Which is cheaper, Applebee's or McDonald's?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $8.80 for Applebee's — a 31% difference. Based on 242 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Applebee's or McDonald's?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 78). The total combined menu across both chains is 242 items.

Which has lower calories, Applebee's or McDonald's?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 682 for Applebee's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Applebee's and McDonald's similar?

Applebee's (1,483 US locations) and McDonald's (13,786 US locations) compete on 2 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Applebee's vs McDonald's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 164 items at McDonald's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while McDonald's averages $6.03 across 164 items. McDonald's is $2.77 cheaper per item (31% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 682 per item).

Quick Comparison

Applebee's vs McDonald's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Applebee's	McDonald's	Winner
Avg Price	$8.80	$6.03	McDonald's
Menu Items	78	164	McDonald's
Avg Calories	682	413	McDonald's
US Locations	1,483	13,786	McDonald's
Secret Menu	0	15	McDonald's

McDonald's is 31% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($2.77 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Applebee's

Brownie Bites $1.00

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Per Person $1.49

Cole Slaw Per Person $1.49

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes $1.99

Side Garlicky Green Beans $1.99

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Applebee's

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes 100 cal

Side House Salad 120 cal

Side Garlic Mashed Potatoes 130 cal

Grilled Shrimp Avocado & Grapefruit Salad 150 cal

Side Fire-Grilled Veggies 150 cal

McDonald's

Honey Mustard 60 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Wild Cherry 80 cal

Medium Frozen Coca-Cola® 80 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Blue Raspberry 80 cal

Mayonnaise Packet 90 cal

Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs McDonald's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal. Applebee's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Applebee's and McDonald's share 2 menu categories (7% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: burgers, beverages. 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:

burgers: Applebee's avg $10.16 vs McDonald's $6.12 — McDonald's is 40% cheaper
beverages: Applebee's avg $2.75 vs McDonald's $3.17 — Applebee's is 13% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal)
$15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, McDonald's fits 0 items
$20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 (cheaper than 63% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At McDonald's, 70% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $8.80)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Applebee's (2.22¢/cal)

Full Menus

Applebee's Menu McDonald's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide