Papa John's vs Wingstop (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 35 items at Wingstop.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Wingstop averages $8.73 across 35 items. Wingstop is $2.99 cheaper per item (26% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 380 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Wingstop | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $8.73 | Wingstop |
| Menu Items | 79 | 35 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 380 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 2,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Wingstop is 26% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($2.99 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Wingstop
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Wingstop
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Wingstop
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Wingstop delivers 1.15¢/cal. Wingstop gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Wingstop share 2 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, 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:
- sides: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Wingstop $3.49 — Wingstop is 45% cheaper
- drinks: Papa John's avg $1.80 vs Wingstop $1.69 — Wingstop is 6% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Wingstop fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Wingstop fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Wingstop fits 3 items (240 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Wingstop ranks #265 of 414 (pricier than 64% 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 Wingstop, 76% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wingstop ($8.73 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wingstop (1.15¢/cal)