Fugu Max vs GLM 5.3 Flash
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
Fugu Max (Sakana AI) and GLM 5.3 Flash (Z.ai), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
| Fugu Max |  GLM 5.3 Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Sakana AI | Z.ai |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥357.4 | ¥26.81 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥1,072.2 | ¥89.35 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥894 | ¥71 |
| Context window | 1,000,000 tokens | 1,310,720 tokens |
| Release date | 9/11/2026 | 8/26/2026 |
| Input modalities | text, image, file | text, image, video |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | Unranked | #29 · ELO 1,475 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | #51 · ELO 1,427 |
| Arena · coding | Unranked | #20 · ELO 1,525 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GLM 5.3 Flash: ¥89.35 per 1M output tokens, 92% less than Fugu Max.
- For long documents, GLM 5.3 Flash: a 1,310,720-token context window against 1,000,000 for Fugu Max.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
Fugu Max
The word **“strawberry”** has **3** letters **“r”**.
Step by step:
1. Write the word: **s t r a w b e r r y**
2. Check each letter:
- s — no
- t — no
- **r** — yes, 1st
- a — no
- w — no
- b — no
- e — no
- **r** — yes, 2nd
- **r** — yes, 3rd
- y — no
So, the total number of **‘r’s** in **“strawberry”** is **3**.
3.7s261 output tokens
GLM 5.3 Flash
# Counting 'r's in 'strawberry'
**Step 1: Write out the word letter by letter**
s - t - r - a - w - b - e - r - r - y
**Step 2: Check each letter one at a time**
| Position | Letter | Is it 'r'? |
|----------|--------|-----------|
| 1 | s | No |
| 2 | t | No |
| 3 | r | **Yes! (1)** |
| 4 | a | No |
| 5 | w | No |
| 6 | b | No |
| 7 | e | No |
| 8 | r | **Yes! (2)** |
| 9 | r | **Yes! (3)** |
| 10 | y | No |
**Step 3: Add up the matches**
The 'r's appear at positions 3, 8, and 9.
## Answer: There are **3** 'r's in "strawberry" 🍓
7.2s449 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
Fugu Max
The error means `users` is `undefined` when `UserList` renders, so `users.map(...)` throws:
```js
function UserList({ users }) {
// if `users` is not passed, this is undefined
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
</ul>
);
}
```
Common causes:
1. Parent renders `<UserList />` without the `users` prop.
2. State is initialized as `undefined`:
```js
const [users, setUsers] = useState();
```
3. Async data hasn’t loaded yet, but the component already renders.
4. The API returned something unexpected, e.g. `undefined`, an object, or an error response.
## Fixes
### 1. Default the prop to an empty array
```jsx
function UserList({ use…
10.6s1293 output tokens
GLM 5.3 Flash
## What's happening
The error means the `users` prop is `undefined` at the time `UserList` renders. Since you can't call `.map()` on `undefined`, JavaScript throws the TypeError.
This usually happens for one of these reasons:
1. **The parent isn't passing the prop** — rendering `<UserList />` without `users`, or with a typo'd prop name like `user={users}`.
2. **Data hasn't loaded yet** — the parent fetches data asynchronously and its state starts as `undefined`:
```jsx
const [users, setUsers] = useState(); // undefined until fetch resolves!
return <UserList users={users} />;
```
3. **API response shape mismatch** — the array is nested, e.g., you need `response.data.users` inst…
31.3s1639 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
Fugu Max
Here’s a review with concrete improvements.
## Main issues
1. **Bare `except:`**
- Catches everything, including `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and programming errors.
- Catch `requests.RequestException` instead, plus `ValueError` for JSON parsing if needed.
2. **Retries everything, including non-retryable errors**
- A `404` or `401` will be retried even though retrying will not help.
- Retry only transient failures: network errors, `429`, and `5xx`.
3. **Fixed 2-second sleep**
- No exponential backoff. Repeated retries can hammer the server.
- Use exponential backoff, optionally with jitter.
4. **Silent failure**
- Returning `[]` after all retries makes it hard…
24.7s3795 output tokens
GLM 5.3 Flash
Solid foundation — you're already passing an explicit `timeout` and implementing retries, which many people skip. Here's a breakdown by category:
## Correctness & robustness (most important)
- **Bare `except:`** catches *everything*, including `KeyboardInterrupt` and `SystemExit`, and silently discards the error. Catch specific exceptions: `requests.RequestException` for network issues, `ValueError` for invalid JSON.
- **Retrying non-retryable failures**: a 401/403/404 will never succeed on retry, so you're sleeping 6 seconds for nothing. Only retry transient errors (5xx, 429, timeouts/connection errors).
- **`item["active"]` raises `KeyError`** on malformed data. Use `item.get("active")`…
116.1s6185 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Fugu Max or GLM 5.3 Flash?
- Per 1M output tokens, Fugu Max is ¥1,072.2 and GLM 5.3 Flash is ¥89.35 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GLM 5.3 Flash is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of Fugu Max and GLM 5.3 Flash compare?
- Fugu Max takes 1,000,000 tokens; GLM 5.3 Flash takes 1,310,720.
- Can I use Fugu Max and GLM 5.3 Flash with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "fugu-max" or "glm-5.3-flash" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call Fugu Max and GLM 5.3 Flash from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.