Denny's vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Subway is $0.82 cheaper per item (13% difference). Denny's has lower average calories (544 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Denny's | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.39 | $5.57 | Subway |
| Menu Items | 171 | 83 | Denny's |
| Avg Calories | 544 | 586 | Denny's |
| US Locations | 1,350 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 3 | Subway |
Subway is 13% cheaper on average than Denny's ($0.82 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Denny's vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Subway gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Denny's and Subway share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:
- sides: Denny's avg $3.44 vs Subway $1.03 — Subway is 70% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Denny's, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Denny's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Subway ($5.57 avg vs $6.39)
- More variety: Denny's (171 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Subway (1.46¢/cal)