Meituan CatPaw + GLM-5.2: The Right Way to Freeload Top-Tier Programming Models
500 conversations, one-click reset when exhausted, continue freeloading.
This is not some gray-area operation; it's a standard process written in Meituan's FAQ.
Key Takeaway
CatPaw is an AI IDE developed by Meituan, currently completely free. It comes with three built-in models: GLM-5.2, Kimi-K2.6, and Meituan's self-developed LongCat. New users get 500 Credits upon registration, where 1 Credit = 1 conversation. Used up all the credits? Go to settings, click "Apply for Top-Up", fill in a reason, and continue using after approval.
The entire process is zero cost, zero barrier, and zero need for VPN.
Why It's Worth Trying
GLM-5.2 is Zhipu's flagship model released in June, with 744B parameters MoE architecture, 1M context window, and SWE-bench Verified 81.0% — the strongest among open-source models. API calls cost money; the Coding Plan starts at $18/month, but using it through CatPaw is free.
This is not a stripped-down version. After switching to GLM-5.2 in CatPaw, the model capabilities remain fully intact, and response speed is fast. Meituan uses its own infrastructure as a relay, making the experience seamless for users.
Three Steps to Get Started
Step 1: Download and Install
URL: https://catpaw.meituan.com/
Supports macOS and Windows. Download the installer, double-click, and follow the flow — nothing special.
Step 2: Log In
Register with your phone number, log in via verification code. No third-party account binding, no invitation code tricks.
Step 3: Switch Model
The default model is not GLM-5.2; you need to switch manually. Open the model selector, choose glm-5.2, and you're done.
Then go to Settings → General to see your remaining credits. 500 conversations — if used sparingly, they can last a while.
What to Do When Credits Run Out
Settings → General → Apply for Top-Up. Fill in a reason for using it ("Daily development assistance" works), submit, and wait for approval. In practice, the approval rate is high, and you can usually get new credits within the same day.
This is what the reference article calls a "one-click reset" — not a hack, but a normal cycle designed by the official team.
How Is CatPaw Itself?
Honestly, as an IDE, it's still relatively basic.
Pros:
- Agent mode can automatically retrieve project context and understand the entire codebase
- Code completion and Tab acceptance of suggestions, similar to Cursor experience
- Frontend preview + smart debugging, select elements for Agent to optimize
- Supports .catpaw/rules files, Docs, URLs, and MCP for extended context
- Completely free, no payment options
Cons:
- Slow update pace, feature iteration less active than Cursor/Windsurf
- Only supports phone number registration, no GitHub/Google login
- Plugin ecosystem almost non-existent
- Occasional lag, average indexing speed for large projects
But the core value isn't in the IDE itself — it lies in providing a free entry point to GLM-5.2.
Smart Usage
Don't use CatPaw as your primary IDE; it's not ready for that.
Treat it as a free GLM-5.2 client:
- Stuck on complex code logic? Open CatPaw and ask GLM-5.2
- Need long context to understand the entire project? CatPaw's codebase indexing + GLM-5.2's 1M window is perfect
- Want to compare responses from different models? Switch between GLM-5.2 / Kimi-K2.6 / LongCat with one click in CatPaw
Keep using VS Code / Cursor as your main editor, and switch to CatPaw when you need a powerful model. Each tool does its job well without conflict.
Comparison with Other Free Options
| Option | Model | Context | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CatPaw | GLM-5.2 / Kimi-K2.6 / LongCat | Project-level | 500 times per round, requires top-up |
| ZCode 3.0 | GLM-5.2 | 1M | 20 million tokens for new users |
| Zhipu Official | GLM-5.2 | 1M | Pay-as-you-go API |
| Cursor Free | GPT-4o-mini | Limited | 2000 times/month |
CatPaw's advantage is direct use within the IDE without dealing with API keys, proxies, or environment variables. Its disadvantage is the credit-based limit, which is less generous than ZCode's token pool.
Is It Worth Installing?
Yes. The reasons are simple:
- Free, no hidden charges
- GLM-5.2 is currently the strongest domestic programming model, comparable to Claude Opus 4.8
- Credits can be topped up, not a one-time consumable
- Very low installation cost — done in 5 minutes
Where it's not worth it: If you're already paying for Cursor Pro + Claude API, CatPaw won't replace them. But as a backup option or to experience top-tier programming models at zero cost, it's the most hassle-free choice currently.
Download URL: https://catpaw.meituan.com/
GLM-5.2 Model Card: https://docs.bigmodel.cn/cn/guide/models/text/glm-5.2
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