Papa John's vs Raising Cane's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 28 items at Raising Cane's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Raising Cane's averages $43.52 across 28 items. Papa John's is $31.81 cheaper per item (73% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 916 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Raising Cane's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $43.52 | Papa John's |
| Menu Items | 79 | 28 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 916 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 800 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Papa John's is 73% cheaper on average than Raising Cane's ($31.81 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Raising Cane's
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Raising Cane's
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Raising Cane's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Raising Cane's delivers 0.74¢/cal. Raising Cane's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Raising Cane's share 2 menu categories (22% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: drinks, extras. Moderate overlap — they compete on some categories but specialize differently.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- extras: Papa John's avg $1.06 vs Raising Cane's $2.64 — Papa John's is 60% cheaper
- drinks: Papa John's avg $1.80 vs Raising Cane's $4.13 — Papa John's is 56% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Raising Cane's fits 1 item (960 cal)
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Raising Cane's fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Raising Cane's fits 3 items (2360 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Raising Cane's ranks #409 of 414 (pricier than 99% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Papa John's, 93% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Raising Cane's, 32% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Papa John's ($11.72 avg vs $43.52)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Raising Cane's (0.74¢/cal)