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Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar Comparison

Last updated:

Z.ai

Starting at $0.15 per million input tokens

  • Small Business
  • Medium Business

Z.ai, the company behind the GLM family, publishes open weights for its models and runs a priced API beside them with every rate stated in US dollars per million tokens. The card read on 2026-11-08 puts GLM-5.3 at 1.40 d…

Perplexity Sonar

Starting at $0.25 per million input tokens

  • Small Business
  • Medium Business

Sonar is the model Perplexity trains and runs itself, built to answer with citations drawn from a live web index rather than from training data alone. It is sold through the Perplexity API platform at a rate printed per…

Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar — at a glance

FeatureZ.aiPerplexity Sonar
Rating——
Reviews——
Starting price$0.15 per million input tokens$0.25 per million input tokens
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forSmall Business, Medium Business, Large EnterprisesSmall Business, Medium Business, Large Enterprises
CategoryLarge Language Models (LLMs)Large Language Models (LLMs)
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Browser Based (Cloud)SaaS/Web/Cloud, Browser Based (Cloud)
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline

Key differences between Z.ai and Perplexity Sonar

  • Pricing: Z.ai starts at $0.15 per million input tokens, while Perplexity Sonar starts at $0.25 per million input tokens.
  • Deployment: Z.ai supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Browser Based (Cloud); Perplexity Sonar supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Browser Based (Cloud).

Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Large Language Models (LLMs) tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

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Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Z.ai

Best for

Small Business, Medium Business, Large Enterprises

Perplexity Sonar

Best for

Small Business, Medium Business, Large Enterprises

Z.ai typically suits Small Business and Medium Business. Perplexity Sonar tends to fit Small Business and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Z.ai, the company behind the GLM family, publishes open weights for its models and runs a priced API beside them with every rate stated in US dollars per million tokens. The card read on ... Read More about Z.ai

Sonar is the model Perplexity trains and runs itself, built to answer with citations drawn from a live web index rather than from training data alone. It is sold through the Perplexity API ... Read More about Perplexity Sonar

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $0.15
  • Starts from $0.25

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial
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How do Z.ai and Perplexity Sonar Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Z.ai and Perplexity Sonar on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $0.15
      • $0.25

      Pricing Plans

      • Free models

        • GLM-4.7-Flash listed at no charge

        • GLM-4.5-Flash listed at no charge

        • GLM-4.6V-Flash listed at no charge

      • GLM-5.3-Flash

        $0.15

        per million input tokens

        • Input 0.15 dollars per 1M tokens

        • Output 0.50 dollars per 1M tokens

      • GLM-4.7

        $0.60

        per million input tokens

        • Input 0.60 dollars per 1M tokens

        • Output 2.20 dollars per 1M tokens

        • Same rate on GLM-4.6 and GLM-4.5

      • Browse all pricing plans
      • Sonar

        $0.25

        per million input tokens

        • Input 0.25 dollars per 1M tokens

        • Output 2.50 dollars per 1M tokens

        • Cache read 0.0625 dollars per 1M tokens

        Show more +

      • Search API

        • 5.00 dollars per 1,000 requests

        • Fast Search at 1.00 dollars per 1,000 requests

        • Billed per successful request, not per query

        Show more +

      Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers / Consultants
      • Large Enterprises
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers / Consultants

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Z.ai or Perplexity Sonar?
      Z.ai and Perplexity Sonar are closely matched with equal user ratings of -1.0. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Large Language Models (LLMs) needs.
      Do Z.ai and Perplexity Sonar offer a free trial?
      Neither Z.ai nor Perplexity Sonar currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Z.ai vs Perplexity Sonar?
      Z.ai starts at $0.15 per million input tokens. Perplexity Sonar starts at $0.25 per million input tokens.