Applebee's vs Chick-fil-A (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 102 items at Chick-fil-A.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Chick-fil-A averages $5.32 across 102 items. Chick-fil-A is $3.48 cheaper per item (40% difference). Chick-fil-A has lower average calories (381 vs 682 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Applebee's | Chick-fil-A | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.80 | $5.32 | Chick-fil-A |
| Menu Items | 78 | 102 | Chick-fil-A |
| Avg Calories | 682 | 381 | Chick-fil-A |
| US Locations | 1,483 | 3,140 | Chick-fil-A |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 10 | Chick-fil-A |
Chick-fil-A is 40% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($3.48 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Applebee's
Chick-fil-A
Lowest Calorie Options
Applebee's
Chick-fil-A
Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Chick-fil-A
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Chick-fil-A delivers 1.91¢/cal. Chick-fil-A gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Applebee's and Chick-fil-A share 4 menu categories (17% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: salads, desserts, beverages, catering. 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:
- catering: Applebee's avg $16.32 vs Chick-fil-A $37.50 — Applebee's is 56% cheaper
- desserts: Applebee's avg $3.69 vs Chick-fil-A $1.75 — Chick-fil-A is 53% cheaper
- salads: Applebee's avg $10.42 vs Chick-fil-A $7.98 — Chick-fil-A is 23% cheaper
- beverages: Applebee's avg $2.75 vs Chick-fil-A $3.28 — Applebee's is 16% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Chick-fil-A fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (650 cal)
- $20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (600 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Chick-fil-A ranks #115 of 414 (cheaper than 72% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Chick-fil-A, 79% are under 500 calories. Chick-fil-A offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Chick-fil-A ($5.32 avg vs $8.80)
- More variety: Chick-fil-A (102 items)
- More locations: Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Chick-fil-A (1.91¢/cal)