GLM 4.7: Thinking Mode, 73.8% SWE-bench, Free via OpenCode & Z.AI

Hit the rate limits on Kimi k2.5? Not ready to pay for Claude Max? Z.AI’s GLM 4.7 offers a compelling middle path: 73.8% SWE-bench performance with a feature no other free coding model provides—explicit thinking mode. Available now via OpenCode Zen (alongside Kimi) or Z.AI’s free tier.

The bottom line: You get chain-of-thought reasoning visibility, 200K context window, and solid coding performance without paying. When you outgrow the free limits, the GLM Coding Plan starts at just $3/month.

Quick Facts

What matters: GLM 4.7 trails Kimi k2.5 by 3 points on SWE-bench (76.8% vs 73.8%) but offers something Kimi doesn’t—visible reasoning. For debugging complex logic or understanding why the model made a particular choice, thinking mode is invaluable.

Free Access: Two Paths

Path 1: OpenCode Zen

GLM 4.7 is available alongside Kimi k2.5 in OpenCode’s hosted free tier.

How it works:

• Visit opencode.ai and select “Zen” during setup
• Choose GLM 4.7 from the model dropdown
• Rate limits apply (exact numbers unpublished)
• Data used for model training

Best for: Daily coding when you want thinking mode visibility or when Kimi k2.5’s rate limits kick in. Both models are free, so you can switch based on the task.

Important: OpenCode’s free models are time-limited promotions for feedback collection, not permanent free tiers.

Path 2: Z.AI Direct

Z.AI offers a free tier with rate limits. For heavier usage, the GLM Coding Plan provides dedicated API access starting at $3/month.

Note: Z.AI’s exact free tier limits and pricing structure are still being documented. Check z.ai for current terms. For detailed Z.AI platform coverage, see the future Z.AI platform guide (in development).

Best for: Developers who want predictable API access without third-party tools like OpenCode.

What Makes GLM 4.7 Different

Thinking Mode: The Standout Feature

GLM 4.7 is the only free coding model that shows its work. When you enable thinking mode, the model outputs its reasoning chain before the final answer.

Why this matters:

• Debugging: See why the model chose a particular approach
• Learning: Understand the reasoning behind code suggestions
• Verification: Catch logical errors before they become bugs
• Complex tasks: Multi-step problems benefit from explicit reasoning

How to enable:

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{
  "model": "glm-4.7",
  "thinking": {
    "type": "enabled"
  }
}

When to use it: Enable for architecture decisions, algorithm design, or any task where understanding the “why” matters as much as the “what.” Disable for simple completions to reduce latency.

When to Choose GLM 4.7

Choose GLM 4.7 when:

• Kimi k2.5 rate limits hit: Both are free on OpenCode—switch when one throttles
• You need reasoning visibility: Thinking mode shows the model’s work
• 200K context is sufficient: Fits most codebases and documents
• You’re exploring: Free tier lets you experiment without cost anxiety
• Z.AI ecosystem appeals: $3/month plan is cheaper than alternatives

Consider alternatives when:

• Maximum coding performance: Kimi k2.5 leads by 3 points (76.8% vs 73.8%)
• Vision required: Kimi’s native multimodal beats GLM’s text-only
• 1M context needed: Gemini 3 Flash offers 5x larger context (but it’s paid)
• Best reasoning required: Claude Opus 4.5 at 80.9% SWE-bench is worth paying for

Comparison: GLM 4.7 vs The Field

The pattern: GLM 4.7 sits comfortably in the middle. It’s free, offers unique thinking visibility, and performs within 3 points of Kimi k2.5. When you need more context or higher benchmarks, upgrade to paid alternatives.

Integration & Tooling

GLM 4.7 works with the coding tools you already use:

• Claude Code — Via Z.AI API key
• OpenCode — Native Zen tier integration
• Cline — Z.AI provider support
• Roo Code — Third-party provider
• Kilo Code — Available in model list

Setup with Z.AI:

1. Get API key from z.ai
2. Configure your tool with Z.AI base URL
3. Select glm-4.7 as model
4. Enable thinking mode when needed

Setup with OpenCode:

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# Install OpenCode
curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

# Authenticate and select Zen tier
opencode auth login

# Choose GLM 4.7 from model dropdown

Limitations (Honest Assessment)

Performance gap: 3 points behind Kimi k2.5 on SWE-bench matters for competitive coding. For daily development, the difference is negligible.

Time-limited free access: OpenCode’s free tier is promotional, not permanent. Build workflows with the expectation that terms may change.

No vision: Unlike Kimi k2.5, GLM 4.7 is text-only. For screenshot-to-code or visual analysis, you’ll need alternatives.

Smaller ecosystem: Fewer third-party integrations than OpenAI or Anthropic. Tooling is growing but not as mature.

Rate limits: Free tiers have constraints. For intensive daily usage, the $3/month GLM Coding Plan removes uncertainty.

Value Math: When to Upgrade

Free tier usage:

• Light daily coding: Free tier sufficient
• Occasional thinking mode: Free tier works
• Prototyping/experimenting: Free tier ideal

Consider $3/month GLM Coding Plan when:

• You hit rate limits regularly
• You need predictable API access
• You’re building production workflows

Consider paid alternatives when:

• 3% SWE-bench improvement justifies cost (Kimi API: $3/1M tokens)
• 1M context window is essential (Gemini 3 Flash: $0.50/1M input)
• Maximum reasoning is required (Claude Max: $200/month)

Related Resources

Free Access:

• Free Frontier Stack — Complete guide to OpenCode, Kilo Code, and free tiers
• Kimi k2.5 Model Guide — Compare the other free option with 76.8% SWE-bench

Paid Alternatives:

• Gemini 3 Flash — 1M context, $0.50/1M input, 78% SWE-bench
• Claude Opus 4.5 — 80.9% SWE-bench when you need the best
• Smart Spend Guide — When to upgrade from free to paid

Platform Documentation:

• Z.AI Developer Docs — Official API reference
• OpenCode Tool Guide — Self-hosted vs Zen comparison

Last updated: February 1, 2026. SWE-bench verified from Z.AI official documentation. Pricing confirmed via Z.AI Pricing. Free tier terms subject to change—verify current limits on z.ai.