Popeyes vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 40 items at Popeyes vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Popeyes averages $8.00 per item across 40 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $4.48 cheaper per item (56% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 649 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Popeyes | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.00 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 40 | 77 | Wendy's |
| Avg Calories | 649 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 5,001 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 56% cheaper on average than Popeyes ($4.48 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Popeyes vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Popeyes delivers 1.06¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Popeyes gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Popeyes and Wendy's share 3 menu categories (11% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: chicken, 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:
- chicken: Popeyes avg $9.59 vs Wendy's $1.89 — Wendy's is 80% cheaper
- sides: Popeyes avg $1.73 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Popeyes is 47% cheaper
- drinks: Popeyes avg $2.76 vs Wendy's $1.59 — Wendy's is 42% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Popeyes fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Popeyes fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Popeyes fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Popeyes ranks #233 of 414 on price (pricier than 56% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Popeyes, 54% 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 $8.00)
- More variety: Wendy's (77 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Popeyes (1.06¢/cal)