Which is cheaper, Applebee's or Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In is cheaper, averaging $3.28 per item versus $8.80 for Applebee's — a 63% difference. Based on 170 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Applebee's or Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In has more menu items (92 vs 78). The total combined menu across both chains is 170 items.

Which has lower calories, Applebee's or Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In averages 578 calories per item, compared to 682 for Applebee's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Applebee's and Sonic Drive-In similar?

Applebee's (1,483 US locations) and Sonic Drive-In (3,519 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Applebee's vs Sonic Drive-In (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 92 items at Sonic Drive-In.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Sonic Drive-In averages $3.28 across 92 items. Sonic Drive-In is $5.52 cheaper per item (63% difference). Sonic Drive-In has lower average calories (578 vs 682 per item).

Quick Comparison

Applebee's vs Sonic Drive-In: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Applebee's	Sonic Drive-In	Winner
Avg Price	$8.80	$3.28	Sonic Drive-In
Menu Items	78	92	Sonic Drive-In
Avg Calories	682	578	Sonic Drive-In
US Locations	1,483	3,519	Sonic Drive-In
Secret Menu	0	7	Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Drive-In is 63% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($5.52 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Applebee's

Brownie Bites $1.00

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Per Person $1.49

Cole Slaw Per Person $1.49

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes $1.99

Side Garlicky Green Beans $1.99

Sonic Drive-In

Add (American Cheese, Hot Chili or Spicy Jalapeños) $0.60

Add (Crispy Bacon) $0.60

Tots or Fries $0.79

Vanilla Cone $1.00

Jr. Breakfast Burrito $1.19

Lowest Calorie Options

Applebee's

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes 100 cal

Side House Salad 120 cal

Side Garlic Mashed Potatoes 130 cal

Grilled Shrimp Avocado & Grapefruit Salad 150 cal

Side Fire-Grilled Veggies 150 cal

Sonic Drive-In

Cherry Limeade (Medium) 170 cal

Ocean Water (Medium) 200 cal

Slush (Medium) 200 cal

Super Crunch Chicken Strips 200 cal

Super Crunch Chicken Strips – Combo 200 cal

Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Sonic Drive-In

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Sonic Drive-In delivers 0.86¢/cal. Sonic Drive-In gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Applebee's and Sonic Drive-In share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (320 cal)
$15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (1790 cal)
$20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (2090 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Sonic Drive-In ranks #18 of 414 (cheaper than 96% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Sonic Drive-In, 46% are under 500 calories. Sonic Drive-In offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Sonic Drive-In ($3.28 avg vs $8.80)
More variety: Sonic Drive-In (92 items)
More locations: Sonic Drive-In (3,519 US locations)
Best calorie value: Sonic Drive-In (0.86¢/cal)

Full Menus

Applebee's Menu Sonic Drive-In Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide