Chinese AI Models Compared: GLM vs DeepSeek vs MiniMax vs Kimi

The concise answer: choose MiniMax M3 when token cost is the first constraint or the task combines images and code. Start with Kimi K2.7 Code for a coding-focused, multimodal option. Compare DeepSeek V4 Pro for text-only reasoning or long-context coding work, and GLM-5.2 for a lower-input-cost text reasoning option.

That is a starting point, not a quality ranking. The cheapest model can become expensive if its answer needs several repairs, while a higher-priced model can be economical if it succeeds in one pass. Use one representative prompt and judge the output against your own requirements.

magicdoor.ai puts all four in one chat interface. The base subscription is $6/month and includes $1 in credits; further use is billed by usage. You can switch models mid-conversation, see live cost monitoring, and use them without Magicdoor rate limits or cooldowns.

GLM, DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Kimi at a glance

Prices below are magicdoor.ai's listed rates per 1 million tokens. Input is the text you send, output is the model's response, and cached input is reused prompt material billed at a lower rate when caching applies.

All four are served through Together AI in magicdoor.ai. This table deliberately avoids benchmark scores and broad claims such as “best writer” or “smartest model”: those claims are not needed to make a useful first choice, and a benchmark may not resemble your work.

Model-by-model guidance

GLM-5.2: a cost-conscious text reasoning option

GLM-5.2 is described in the magicdoor.ai model registry as Z.ai's flagship reasoning model. Among these four, its standard input price is below DeepSeek V4 Pro's, while both have the same $4.40 output rate.

Start here when your task is text-only, reasoning matters, and input cost is part of the decision. Do not choose it for a prompt that requires image input. Compare it against DeepSeek using the same prompt if coding or a large body of text is central to the task.

DeepSeek V4 Pro: text reasoning with a coding emphasis

The product registry describes DeepSeek V4 Pro as a reasoning model with long-context coding strength. It has the highest standard input rate of this four-model group, although its cached-input rate is the third lowest.

Put it on the shortlist for a substantial text-only coding task: for example, ask it to diagnose a failure from code and logs, state assumptions, and propose a test plan. Its price and description are reasons to test it, not proof that it will beat another model on your repository.

MiniMax M3: the lowest token rates in this comparison

MiniMax M3 has the lowest standard input, output, and cached-input rates of the four. The registry describes it as a multimodal coding and agentic model, and it accepts image input on magicdoor.ai.

It is the natural cost-first baseline. Try it for routine coding work or a task that combines a screenshot with written instructions. Review the result carefully: low price is not the same as high quality, and repeated corrections add both token cost and time.

Kimi K2.7 Code: a coding-focused multimodal choice

Kimi K2.7 Code is described as a Moonshot coding model with native multimodal reasoning. It accepts image input, and its listed input and output rates fall between MiniMax M3 and the two text-only reasoning options in this comparison.

Start with Kimi when the task is explicitly about code and may include an image, such as a UI screenshot paired with a component. For text-only coding, compare its first-pass result with DeepSeek V4 Pro and MiniMax M3 rather than assuming the model name settles the decision.

Choose by task, not by logo

Use this short decision sequence:

1. Does the prompt include an image? Narrow the choice to MiniMax M3 or Kimi K2.7 Code.
2. Is coding the core task? Start with Kimi for a coding-focused multimodal prompt; include DeepSeek and MiniMax in a text-only comparison.
3. Is it a text-only reasoning task? Start with GLM-5.2, then test DeepSeek V4 Pro if the task is code-heavy or involves a large amount of context.
4. Is minimizing token cost the hard constraint? Use MiniMax M3 as the baseline, but count revisions when you compare the final cost.
5. Does the answer matter enough to verify? Run the same brief through two models, then compare factual accuracy, instruction-following, required edits, and total cost.

A fair test keeps the prompt, source material, and acceptance criteria identical. Do not show the second model the first model's answer if you want an independent comparison.

Worked token-cost examples

Suppose one substantial exchange uses 100,000 input tokens and 20,000 output tokens. This is a deliberately simple billing example, not a prediction of what your prompt will use.

If all 100,000 input tokens qualified for the listed cached-input rate, the same example would instead total approximately $0.114 for GLM, $0.108 for DeepSeek, $0.030 for MiniMax, or $0.099 for Kimi, including the same output. Real charges depend on the tokens actually processed, the input/output split, and whether input qualifies as cached. See the current model cost guide before budgeting a repeated workflow.

These charges draw from the included credit or a pay-as-you-go balance; they are not separate flat monthly subscriptions. magicdoor.ai costs $6/month at the base, including $1 in credits, and most users spend about $8-10/month total. Top-ups never expire. Very heavy daily coding or huge-document use can still be cheaper on a suitable flat-rate plan elsewhere.

Four ways to access these models

1. magicdoor.ai: best for a simple multi-model workflow

For a non-developer who wants all four in one interface, magicdoor.ai is the most direct option in this comparison. It removes the need to maintain several provider accounts, lets you switch models inside a conversation, and shows live cost monitoring. It also keeps other supported model families available in the same product when you want a second opinion. Review the full model directory and pricing details before subscribing.

2. Direct provider access

A provider's own product can make sense when you mainly want one model family and prefer its native experience. The tradeoff is account and billing fragmentation when you want to compare several families. Check the provider's current availability, pricing, and product terms directly; this article does not claim those are identical to magicdoor.ai's Together-hosted models.

3. Developer API routers

API access is a better fit when you are building software, need programmatic requests, or want to control your own interface. It also means handling credentials, integration, logging, budgets, and failures yourself. For ordinary chat and side-by-side evaluation, that setup may be unnecessary overhead.

4. Local or self-managed open models

Self-managed deployment can offer more infrastructure control, but it requires compatible hardware or rented compute plus installation and maintenance. Model names, versions, quantization, and serving configuration can also make a local result differ from a hosted one. Choose this route for an engineering requirement, not merely to avoid creating an account.

Important limitations

• Price is not quality. Token rates are known; the best answer for your task is not.
• Capabilities differ. GLM-5.2 and DeepSeek V4 Pro are text-only on magicdoor.ai; MiniMax M3 and Kimi K2.7 Code accept images.
• Usage is variable. Longer prompts, conversation history, and longer answers consume more tokens. Cached-input pricing applies only when input qualifies.
• Hosted access is not local deployment. These four models are served through Together AI in magicdoor.ai.
• No single test settles every task. A coding result does not establish writing quality, and an inexpensive short answer does not predict the cost of a long workflow.

How to try and switch on magicdoor.ai

1. Open magicdoor.ai and start a chat.
2. Select one of the four models from the model picker.
3. Send a real prompt with explicit acceptance criteria.
4. Check the live cost shown in the interface and review the answer.
5. Switch models mid-conversation for a second pass or independent critique.
6. Record which model produces the best reviewed result at an acceptable total cost.

For a repeatable comparison method, use the multi-model workflow guide. If your main question is billing, read how magicdoor.ai pricing works.

Bottom line

There is no honest universal winner among GLM-5.2, DeepSeek V4 Pro, MiniMax M3, and Kimi K2.7 Code. MiniMax is the clear price baseline. Kimi is the coding-focused multimodal starting point. DeepSeek belongs in text-only coding and reasoning tests. GLM offers a lower standard input price than DeepSeek for text reasoning.

The useful advantage is being able to test those choices without committing to four separate subscriptions. Start a chat on magicdoor.ai and switch models until the result—not the logo—earns the job.

FAQ

Which Chinese AI model is cheapest on magicdoor.ai?

MiniMax M3 has the lowest listed token rates of these four at $0.30 per 1 million input tokens and $1.20 per 1 million output tokens. Price does not guarantee the best result for a particular task, so compare outputs on a representative prompt.

Which of these models can work with images?

MiniMax M3 and Kimi K2.7 Code support image input on magicdoor.ai. GLM-5.2 and DeepSeek V4 Pro do not, so use text-only prompts with those two.

Which Chinese AI model should I use for coding?

Kimi K2.7 Code is explicitly coding-focused, while DeepSeek V4 Pro is described in magicdoor.ai as a reasoning model with long-context coding strength. MiniMax M3 is also described as a multimodal coding and agentic model. Test the same real task across the relevant options before choosing.

Does magicdoor.ai charge a flat fee for model usage?

No. The $6 monthly base includes $1 in credits. Additional usage is pay-as-you-go, with separate input, output, and cached-input token rates. Top-up balance never expires.

Can I switch between GLM, DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Kimi in one chat?

Yes. magicdoor.ai lets you switch supported models mid-conversation, and its interface shows live cost monitoring without Magicdoor rate limits or cooldowns.