Jimmy John's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $5.03 cheaper per item (59% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.55 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 42 | 77 | Wendy's |
| Avg Calories | 996 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 2,550 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 59% cheaper on average than Jimmy John's ($5.03 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Jimmy John's
Wendy's
Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Jimmy John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jimmy John's and Wendy's 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: Jimmy John's avg $1.56 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Jimmy John's is 52% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Jimmy John's, 20% 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 $8.55)
- More variety: Wendy's (77 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Jimmy John's (1.52¢/cal)