Applebee's vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Subway is $3.23 cheaper per item (37% difference). Subway has lower average calories (586 vs 682 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Applebee's | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.80 | $5.57 | Subway |
| Menu Items | 78 | 83 | Subway |
| Avg Calories | 682 | 586 | Subway |
| US Locations | 1,483 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 3 | Subway |
Subway is 37% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($3.23 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Applebee's
Subway
Lowest Calorie Options
Applebee's
Subway
Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Subway gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Applebee's and Subway share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Subway offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Subway ($5.57 avg vs $8.80)
- More variety: Subway (83 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Subway (1.46¢/cal)