Zhipu Sparks AI Price Surge as GLM-5 Costs Double Overseas
Zhipu Ignites AI Pricing Shift with GLM-5 Adjustments
The artificial intelligence sector witnessed a watershed moment this week as Zhipu announced substantial price increases for its flagship GLM-5 model, particularly affecting overseas customers. This marks the first significant pricing recalibration among China's major AI providers in 2026.
Pricing Details Reveal Geographic Disparity
Internal documents show stark differences between domestic and international pricing strategies:
- Chinese market: Coding Plan subscriptions rose by approximately 30%, with introductory discounts eliminated
- Global markets: Saw steeper increases of 30-60% for subscriptions and shocking 67-100% jumps for API calls
Existing users received temporary relief through grandfather clauses maintaining current rates until their contracts expire.
Behind the Price Tags: More Than Just Computing Costs
Company representatives cited "explosive demand growth" as the primary driver, but industry analysts identify multiple converging factors:
Resource Strain: Developer adoption of GLM Coding solutions has overwhelmed infrastructure capacity Quality Investments: Maintaining service standards required massive computing power upgrades and model refinements Strategic Pivot: Moves suggest maturation from loss-leading user acquisition toward sustainable monetization
The pricing revision follows months of infrastructure strain reports across China's AI sector.
Industry Ripples: Who Follows Suit?
The move positions Zhipu as a trendsetter in China's increasingly stratified AI market: Price Leaders: Yuedi Dark Face, MiniMax and Jieyue Star previously implemented selective API increases Holdouts: Banchuan Intelligence and Zero One World maintain stable pricing structures Tech Giants: Alibaba, ByteDance and Baidu employ dynamic tiered models avoiding blanket hikes
The divergence reflects broader debates about balancing growth with profitability in China's competitive AI ecosystem.
Key Points:
- First major 2026 price adjustment among Chinese AI providers
- International users bear heaviest burden with doubled API costs
- Signals strategic shift from user growth to sustainable monetization
- Industry likely to see continued pricing stratification among competitors
