OpenAI vs Zhipu AI
Which Developer Tools AI tool is better in 2026?
OpenAI
Creator of ChatGPT, GPT-4, and the leading frontier AI lab.
Zhipu AI
Chinese foundation model lab behind ChatGLM and GLM-4.
Side-by-side
OpenAI is the more established option (raised $193.3B), but Zhipu AI is cheaper to start.
| Metric | OpenAI | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Creator of ChatGPT, GPT-4, and the leading frontier AI lab. | Chinese foundation model lab behind ChatGLM and GLM-4. |
| Foundedi | 2015🏆 | 2019 |
| HQi | San Francisco, US | Beijing, CN |
| Employeesi | 1001-5000 | 201-500🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 83🏆 | 65 |
| Total fundingi | $193.3B🏆 | $2.0B |
| Latest roundi | Series E · Mar 2026 | IPO · Jan 2026 |
| Valuationi | $852B🏆 | $6.6B |
| Cheapest paid plani | ChatGPT Plus · $20/mo | —🏆 |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✓ Free Tier |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | ChatGPT Team · $25/mo | — |
| Pricing summaryi | 4 published plans | 1 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for OpenAI and Zhipu AI.
| Capability | OpenAI | Zhipu AI |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 6 (Python, Node.js, TypeScript, Go…) | 2 (Python, Go) |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✓ | ✓ |
🟢 Strengths of OpenAI
- Has raised more capital ($193.3B vs $2.0B)
- Higher Neuron score (83 vs 65)
- More mature (2015)
🔵 Strengths of Zhipu AI
- Offers a free trial
- Newer company (2019)
Which should you choose?
Choose Zhipu AI if price matters most — it starts at Free, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Developer Tools tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose OpenAI if you want the most established option — it has raised $193.3B, 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
Free daily tokens via OpenAI data-sharing tier
Eligible OpenAI API tiers can earn free daily tokens on GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, and other models by opting in to share prompts and completions for model improvement.
Terms: Opt-in required. Token allotment varies by tier.
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
OpenAI vs Zhipu AI — which is better?
It depends on your priority. OpenAI has raised more capital and is the more established option; Zhipu AI is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is OpenAI cheaper than Zhipu AI?
No — Zhipu AI's cheapest paid plan is Free, while OpenAI's is ChatGPT Plus · $20/mo.
Do OpenAI and Zhipu AI offer free plans?
OpenAI: Yes, has a free plan. Zhipu AI: Yes, has a free plan.
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