Head-to-head AI model comparison graphic: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (DeepSeek) vs GLM-5.3 (Z AI). Intelligence index 32.6 vs 31.7; output speed 162 vs 74 tokens per second; time to first token 1.2s vs 1.7s; output price $1.20 vs $4.40 per million tokens; input price $0.30 vs $1.40 per million tokens. franklineh.com
DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 vs GLM-5.3: head-to-head AI benchmark comparison. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 leads on intelligence index, output speed, time to first token, output price and input price.
Head to headUpdated

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max vs GLM-5.3 Max: which is cheaper?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max leads the intelligence index 32.6 to 31.7. Benchmarks, sample bills, speed and a verdict.

Pick it for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 · Max

  • Lower cost: $0.54 against $2.28 for 1 million input and 200,000 output tokens.
  • Faster output: 162 tokens per second against 74 tokens per second.
  • Shorter wait for the first token: 1.2 seconds against 1.7 seconds.

Pick it for GLM-5.3 · Max

  • Teams already building on Z AI, if DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max's recorded advantages are small for your workload.

By the numbers

MetricDeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (Max)GLM-5.3 (Max)
Intelligence Index32.631.7
Input price (per 1M tokens)$0.30$1.40
Output price (per 1M tokens)$1.20$4.40
Output speed (tokens/s)16274
Time to first token1.2s1.7s
Release date2026-10-172026-08-18

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (Max) from DeepSeek and GLM-5.3 (Max) from Z AI land within 0.9 points of each other on the intelligence index. Price separates them more than anything else; on a blended basis GLM-5.3 Max costs 4.1 times as much as DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max. This page is written automatically from catalogue numbers only: benchmark scores, list prices and measured speed.

Running costs

The list prices are $0.30 in and $1.20 out for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max, and $1.40 in and $4.40 out for GLM-5.3 Max, per million tokens. For output tokens, GLM-5.3 Max is 3.7 times the price of DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max.

Take 1 million input tokens and 200,000 output tokens: that comes to $0.54 on DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max and $2.28 on GLM-5.3 Max. A bigger example, a support assistant answering 10,000 conversations of 2,000 input and 500 output tokens each, costs $12.00 on DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max and $50.00 on GLM-5.3 Max: a gap of $38.00. On a 3:1 blend of input to output tokens, that works out to $0.525 versus $2.15 per million.

Throughput and time to first token

Once a response is under way, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max produces roughly 162 tokens per second against 74 tokens per second for GLM-5.3 Max. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is ahead by 120% on throughput. Time to first token is 1.2 seconds for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max and 1.7 seconds for GLM-5.3 Max. In an interactive app, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max will feel noticeably more responsive.

Add the two numbers up for an 800-token reply and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max finishes first: 6.2 seconds for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max, 13 seconds for GLM-5.3 Max.

Generation gap

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max arrived on October 17, 2026, about 2 months after GLM-5.3 Max (August 18, 2026).

How the intelligence index compares

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max comes out ahead on the intelligence index, 32.6 to 31.7. That is close enough to call a draw on this measure.

Among 109 active scored models, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max sits 45th and GLM-5.3 Max 47th.

For coding or maths work specifically, the catalogue has no dedicated index on either side yet.

Score per dollar

Per point of intelligence index, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max costs $0.016 of blended price per million tokens and GLM-5.3 Max $0.068. With the higher score and the lower cost per point, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is the better value per point on these numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Is GLM-5.3 Max better than DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max comes out ahead on every measure the data separates: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max scores higher on the intelligence index, 32.6 to 31.7; DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is 76% cheaper on blended price; and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max streams output 2.2 times as fast.

Are DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max and GLM-5.3 Max from the same company?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is made by DeepSeek and GLM-5.3 Max by Z AI. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max was released on October 17, 2026 and GLM-5.3 Max on August 18, 2026.

Where do these numbers come from?

The figures are the recorded benchmark, price and speed data in Franklin AI's model catalogue. This page is written from that data automatically; neither model was tested by hand for it.

Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max or GLM-5.3 Max?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is cheaper on a blended basis. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max lists $0.30 per million input tokens and $1.20 per million output tokens; GLM-5.3 Max lists $1.40 and $4.40. For 1 million input and 200,000 output tokens that is $0.54 against $2.28.

Which is newer, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max or GLM-5.3 Max?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max is newer. It was released on October 17, 2026, about 2 months after GLM-5.3 Max (August 18, 2026).

Final whistle

Short answer: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max comes out ahead on every recorded measure where they differ, so it is the easier choice unless something outside this data matters to you. Pick GLM-5.3 Max only if your own tests show an advantage the recorded data does not. Pick DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 Max if cost matters ($1.20 against $4.40 per million output tokens) and long outputs need to finish quickly.

Where the numbers come from

The scores, speed and prices in this comparison come from independent third-party model evaluations that Franklin AI syncs each day, and the article was written from a snapshot of them. For the latest results, open the DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 (Max) and GLM-5.3 (Max) pages. The AI Benchmark methodology explains how that data is collected and shown.

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