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GLM 5.2 is Zhipu AI's latest flagship model, featuring significantly improved coding capabilities and longer context support. Compared to GLM 4, it achieves higher scores on coding benchmarks like HumanEval and SWE-bench, making it a strong contender in the Chinese AI coding landscape.
OpenRouter aggregates multiple AI providers with a unified API. It can be cost-effective if you need flexibility across platforms without managing multiple accounts. However, each Chinese platform's native Coding Plan often offers special promotional pricing (as low as ¥3.9/month for the first month) that OpenRouter cannot match. For heavy users, a direct platform subscription is usually cheaper.
Platforms with OpenAI-compatible API endpoints (like Tencent Cloud, ByteDance Volcano Engine, MiniMax, Zhipu AI, and Baidu Qianfan) can be configured to work with Claude Code via custom API providers. Additionally, tools like Cursor and Continue.dev offer built-in support for many of these platforms. Always check each platform's documentation for the latest integration guides.
There is no single 'best' – it depends on your usage intensity and the models/tools you need. Use the regular (non‑discount) price as your baseline, and pay attention to the 5‑hour burst limits. Introductory discounts are great for testing but not for long‑term comparison.
Terminology varies by platform. 'API calls' usually refer to underlying model invocations, while 'requests' often mean user‑facing conversation turns. Always align units before comparing prices and limits across platforms.
Many platforms provide OpenAI‑compatible APIs or explicitly list tool integrations, which can be used with Claude Code, Cursor, Continue, etc. Check each platform's documentation for details.
It indicates the maximum quota available in any consecutive 5‑hour window, which measures burst capacity. It does NOT equal a daily cap and cannot be linearly extrapolated to weekly or monthly usage.
Model counts change frequently. Large platforms and aggregators typically provide a richer selection of first‑party and third‑party models. Always check the current list on each platform.
It depends on your use case: token billing is more transparent for long contexts; request‑based billing is more intuitive for high‑frequency short conversations. Evaluate based on your average conversation length and call frequency.
There is no single 'best' — it depends on your usage volume, preferred models, and budget. Heavy users who need Claude Code compatibility often favor ByteDance Volcano Engine or Zhipu AI (GLM). For maximum model variety, Alibaba Cloud Bailian and Volcano Engine lead. Use the comparison table above to rank plans by price, models, and limits to find your best fit.
The cheapest Chinese AI coding plan starts at ¥15/month (China Unicom Cloud Yuanjing Token Plan). Many platforms also offer first-month discounts as low as ¥3.9 (iFLYTEK) or ¥7.9 (Baidu Qianfan). Note: promotional prices usually renew at the regular price from the second month — compare using the regular price for long-term value.
Most Chinese platforms don't offer a permanently free coding plan, but many provide free trial credits, steep first-month discounts (¥3.9–¥9.9), or tight-limited free tiers. OpenRouter also offers limited free access to some Chinese models. Free offers change frequently — check each platform's current promotions.
Use the comparison table above: sort by entry price, billing unit (API calls vs tokens vs requests), 5-hour and monthly limits, number of models, and supported tools. Switch to card view for a visual layout, or use the search box to filter by platform or model name (e.g. type 'Kimi' or 'GLM').