Applebee's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $5.28 cheaper per item (60% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 682 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Applebee's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.80 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 78 | 77 | Applebee's |
| Avg Calories | 682 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 1,483 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 60% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($5.28 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Applebee's
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Applebee's
Wendy's
Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Wendy's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Applebee's and Wendy's share 2 menu categories (7% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: chicken, burgers. 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 Wendy's $1.89 — Wendy's is 83% cheaper
- burgers: Applebee's avg $10.16 vs Wendy's $4.51 — Wendy's is 56% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $8.80)
- More variety: Applebee's (78 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wendy's (2.09¢/cal)