Five Guys vs Sonic Drive-In (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 21 items at Five Guys vs 92 items at Sonic Drive-In.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Five Guys averages $5.36 per item across 21 menu items, while Sonic Drive-In averages $3.28 across 92 items. Sonic Drive-In is $2.08 cheaper per item (39% difference). Sonic Drive-In has lower average calories (578 vs 629 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Five Guys | Sonic Drive-In | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $5.36 | $3.28 | Sonic Drive-In |
| Menu Items | 21 | 92 | Sonic Drive-In |
| Avg Calories | 629 | 578 | Sonic Drive-In |
| US Locations | 1,700 | 3,519 | Sonic Drive-In |
| Secret Menu | 4 | 7 | Sonic Drive-In |
Sonic Drive-In is 39% cheaper on average than Five Guys ($2.08 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Five Guys
Sonic Drive-In
Lowest Calorie Options
Five Guys
Sonic Drive-In
Deep Comparison: Five Guys vs Sonic Drive-In
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Five Guys delivers 0.91¢/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
Five Guys and Sonic Drive-In share 2 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: hot dogs, drinks. 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:
- hot dogs: Five Guys avg $5.82 vs Sonic Drive-In $2.54 — Sonic Drive-In is 56% cheaper
- drinks: Five Guys avg $2.24 vs Sonic Drive-In $2.22 — Sonic Drive-In is 1% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Five Guys fits 0 items, Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (320 cal)
- $15 budget: Five Guys fits 3 items (1640 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (1790 cal)
- $20 budget: Five Guys fits 3 items (2370 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (2090 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Five Guys ranks #118 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). Sonic Drive-In ranks #18 of 414 (cheaper than 96% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Five Guys, 21% 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 $5.36)
- 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)