GLM 5.3 vs Solar Pro 4
Pricing, context window and real answers (August 2026)
GLM 5.3 (Z.ai) and Solar Pro 4 (Upstage), 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 | Solar Pro 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Z.ai | Upstage |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥250.18 | ¥5.28 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥786.28 | ¥21.11 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥643 | ¥16 |
| Context window | 1,048,576 tokens | 524,288 tokens |
| Release date | 8/18/2026 | 8/10/2026 |
| Input modalities | text | text |
| Arena · overall | #15 · ELO 1,484 | #173 · ELO 1,376 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | #11 · ELO 1,531 | #140 · ELO 1,448 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, Solar Pro 4: ¥21.11 per 1M output tokens, 97% less than GLM 5.3.
- On the Overall arena board, GLM 5.3 ranks higher (#15; Solar Pro 4 is #173).
- On the Coding arena board, GLM 5.3 ranks higher (#11; Solar Pro 4 is #140).
- For long documents, GLM 5.3: a 1,048,576-token context window against 524,288 for Solar Pro 4.
- 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
# Counting 'r's in "strawberry"
**Step 1: Spell out the word letter by letter.**
s - t - r - a - w - b - e - r - r - y
**Step 2: Go through each letter and mark the 'r's.**
| Position | Letter | Is it 'r'? |
|----------|--------|------------|
| 1 | s | No |
| 2 | t | No |
| 3 | **r** | ✅ Yes (1st) |
| 4 | a | No |
| 5 | w | No |
| 6 | b | No |
| 7 | e | No |
| 8 | **r** | ✅ Yes (2nd) |
| 9 | **r** | ✅ Yes (3rd) |
| 10 | y | No |
**Step 3: Tally the results.**
- 1st 'r' in "st**r**awberry"
- 2nd 'r' in "strawbe**r**ry"
- 3rd 'r' in "strawber**r**y"
## Answer: There are **3** 'r's in "strawberry."
(Note: two of them appear together in the "rr" near the end, which is easy to miss when c…
5.8s493 output tokens
Solar Pro 4
The word "strawberry" contains **3** 'r's. Here's the step-by-step breakdown:
1. **Spell out the word explicitly** to isolate each letter:
`s - t - r - a - w - b - e - r - r - y`
2. **Scan through the letters in order** and count every instance of the lowercase letter `r`:
- `s` → 0
- `t` → 0
- `r` → **1**
- `a` → 0
- `w` → 0
- `b` → 0
- `e` → 0
- `r` → **2**
- `r` → **3**
- `y` → 0
3. **Total the count**: The three `r`s appear at positions 3, 8, and 9 in the 10-letter word.
**Final count: 3**
11.4s215 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
## What's happening
The error means `users` is `undefined` when the component renders. `undefined` doesn't have a `.map()` method, so JavaScript throws a `TypeError`. Since destructured props that aren't passed default to `undefined`, something upstream isn't providing the value you expect.
## Common causes
1. **The parent doesn't pass the prop, or uses a different name:**
```jsx
<UserList /> {/* missing users */}
<UserList userList={users} /> {/* prop name mismatch */}
```
2. **Async data hasn't loaded yet** — the component renders before an API call completes, and the initial value is `undefined`:
```jsx
const [users, setUsers] = useState(); // undefin…
17.1s1345 output tokens
Solar Pro 4
### What's Causing the Error
The error `TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')` means that the `users` prop being passed to your `UserList` component is `undefined`. Since you're calling `.map()` directly on it, JavaScript throws an error because `undefined` doesn't have a `map` method.
This typically happens when:
- The parent component hasn't passed the `users` prop
- The prop is still loading (e.g., from an API call)
- The prop is conditionally undefined
---
### How to Fix It
You have a few options to handle this safely:
#### ✅ Option 1: Add a Default Prop Value (Recommended)
Provide a fallback empty array so `.map()` always has something to work with:
```j…
24.7s539 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
Here's a breakdown of the issues, followed by a refactored version.
## Readability
- **Move imports to module level.** PEP 8 requires top-level imports; importing inside a function hides dependencies and adds overhead on every call (small, but pointless).
- **`item["active"] == True`** → just `item.get("active")`. Comparing to `True` with `==` is flagged by PEP 8, and `.get()` avoids a `KeyError` if the key is missing.
- **Use a list comprehension** instead of initializing a list and appending in a loop.
- **Rename things.** `get_data` doesn't say what it does (`fetch_active_items`?), and `response` beats `r`. Use `_` for the unused loop counter.
- **Magic numbers** (`2`, `10`) should be n…
75.0s6434 output tokens
Solar Pro 4
Here’s a breakdown of the issues in the original function, followed by a refactored version and a detailed explanation of the improvements.
### 🔍 Key Issues in the Original Code
| Area | Problem |
|------|---------|
| **Import organization** | `import` inside the function is evaluated on every call. Imports should live at the top of the module. |
| **Exception handling** | Bare `except:` catches `SystemExit`, `KeyboardInterrupt`, and other fatal errors. Always catch specific exceptions (`requests.RequestException`). |
| **Loose equality** | `== True` is redundant and can cause subtle bugs. Use `if item["active"]:` or `.get()`. |
| **HTTP status handling** | Calling `.json()` only on `200`…
17.5s1172 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GLM 5.3 or Solar Pro 4?
- Per 1M output tokens, GLM 5.3 is ¥786.28 and Solar Pro 4 is ¥21.11 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so Solar Pro 4 is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GLM 5.3 and Solar Pro 4 compare?
- GLM 5.3 takes 1,048,576 tokens; Solar Pro 4 takes 524,288.
- Which ranks higher, GLM 5.3 or Solar Pro 4?
- GLM 5.3 ranks higher on the public arena (GLM 5.3 #15, Solar Pro 4 #173). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GLM 5.3 and Solar Pro 4 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "glm-5.3" or "solar-pro4" 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 and Solar Pro 4 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.