Applebee's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Applebee's is $2.92 cheaper per item (25% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 682 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Applebee's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.80 | $11.72 | Applebee's |
| Menu Items | 78 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 682 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 1,483 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Papa John's |
Applebee's is 25% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($2.92 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Applebee's
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Applebee's
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Applebee's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Applebee's and Papa John's share 2 menu categories (11% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: desserts, extras. 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:
- extras: Applebee's avg $3.22 vs Papa John's $1.06 — Papa John's is 67% cheaper
- desserts: Applebee's avg $3.69 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Applebee's is 38% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Applebee's ($8.80 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Applebee's (2.22¢/cal)