GLM 5.1 vs GPT-6 Astra
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GLM 5.1 (Z.ai) and GPT-6 Astra (OpenAI), 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
 GLM 5.1 |  GPT-6 Astra | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Z.ai | OpenAI |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥250.18 | ¥1,717.72 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥786.28 | ¥8,588.62 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥643 | ¥6,012 |
| Context window | 204,800 tokens | 1,050,000 tokens |
| Release date | 4/7/2026 | 9/4/2026 |
| Input modalities | text | file, image, text |
| Arena · overall | #44 · ELO 1,466 | Unranked |
| Arena · Japanese | #45 · ELO 1,434 | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | #37 · ELO 1,514 | Unranked |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GLM 5.1: ¥786.28 per 1M output tokens, 91% less than GPT-6 Astra.
- For long documents, GPT-6 Astra: a 1,050,000-token context window against 204,800 for GLM 5.1.
- 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.
GLM 5.1
There are **3** 'r's in the word "strawberry".
Here is the step-by-step reasoning:
1. Let's break down the word "strawberry" letter by letter: s - t - r - a - w - b - e - r - r - y
2. Now, let's check each letter one by one to see if it is an 'r':
- **s**: not an 'r'
- **t**: not an 'r'
- **r**: this is the 1st 'r'
- **a**: not an 'r'
- **w**: not an 'r'
- **b**: not an 'r'
- **e**: not an 'r'
- **r**: this is the 2nd 'r'
- **r**: this is the 3rd 'r'
- **y**: not an 'r'
3. Counting them up, there are three 'r's in total (in the 3rd, 8th, and 9th positions).
7.3s565 output tokens
GPT-6 Astra
“strawberry” is spelled **s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y**.
The letter **r** appears in positions **3, 8, and 9**, so there are **3 r’s**.
3.8s85 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…
GLM 5.1
### What is causing the error?
The error `TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')` means you are trying to call the `.map()` method on a variable that is `undefined`.
In your code, the variable is `users`. When the `UserList` component renders, the `users` prop is `undefined`, so `undefined.map()` throws an error.
### Why is `users` undefined?
This usually happens for one of two reasons:
1. **You forgot to pass the prop:** The parent component rendering `<UserList />` is not passing the `users` attribute (e.g., `<UserList />` instead of `<UserList users={myUsers} />`).
2. **Async Data Fetching:** You are fetching the users from an API. On the initial render, befor…
45.0s1680 output tokens
GPT-6 Astra
The error means **`users` is `undefined` when React renders `UserList`**, so calling `users.map(...)` fails. This commonly happens when the parent doesn’t pass the prop or when data hasn’t finished loading.
### 1. Default `users` to an empty array
If an absent prop should mean “no users,” use a default value:
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
))}
</ul>
);
}
```
This handles a missing or `undefined` prop, but **not `null` or other non-array values**.
### 2. Check where the prop comes from
Make sure the parent passes an array. For data loaded asynchronously, initialize state to…
6.7s380 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):…
GLM 5.1
Here is a review of your function, broken down by areas for improvement, followed by a refactored version of the code.
### Key Areas for Improvement
1. **Imports Inside the Function:**
Placing `import` statements inside a function is generally discouraged in Python. It slows down the function execution every time it is called, and it violates PEP 8 (the Python style guide). Imports should always be at the top of the module.
2. **Bare `except` Clause:**
Using a bare `except:` catches *everything*, including `KeyboardInterrupt` and `SystemExit`, which makes it hard to terminate a hanging program. You should catch specific exceptions (like `requests.exceptions.RequestException`).
3. *…
70.3s2854 output tokens
GPT-6 Astra
The function is compact, but its biggest issue is that **all failures silently become `[]`**, making an unavailable API indistinguishable from a successful response with no active items.
### Suggested improvements
- **Move imports to module scope** for clarity and conventional organization.
- **Avoid bare `except:`.** It catches everything, including `KeyboardInterrupt`, and hides bugs such as missing dictionary keys.
- **Retry only transient failures**, such as connection errors, timeouts, rate limiting, and selected server errors. Retrying a `401` or `404` usually won’t help.
- **Don’t sleep after the final failed attempt.** Use exponential backoff rather than a fixed delay.
- **Use desc…
19.2s965 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GLM 5.1 or GPT-6 Astra?
- Per 1M output tokens, GLM 5.1 is ¥786.28 and GPT-6 Astra is ¥8,588.62 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GLM 5.1 is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GLM 5.1 and GPT-6 Astra compare?
- GLM 5.1 takes 204,800 tokens; GPT-6 Astra takes 1,050,000.
- Can I use GLM 5.1 and GPT-6 Astra with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "glm-5.1" or "gpt-6-astra" 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 GLM 5.1 and GPT-6 Astra from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.