. | Chinese foundation model lab behind ChatGLM and GLM-4. |
| Foundedi | 2023 | 2019🏆 |
| HQi | Beijing, CN | Beijing, CN |
| Employeesi | 201-500 | 201-500 |
| Neuron scorei | 65 | 86🏆 |
| Total fundingi | $200M | $2.0B🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series A · Nov 2023 | IPO · Jan 2026 |
| Valuationi | $1B | $6.6B🏆 |
| Cheapest paid plani | — | — |
| Free plani | ✗ | ✓ Free Tier |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Enterprise LLM Platform · Contact sales | — |
| Pricing summaryi | 1 published plans | 1 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for 01.AI and Zhipu AI.
| Capability | 01.AI | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (Python) | 2 (Python, Go) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✓ |
🟢 Strengths of 01.AI
- Newer company (2023)
🔵 Strengths of Zhipu AI
- Has raised more capital ($2.0B vs $200M)
- Higher Neuron score (86 vs 65)
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
Which should you choose?
Choose Zhipu AI if price matters most — it starts at Free, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Agents tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Zhipu AI if you want the most established option — it has raised $2.0B, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
💸 Deals
Zhipu GLM API — free signup credits
New Zhipu BigModel API accounts get free starter credits to evaluate GLM-4 and CogView image models.
Terms: New accounts only.
Frequently asked questions
01.AI vs Zhipu AI — which is better?
It depends on your priority. 01.AI is the leaner option; Zhipu AI has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is 01.AI cheaper than Zhipu AI?
No — Zhipu AI's cheapest paid plan is Free, while 01.AI's is Freemium.
Do 01.AI and Zhipu AI offer free plans?
01.AI: Paid only. Zhipu AI: Yes, has a free plan.
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