GLM 5.3 Flash vs Hy4
Pricing, context window and real answers (November 2026)
GLM 5.3 Flash (Z.ai) and Hy4 (Tencent), 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 5.3 Flash |  Hy4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Z.ai | Tencent |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | $0.1583 | $0.8799 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | $0.5275 | $2.64 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | $0.422 | $2.20 |
| Context window | 1,310,720 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Release date | 8/26/2026 | 11/4/2026 |
| Input modalities | text, image, video | text |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #33 · ELO 1,477 | Unranked |
| Arena · Japanese | #37 · ELO 1,457 | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | #28 · ELO 1,526 | Unranked |
Prices are FastMetal's rates, before tax.
Rankings: LMArena leaderboard dataset (lmarena-ai/leaderboard-dataset), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-28; category names mapped and ratings rounded by FastMetal.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GLM 5.3 Flash: $0.5275 per 1M output tokens, 80% less than Hy4.
- For long documents, GLM 5.3 Flash: a 1,310,720-token context window against 1,000,000 for Hy4.
- 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 5.3 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
Hy4
The word **“strawberry”** is spelled:
**s t r a w b e r r y**
Step by step:
1. Check each letter: s, t, **r**, a, w, b, e, **r**, **r**, y
2. Mark the **r**’s: one after **t**, and two near the end before **y**.
3. Count them: 1 + 1 + 1 = **3**
So, there are **3** ‘r’s in **“strawberry”**.
4.2s343 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 5.3 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
Hy4
The error is caused by this line:
```js
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
```
At render time, `users` is `undefined`. Since `.map()` only exists on arrays, JavaScript tries to read `map` from `undefined` and throws:
```txt
Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
```
Even though this is in a Node.js app, this specific error is happening during React rendering, likely server-side rendering or a Node-based build/render process.
Common causes:
1. The parent component is not passing `users`.
2. The prop name is misspelled.
3. `users` comes from async data and is `undefined` on the first render.
4. Your API returns something like `{ users: [...] }`, but you…
20.3s1951 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 5.3 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
Hy4
Here are the main improvement areas, followed by a possible rewrite.
## Key issues
### Readability / style
- Move imports to the top of the module.
- Use descriptive names: `response` instead of `r`, `attempt` instead of `i`.
- `if item["active"] == True:` should be `if item.get("active") is True:` or simply `if item.get("active"):`, depending on intent.
- The filtering loop can be a list comprehension.
- Add type hints and a docstring.
### Performance
- Repeated imports are cached by Python, so not a major cost, but top-level imports are cleaner.
- Avoid sleeping after the final failed attempt.
- Use `requests.Session` for connection pooling if this function may be called repeatedly or i…
110.2s10761 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GLM 5.3 Flash or Hy4?
- Per 1M output tokens, GLM 5.3 Flash is $0.5275 and Hy4 is $2.64 on FastMetal (US dollars, before tax), so GLM 5.3 Flash is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GLM 5.3 Flash and Hy4 compare?
- GLM 5.3 Flash takes 1,310,720 tokens; Hy4 takes 1,000,000.
- Can I use GLM 5.3 Flash and Hy4 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "glm-5.3-flash" or "hy4" 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 5.3 Flash and Hy4 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.