Chat (Free)
$0
Web chat with GLM models at chat.z.ai
- Web chat
- GLM-5.3-Flash
- agent features
Z.ai Chat
Free GLM-powered AI chatbot and agent from Zhipu AI for writing, coding and research
Freemiumchat.z.aiUpdated
About Z.ai Chat
Z.ai Chat (chat.z.ai) is the web chatbot and agent interface for the GLM family of large language models built by Z.ai, the international brand of Beijing-based Zhipu AI. The page is currently powered by GLM-5.3-Flash and is free to use in a browser. It covers general conversation, writing, coding help, document and image understanding, and agent-style tasks such as building slides.
Best for
- Trying GLM models at no cost, drafting and summarizing text, coding questions, low-cost API experimentation
- Everyday Q&A and Writing: Drafting, summarizing and translating text in the free web chat.
- Coding Agent Backend: Running Claude Code or Cline on GLM models through a Coding Plan subscription.
- Chart and Document Analysis: Uploading images or documents for vision-model interpretation.
- Presentation Generation: Using the agent features to produce slides from a prompt.
- Low-Cost API Prototyping: Building apps on GLM models billed per token.
Not ideal for
- Users who need a native mobile app, organizations with strict data-residency requirements outside China
Popular with
- Students
- Developers
- Researchers
- Content Creators
- Marketers
Key features
- GLM Chat
- Agent Capabilities
- Vision Understanding
- Coding Assistance
- GLM Coding Plan
- Web Search and Web Reader MCP
- Z.ai API Platform
- Open-Weights Models
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free web chat with recent GLM models and no subscription needed.
- Low per-token API prices, such as $0.15 input and $0.50 output per 1M tokens for GLM-5.3-Flash.
- Many GLM models are open-weights, so they can be self-hosted.
- The Coding Plan works with 20+ existing coding agent tools rather than locking users into one editor.
- Vision, search and reader tools are included in Coding Plan tiers.
Cons
- No confirmed official native iOS or Android app for the chat.
- Coding Plan terms have changed several times (legacy plans replaced by credits on July 30, 2026), which makes usage harder to predict.
- Service is operated by a China-based company, which may be a concern for data-residency-sensitive users.
- Free chat usage limits are not publicly documented.
Pricing
Plans as listed by the vendor on . Check their site for current prices.
GLM Coding Lite
$18/month
Lightweight coding workloads
- 2,000 credits per 5 hours
- 10,000 credits per week
- GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3-Flash
GLM Coding Pro
$80/month
Professional coding workloads
- 12,000 credits per 5 hours
- 60,000 credits per week
- Vision
- Web Search and Web Reader MCP
GLM Coding Max
$168/month
High-volume coding workloads
- 28,000 credits per 5 hours
- 140,000 credits per week
- Vision
- Web Search and Web Reader MCP
Our ratings
Scored out of 10 by the Finder Atlas editorial team.
8.0overall
- Ease of Use
- 8.0
- Feature Depth
- 7.8
- Value for Money
- 8.8
- Performance & Speed
- 8.0
- Documentation & Support
- 7.5
Platforms and integrations
Available on
- Web
- API
Works with
- Claude Code
- Codex
- Cline
- Kilo Code
- OpenCode
- ZCode
- OpenClaw
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Release history
Latest flagship model, now used across chat and the Coding Plan
Latest flagship model, now used across chat and the Coding Plan.
GLM Coding Plan moved to a credits system on July 30, 2026
GLM Coding Plan moved to a credits system on July 30, 2026.
Released as a coding-focused model
Released as a coding-focused model.
Parent company debuted on the HKEX under 2513
Parent company debuted on the HKEX under 2513.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Z.ai Chat free?
Yes, chat.z.ai can be used in the browser at no cost. Paid options are the GLM Coding Plan (from $18 per month) and the pay-as-you-go API.
What model does Z.ai Chat use?
The site is currently powered by GLM-5.3-Flash. The wider platform also offers GLM-5.3, GLM-5.2 and earlier GLM models through the API.
What is the GLM Coding Plan?
It is a subscription that lets you use GLM models inside coding agents such as Claude Code, Cline and OpenCode, with usage measured in credits that refresh every 5 hours and weekly.
Does Z.ai have a mobile app?
Not for the chat product that we could verify. The chat works in a mobile browser. Z.ai also publishes an AutoGLM iOS app, which is a separate product.
Who makes Z.ai?
Z.ai is the international brand of Zhipu AI (Beijing Zhipu Huazhang Technology), founded in 2019 in Beijing and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under 2513.
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