MiniMax M3 vs GLM-5.3
A multimodal, computer-use open model against a text-focused coding specialist — weights, pricing, and benchmarks compared.
Updated August 28, 2026 · Independent comparison — MiniMax M3, GLM-5.3 are separate products.
MiniMax M3
Open-weight multimodal reasoning & agentic model
MiniMax M3 is an open-weight Mixture-of-Experts model released June 1, 2026, with 428B total and roughly 23B active parameters and native text, image, and video input. MiniMax positions it as the first open-weight release to combine reasoning, agentic coding, and multimodality in one model, and it can operate a desktop from screenshots. It serves up to a 1M-token context (512K guaranteed) with large outputs, and is priced at $0.30/$1.20 per million tokens up to 512K input ($0.06 cache read — a permanent 50% off its $0.60/$2.40 list), doubling beyond 512K. On MiniMax's own tests it scores 59.0% on SWE-bench Pro, 66.0% on Terminal-Bench 2.1, and 74.2% on MCP Atlas, and it ships weights on Hugging Face under the commercially restricted MiniMax Community License.
GLM-5.3
Z.ai's agentic coding & cybersecurity model
Z.ai's GLM-5.3 is a coding, agentic, and cybersecurity model built on the GLM-5 base and improved through large-scale post-training. On Z.ai's own tests it reaches 28.3 on Terminal-Bench 3.0 (open-source SOTA), 66.9 on DeepSWE v1.1, and 28.5 on Agents' Last Exam, and serves 128K output with always-on reasoning and function calling. It's priced at $1.40/$4.40 per million tokens ($0.26 cache read) through Z.ai's API (OpenAI and Anthropic protocols) or the flat-rate GLM Coding Plan. Its 744B-total / 40B-active weights are scheduled to publish on Hugging Face on 2026-08-28, with the Flash variant already available; a raw context figure isn't published, though the Coding-Plan [1m] endpoint exposes a 1M-token window.
Bottom line
A multimodal, computer-use open model against a text-focused coding specialist — weights, pricing, and benchmarks compared. Choose MiniMax M3 if you need native multimodality — text, image, and video — plus computer use in one model; choose GLM-5.3 if you want a coding/cybersecurity model with published open-source SOTA on Terminal-Bench 3.0.
Model & Weights
| Feature | MiniMax M3 | GLM-5.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | MiniMax | Z.ai (Zhipu) |
| Parameters | 428B total / 23B active (MoE) | 744B total / 40B active (MoE) |
| Open weights | Yes — MiniMax Community License (HF) | HF release scheduled 2026-08-28 (Flash already public) |
| License terms | Custom, commercially restricted (>$20M revenue needs authorization) | Apache-2.0 (repo) |
| Multimodal input | Text, image, video (+ computer use) | Not stated (text) |
Context & Output
| Feature | MiniMax M3 | GLM-5.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Context window | 1M tokens (512K guaranteed) | Not published (1M via Coding-Plan [1m] endpoint) |
| Max output | ~512K (third-party; ~131K recommended) | 128K tokens |
| Reasoning | Reasoning + agentic | Always on (low / high / max) |
| Tool calling | Yes (MCP; Atlas 74.2%) | Yes (function calling) |
Pricing (per 1M tokens)
| Feature | MiniMax M3 | GLM-5.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input (≤512K) | $0.30 | $1.40 |
| Output (≤512K) | $1.20 | $4.40 |
| Cache read | $0.06 | $0.26 |
| Long-context (>512K) | $0.60 / $2.40 | Not published |
| Subscription plan | Token Plans $20-$120/mo | GLM Coding Plan (Lite / Pro / Max) |
Coding & Agentic Benchmarks
| Feature | MiniMax M3 | GLM-5.3 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Pro | 59.0% | Not published |
| Terminal-Bench | 66.0% (v2.1) | 28.3 (v3.0, open-source SOTA) |
| DeepSWE v1.1 | Not published | 66.9 |
| MCP Atlas (tool use) | 74.2% | Not published |
| Computer use / GUI | Yes (desktop from screenshots) | Not stated |
Access & Ecosystem
| Feature | MiniMax M3 | GLM-5.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Direct API | MiniMax API (Anthropic-compatible on OpenCode Go) | Z.ai (OpenAI + Anthropic protocols) |
| Also on | MiniMax Code app, Token Plan, ClinePass, OpenCode Go & Zen | GLM Coding Plan, ClinePass, OpenCode Go |
| Self-host weights | Yes (HF) | At/after 2026-08-28 |
| Released | June 1, 2026 | August 2026 |
The Verdict
Choose MiniMax M3 if...
- ✓You need native multimodality — text, image, and video — plus computer use in one model.
- ✓You want confirmed downloadable open weights today and can accept a commercially restricted license.
- ✓You want the lowest per-token pricing here ($0.30/$1.20) with a defined long-context tier.
- ✓You value strong agentic benchmarks (59.0% SWE-bench Pro, 74.2% MCP Atlas).
- ✓You want GUI / computer-use automation driven from screenshots.
Choose GLM-5.3 if...
- ✓You want a coding/cybersecurity model with published open-source SOTA on Terminal-Bench 3.0.
- ✓You prefer the flat-rate GLM Coding Plan and native Anthropic-protocol endpoints for Claude Code.
- ✓You want a text-focused agentic coder rather than a multimodal generalist.
- ✓You want downloadable weights soon (a 744B/40B-active MoE, publishing 2026-08-28).
- ✓A permissive Apache-2.0 repo license matters more to you than MiniMax's commercial restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MiniMax M3 and GLM-5.3?
MiniMax M3 is an open-weight Mixture-of-Experts model released June 1, 2026, with 428B total and roughly 23B active parameters and native text, image, and video input. Z.ai's GLM-5.3 is a coding, agentic, and cybersecurity model built on the GLM-5 base and improved through large-scale post-training.
How much do MiniMax M3 and GLM-5.3 cost?
MiniMax M3: $0.30. GLM-5.3: $1.40. See the pricing table above for full plan details.
Should I choose MiniMax M3 or GLM-5.3?
Choose MiniMax M3 if you need native multimodality — text, image, and video — plus computer use in one model. Choose GLM-5.3 if you want a coding/cybersecurity model with published open-source SOTA on Terminal-Bench 3.0.
1DevToolRun a multimodal or a coding model — or both
MiniMax M3 and GLM-5.3 are both open-weight and OpenAI-compatible (GLM adds Anthropic-protocol endpoints), so either can back an agent. 1DevTool runs Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Cline, and OpenCode side by side in persistent terminals — plug in a MiniMax key or a GLM Coding Plan key, switch per task, and use the built-in HTTP client, 13-engine database client, and embedded browser. One-time $29, no subscription.