Zhipu AI launches ZCode to challenge Claude Code and OpenAI Codex at a fraction of the cost

Zhipu AI has introduced ZCode, a new development environment powered by its GLM-5.2 model designed to compete with tools like OpenAI’s Codex and Claude Code. The platform emphasizes long-context processing for complex programming tasks and offers aggressive pricing, including an extended trial period and increased token quotas through mid-2026. This launch intensifies competition among AI providers to capture the developer market by lowering the costs associated with integrating large language models into software engineering workflows.