OpenAI GPT-4.1 vs Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo — API Pricing, 150K Cache & Latency Benchmark
Side-by-side unit economics audit comparing OpenAI GPT-4.1 (openai/gpt-4.1: Input $2/1M, Output $8/1M, Warm Cache Read $0.5/1M) against Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo (zhipu/zhipu-glm-5v-turbo: Input $1/1M, Output $4/1M, Warm Cache Read $0.1/1M).
Activate 4-breakpoint prefix caching on OpenAI GPT-4.1 to cut input token costs from $2/1M down to $0.5/1M, or route async workloads via Batch API for 50% off.
Lock static system prompt prefixes on Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo to pay $0.1/1M warm cache rates instead of $1/1M uncached input, plus eligible startup cloud credits.
In Etuki FinOps telemetry comparing OpenAI GPT-4.1 (API ID: openai/gpt-4.1) vs Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo (API ID: zhipu/zhipu-glm-5v-turbo), Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo offers lower standard uncached input pricing at $1/1M tokens, while Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo leads in 10-turn 150K cache-pinned coding economics at $0.3650 per 10 turns (saving $0.7700 over OpenAI GPT-4.1). For latency-sensitive interactive agents, OpenAI GPT-4.1 delivers 77ms faster P90 time-to-first-token (410ms vs 487ms).
| Specification / FinOps Dimension | OpenAI GPT-4.1 (openai/gpt-4.1) | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo (zhipu/zhipu-glm-5v-turbo) | Verified Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Vendor API ID | openai/gpt-4.1 | zhipu/zhipu-glm-5v-turbo | UMCE 563-Registry Locked |
| 563-Registry & Routing Eligibility | is_known: true | routable: true | is_known: false | routable: true | Both Merkle Verified |
| Standard Uncached Input (/1M tokens) | $2 / 1M | $1 / 1M | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo |
| Warm Prefix Cache Read (/1M tokens) | $0.5 / 1M | $0.1 / 1M | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo |
| Standard Output (/1M tokens) | $8 / 1M | $4 / 1M | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo |
| Context Window Capacity | 200K Tokens | 200K Tokens | OpenAI GPT-4.1 |
| 150K Prompt × 10 Turns (Unpinned Cold + 2K Out) | $3.1600 | $1.5800 | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo |
| 150K × 10 Turns Case A (100% Static Pinned) | $1.1350 (saves $2.0250) | $0.3650 (saves $1.2150) | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo (-$0.7700) |
| 150K × 10 Turns Case B (90% Static + 10% Tail) | $1.3375 (saves $1.8225) | $0.4865 (saves $1.0935) | Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo |
| P50 / P90 First-Token Latency | 279ms / 410ms (98 tok/s) | 331ms / 487ms (84 tok/s) | OpenAI GPT-4.1 (-77ms) |
1. Full-Turn Rate-Card Substitution for OpenAI GPT-4.1: At an uncached input rate of $2/1M, output rate of $8/1M, and warm cache read rate of $0.5/1M, running 10 consecutive 150,000-token coding agent turns (with 2,000 output tokens/turn) without prefix pinning costs $3.1600. Locking 100% static prefixes (Case A: 1 cold turn + 9 warm cached turns + 20K total output) reduces 10-turn spend to $1.1350 (saving $2.0250); under a 90% static prefix + 10% dynamic tail workload (Case B), 10-turn spend is $1.3375.
2. Full-Turn Rate-Card Substitution for Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo & Winner Verdict: On Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo ($1/1M input, $4/1M output, $0.1/1M warm cache), 10 unpinned 150K turns cost $1.5800, dropping to $0.3650 in Case A and $0.4865 in Case B. Across every 10-turn 150K coding loop (including output tokens), Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo delivers an additional $0.7700 Case-A cost advantage.
Production Workload TCO: 25,000 MAU • 50M Tokens/Mo (50% Cache Hit) • 2,000 GB Egress
💡 Optimal FinOps Verdict: Deploying Zhipu GLM 5v Turbo saves $68.00/month ($816/year) at 25,000 MAU & 50M monthly tokens (80% input / 20% output split with 50% prefix cache hit rate).