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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.
| HammerAI | Z.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Price | $9/mo | Free |
| Price band | Under $10/mo | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Price detail | Free: 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 content | No adult mode | No adult mode |
| Voice | Voice notes | No |
| Images | Yes | No |
| Video | No | No |
| Memory | Yes | No |
| Custom characters | Yes | No |
| Companion types | Any character | Any character |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, iOS | Web |
| Runs locally | Yes | No |
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.