May 2026 Update: Qwen 3.7 Max is now available. See Qwen 3.7 Complete Guide for updated benchmarks.

The open-source AI coding landscape has three clear leaders: GLM-5.1 from Z.ai, DeepSeek V3 from DeepSeek, and Qwen 3.5 from Alibaba. All three are MoE models, all are competitive with proprietary alternatives, and all are available for self-hosting.

Update (April 24, 2026): DeepSeek V4 is now available. See DeepSeek V4 vs GLM-5.1.

Here’s how they compare.

Quick comparison

	GLM-5.1	DeepSeek V3.2	Qwen 3.5 Max
Total params	754B	671B	400B+
Active params	40B	37B	~50B
Architecture	MoE (256 experts)	MoE	MoE
Context	200K	128K	128K
License	MIT	MIT	Apache 2.0
SWE-Bench Pro	58.4	~54	~52
Training hardware	Huawei Ascend	NVIDIA	NVIDIA
Specialty	Agentic coding	Reasoning + coding	General + coding

Coding performance

GLM-5.1 leads on SWE-Bench Pro at 58.4, which tests the hardest multi-file engineering tasks. DeepSeek V3 is strong on reasoning-heavy coding problems, and Qwen 3.5 is the most versatile — good at coding but also excellent at general tasks.

For pure coding ability, the ranking is: GLM-5.1 > DeepSeek V3 > Qwen 3.5.

But “coding” isn’t one thing. Here’s how they break down by task:

Complex multi-file refactors: GLM-5.1 wins. Its 8-hour autonomous session capability and goal alignment over thousands of tool calls make it the best choice for large-scale engineering work.

Algorithmic reasoning: DeepSeek V3 wins. DeepSeek’s reasoning models (R1, V3) are consistently strong on math and logic-heavy coding problems. If your work involves complex algorithms, data structures, or mathematical optimization, DeepSeek is the pick.

Breadth of languages and frameworks: Qwen 3.5 wins. Alibaba’s training data is the most diverse, and Qwen handles a wider range of programming languages and frameworks than the other two. It’s also the most popular model on OpenRouter by token volume.

Architecture differences

All three use Mixture-of-Experts, but the implementations differ:

GLM-5.1 uses 256 experts with 8 activated per token and DeepSeek Sparse Attention (DSA) for long-context efficiency. The 200K context window is the largest of the three.

DeepSeek V3 pioneered many of the MoE techniques that others now use. Its architecture is well-documented in their technical report and has been influential across the industry.

Qwen 3.5 uses a more compact MoE design. With fewer total parameters but more active per token, it’s often faster at inference while maintaining competitive quality.

Pricing

All three are MIT or Apache licensed, so self-hosting is free. API pricing:

	Input (per 1M tokens)	Output (per 1M tokens)
GLM-5.1 (Z.ai)	~$1.00	~$2.30
GLM-5.1 (Coding Plan)	$3-10/month flat	Included
DeepSeek V3	~$0.27	~$1.10
Qwen 3.5	~$0.30	~$0.60

DeepSeek and Qwen are significantly cheaper per token. GLM-5.1’s Coding Plan offers good value for heavy users, but for light usage, DeepSeek and Qwen win on price.

Self-hosting requirements

None of these run on consumer hardware at full precision:

	Full precision	4-bit quantized
GLM-5.1 (754B)	~1.5TB	~200GB
DeepSeek V3 (671B)	~1.3TB	~180GB
Qwen 3.5 (400B)	~800GB	~110GB

Qwen 3.5 is the most practical for self-hosting due to its smaller size. All three have smaller variants available if you need something that fits on consumer GPUs.

For local development, consider the smaller models in each family: GLM-5-Turbo, DeepSeek-Coder, or Qwen 3.5 Coder.

Tool integration

GLM-5.1 has the best Claude Code integration thanks to its Anthropic-compatible API. It also works with OpenClaw, Cline, and other OpenAI-compatible tools. See our Claude Code setup guide.

DeepSeek V3 works well with most AI coding tools through its OpenAI-compatible API. It’s a popular choice for Codex CLI users.

Qwen 3.5 is available on OpenRouter (where it’s the #1 model by usage) and through Alibaba’s DashScope API. Good integration with most tools.

Which should you pick?

Pick GLM-5.1 if: You need the absolute best coding performance, especially for long-running autonomous tasks. You’re willing to pay slightly more or self-host for the best SWE-Bench scores.

Pick DeepSeek V3 if: You want the best price-to-performance ratio. DeepSeek is the cheapest option with strong coding and reasoning capabilities. Great for teams watching costs.

Pick Qwen 3.5 if: You need a versatile model that handles coding plus other tasks (writing, analysis, translation). It’s the most popular for a reason — it’s good at everything and cheap to run.

Or use all three. The beauty of open-source models is that you’re not locked in. Use GLM-5.1 for complex engineering, DeepSeek for reasoning-heavy tasks, and Qwen for everything else.

FAQ

Which is the best free AI model for coding in 2026?

GLM-5.1 leads on SWE-Bench Pro with a score of 58.4, making it the top performer for complex coding tasks. DeepSeek V3 and Qwen 3.5 are close behind and offer better price-to-performance ratios. See our full ranking in the best AI models for coding locally in 2026.

Can I run GLM-5.1, DeepSeek, and Qwen locally?

Yes, all three are open-source (MIT or Apache 2.0) and can be self-hosted, though full-size models require server-grade hardware. Smaller quantized variants and distilled versions run on consumer GPUs. Check our guides on how to run Qwen locally and how to run DeepSeek locally for step-by-step instructions.

Which model is best for agentic coding tasks?

GLM-5.1 is purpose-built for agentic coding with its 8-hour autonomous session capability and goal alignment over thousands of tool calls. It outperforms DeepSeek and Qwen on multi-file refactors and long-running engineering tasks. For shorter agentic workflows, DeepSeek V3 is a strong and cheaper alternative.

How do these models compare to Claude and GPT?

GLM-5.1 matches or exceeds Claude 4 Sonnet on SWE-Bench Pro, while DeepSeek V3 and Qwen 3.5 are competitive with GPT-5 on most coding benchmarks. The key advantage of these open-source models is that they’re free to self-host and significantly cheaper via API. For a detailed breakdown, see our GLM-5.1 vs Claude vs GPT-5 comparison.

Related: GLM-5.1 Complete Guide · GLM-5.1 vs Claude vs GPT-5 · Best Free AI APIs 2026