Which is cheaper, Chick-fil-A or IHOP?

Chick-fil-A is cheaper, averaging $5.32 per item versus $6.36 for IHOP — a 16% difference. Based on 241 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Chick-fil-A or IHOP?

IHOP has more menu items (139 vs 102). The total combined menu across both chains is 241 items.

Which has lower calories, Chick-fil-A or IHOP?

Chick-fil-A averages 381 calories per item, compared to 584 for IHOP. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Chick-fil-A and IHOP similar?

Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations) and IHOP (1,750 US locations) compete on 2 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Chick-fil-A vs IHOP (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 102 items at Chick-fil-A vs 139 items at IHOP.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chick-fil-A averages $5.32 per item across 102 menu items, while IHOP averages $6.36 across 139 items. Chick-fil-A is $1.03 cheaper per item (16% difference). Chick-fil-A has lower average calories (381 vs 584 per item).

Quick Comparison

Chick-fil-A vs IHOP: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Chick-fil-A	IHOP	Winner
Avg Price	$5.32	$6.36	Chick-fil-A
Menu Items	102	139	IHOP
Avg Calories	381	584	Chick-fil-A
US Locations	3,140	1,750	Chick-fil-A
Secret Menu	10	0	Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A is 16% cheaper on average than IHOP ($1.03 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Chick-fil-A

Icedream Topping $0.25

Upsize Fries & Drink $0.46

Buttered Biscuit $0.89

Hash Browns $0.99

Substitute Medium Premium Side $1.00

IHOP

Kids Drinks (soft drinks, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, juice) $1.19

Add Hashbrowns $1.29

Kids Ice Cream Sundae $1.29

Ice Cream $1.29

Juice (Orange, Apple, Tomato, or Grapefruit) $1.99

Lowest Calorie Options

Chick-fil-A

Fruit Cup 60 cal

1% Milk Plain or Chocolate 90 cal

Hand-Spun Milkshakes (Cookies & Cream, Chocolate, Strawberry, or Vanilla) 90 cal

Kale Crunch Side 120 cal

Grilled Nuggets (8-ct) 130 cal

IHOP

Kid’s Fresh Fruit Dish 60 cal

Fresh Fruit Bowl 60 cal

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger 90 cal

Bacon & Egg Cheeseburger 90 cal

Sourdough Bacon Burger Melt 90 cal

Deep Comparison: Chick-fil-A vs IHOP

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Chick-fil-A delivers 1.91¢/cal on average, while IHOP delivers 1.86¢/cal. IHOP gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Chick-fil-A and IHOP share 2 menu categories (7% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: beverages, 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:

desserts: Chick-fil-A avg $1.75 vs IHOP $3.11 — Chick-fil-A is 44% cheaper
beverages: Chick-fil-A avg $3.28 vs IHOP $2.27 — IHOP is 31% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 0 items, IHOP fits 1 item (971 cal)
$15 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (650 cal), IHOP fits 3 items (150 cal)
$20 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (600 cal), IHOP fits 3 items (1021 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Chick-fil-A ranks #115 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). IHOP ranks #166 of 414 (cheaper than 60% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Chick-fil-A, 79% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At IHOP, 45% are under 500 calories. Chick-fil-A offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Chick-fil-A ($5.32 avg vs $6.36)
More variety: IHOP (139 items)
More locations: Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations)
Best calorie value: IHOP (1.86¢/cal)

Full Menus

Chick-fil-A Menu IHOP Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide