Applebee's vs Burger King (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 65 items at Burger King.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Burger King averages $3.33 across 65 items. Burger King is $5.47 cheaper per item (62% difference). Burger King has lower average calories (491 vs 682 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Applebee's | Burger King | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.80 | $3.33 | Burger King |
| Menu Items | 78 | 65 | Applebee's |
| Avg Calories | 682 | 491 | Burger King |
| US Locations | 1,483 | 6,809 | Burger King |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 10 | Burger King |
Burger King is 62% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($5.47 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Applebee's
Burger King
Lowest Calorie Options
Applebee's
Burger King
Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Burger King
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Burger King delivers 0.72¢/cal. Burger King gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Applebee's and Burger King share 2 menu categories (8% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: chicken, desserts. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- chicken: Applebee's avg $11.26 vs Burger King $4.32 — Burger King is 62% cheaper
- desserts: Applebee's avg $3.69 vs Burger King $1.86 — Burger King is 50% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Burger King fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Burger King fits 3 items (1228 cal)
- $20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Burger King fits 3 items (2850 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Burger King ranks #20 of 414 (cheaper than 95% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Burger King, 65% are under 500 calories. Burger King offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Burger King ($3.33 avg vs $8.80)
- More variety: Applebee's (78 items)
- More locations: Burger King (6,809 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Burger King (0.72¢/cal)