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HammerAI vs Z.ai

HammerAI edges Z.ai on our editorial score (4.2 vs 4.1), but HammerAI is the better fit if you want voice notes and long-term memory and image sharing and custom characters; Z.ai has no clear edge there.

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HammerAIZ.ai
Editor score4.2 / 54.1 / 5
Price$9/moFree
Price bandUnder $10/moFree
Free tierYesYes
Price detailFree: 600 cloud messages/day, unlimited chat on locally run models. Pro tiers $9/$18/$35 per month for larger cloud limits. Verified on hammerai.com/pricing.Web chat is free (checked 2026-09-30); GLM Coding and API plans are priced separately for developers.
Adult contentNo adult modeNo adult mode
VoiceVoice notesNo
ImagesYesNo
VideoNoNo
MemoryYesNo
Custom charactersYesNo
Companion typesAny characterAny character
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, iOSWeb
Runs locallyYesNo

HammerAI — our take

The most generous free tier in the category: unlimited chat on locally run models, 600 cloud messages a day, no card required.

  • Unlimited free chat with local models
  • Group chat, lorebooks and personas
  • Open-source with desktop apps

Z.ai — our take

A capable free general assistant — the closest free peer to DeepSeek for everyday chat.

  • Free frontier-model chat
  • Fast responses
  • No account friction to try

HammerAI vs Z.ai — common questions

Which is cheaper, HammerAI or Z.ai?

Z.ai is the cheaper of the two at Free, against $9/mo for HammerAI.

Which one has a free tier?

Both do — you can try either without paying.

Which remembers conversations better?

HammerAI retains context across sessions; Z.ai keeps context only within a session.

Which handles adult content differently?

HammerAI: No adult mode. Z.ai: No adult mode. This directory is SFW — we record whether a mature mode exists so you know before signing up, and we describe no explicit material.

Prices change. Confirm the current price and available plans on each site before subscribing. Affiliate disclosure.