Zhipu AI Hikes Coding Plan Prices by 260%, Pivoting from Price War to Monetization

pstAsiatech · x · 2026-08-01

Zhipu AI has reopened its coding plan subscriptions with prices increased by 130% to 260% compared to previous tiers. The company has also transitioned its entire product line to a credit-based billing model with weekly usage caps.

This move is a stark contrast to the 90% price cut on its flagship model during China's AI price war 18 months ago. Zhipu previously tested a 30% price hike for its coding plan in February, which sold out immediately based on 242,000 paid developers. In its earnings report, Zhipu proposed the formula "AGI Commercial Value = Intelligence Upper Bound × Token Consumption Scale," arguing that model quality can secure durable pricing power.

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