Review of Z.ai Chat
Z.ai Chat is a fast AI assistant powered by GLM models for research, writing, and code generation. It focuses on practical deliverables (summaries, outlines, tables) and supports agent-style workflows depending on modes. A strong alternative to ChatGPT for daily productivity with a very accessible entry price.
Z.ai Chat: Bon équilibre coût/performances pour recherche, rédaction et génération de code
Best for
- Developers wanting an affordable copilot
- SMBs needing a versatile AI assistant
- Daily document summaries and structured outputs
- Teams testing autonomous agents workflows
Not ideal for
- High-stakes decisions without human review
- Strict French-only assistant requirements
- Image/video creation as the main priority
- Hard on-premise governance constraints
Pros & cons
- ✅ Smooth chat for everyday AI assistant workflows
- ✅ Strong research and structured summarization outputs
- ✅ Useful code generation and explanations for developers
- ✅ Aggressive pricing for regular pro usage
- ✅ Agent-oriented autonomous modes and tool workflows
- ⚠️ Quality depends on the brief and the reliability of sources
- ⚠️ Fact-check needed for sensitive or time-dependent information
- ⚠️ Some agent features vary by plan, mode, or availability
- ⚠️ Less ideal if you need a fully French-first experience
Our verdict
Z.ai Chat is a credible choice if you want a fast, affordable AI assistant for research, writing, and code generation. Its pricing makes it attractive for frequent use, and it performs best when you request structured deliverables like outlines, memos, and tables. As with any assistant, you should validate claims on sensitive topics and review outputs before publication. Agent-like capabilities can vary depending on modes and plans, but for knowledge work and developer support, Z.ai Chat is a strong ChatGPT alternative to benchmark in your stack.
Alternatives to Z.ai Chat
- Vibe-coding platform to build and deploy web/mobile apps through conversation.Editor’s pickNo-CodeApp Prototyping+2
- French AI agent platform: up to 8 specialized agents to automate support, outreach, content and admin tasks through integrations.Editor’s pickAI Agents+3
- Productivity suite with built-in AI: summaries, writing, turning notes into tasks, workspace search, and faster execution for teams.Editor’s pickProject Management+3
- AI-powered website and app builder using a multi-agent “AI team” to plan, generate, edit and publish products fast, with hosting and custom domain options.No-CodeApp Prototyping+2
- AI assistant for research, long documents and productivity with structured deliverablesAI Assistant+3
- AI coding assistant integrated into your IDE to autocomplete, explain, refactor, and speed up debugging and reviews.Code Generation+3
- Perplexity AI is an AI tool for note taking and document summaries.Assistant de recherche+3
- AI assistant to generate unit tests, speed up code reviews, and improve code quality.Automated Testing+3
- Turn documents (procedures, reports, FAQs) into shareable AI assistants that answer questions in natural language.Knowledge BaseAI Assistant+2
- No-code platform to build AI agents for support and sales, trained on your content and integrations.AI AgentsChatbots+2
- HeyBoss.AI is an AI tool for note taking and task management.AI Assistant+3
- MyLens AI is an AI tool for note taking and faster writing.AI Assistant+3
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FAQ
Is Z.ai Chat free?
Yes, there is free usage with limits, plus paid plans for higher quotas and features.
What is Z.ai Chat best for?
Research, structured summaries, writing support, and coding assistance.
Does it help with coding?
Yes, it can generate and explain code, but you should review and test results.
Does it support agent workflows?
Depending on modes and availability, it can support more agent-like task flows.
What are the key precautions?
Fact-check important claims, protect sensitive data, and provide clear briefs.