kitio.aiChatGPT vs Z.ai
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Z.ai is completely free, while ChatGPT is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Voice conversations
- File and image analysis
- Web search with sources
- Deep research
- Custom GPTs
- Projects and memory
- GLM model choice
- Thinking mode
- Web search
- Slide and web page generation
- File uploads
| Feature | ChatGPT | Z.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI's general assistant for writing, research, coding and images | Free chatbot running Zhipu's GLM models for chat, code and slides |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $8/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | OpenAI | Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI) |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Z.ai is completely free, while ChatGPT is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
6 plans
Free
Free
- Access to GPT models with limits
- Limited file uploads and image generation
Go
$8/mo
- Higher message and upload limits
- More image generation
- Longer memory
Plus
$20/mo
- Advanced reasoning models
- Deep research and agent mode
- Codex access
Pro
$100/mo
- Starting price; $200 and $500 tiers
- Highest usage limits
- Pro reasoning model
Business
$25/mo
- Per user, 2-seat minimum
- Shared workspace and admin controls
- No training on your data
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Enterprise security and SSO
- Expanded context and limits
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
ChatGPT
- Handles a very wide range of tasks
- Strong voice mode on mobile
- Large ecosystem of custom GPTs
- Best models and limits sit on paid plans
- Free and Go tiers show ads
- Can state wrong facts confidently
Z.ai
- Free access to a frontier-class model
- Good at building small web apps
- Open-weight models behind it
- Less known outside developer circles
- Data handled by a Chinese company
- Fewer integrations than big rivals
Which one should you choose?
Choose ChatGPT if you want:
- Handles a very wide range of tasks
- Strong voice mode on mobile
- Large ecosystem of custom GPTs
Watch out: best models and limits sit on paid plans.
Choose Z.ai if you want:
- Free access to a frontier-class model
- Good at building small web apps
- Open-weight models behind it
Watch out: less known outside developer circles.
ChatGPT vs Z.ai FAQ
What is the difference between ChatGPT and Z.ai?
ChatGPT: OpenAI's general assistant for writing, research, coding and images. Z.ai: Free chatbot running Zhipu's GLM models for chat, code and slides. Both are chat assistants tools.
Is ChatGPT or Z.ai cheaper?
Z.ai is completely free, while ChatGPT is freemium.
Do ChatGPT and Z.ai have free plans?
ChatGPT: Yes. Z.ai: Yes, fully free.
Who makes ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Who makes Z.ai?
Z.ai is made by Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI), based in China.
Which should I choose, ChatGPT or Z.ai?
Choose ChatGPT if you value handles a very wide range of tasks and strong voice mode on mobile. Choose Z.ai if you value free access to a frontier-class model and good at building small web apps.