Arby's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 86 items at Arby's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Arby's averages $6.03 per item across 86 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Arby's is $5.69 cheaper per item (49% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 474 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Arby's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $11.72 | Arby's |
| Menu Items | 86 | 79 | Arby's |
| Avg Calories | 474 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 2,163 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 14 | 1 | Arby's |
Arby's is 49% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($5.69 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Arby's
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Arby's
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Arby's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Arby's delivers 1.08¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Arby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Arby's and Papa John's share 2 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts. 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:
- desserts: Arby's avg $2.72 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Arby's is 55% cheaper
- sides: Arby's avg $3.46 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Arby's is 45% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Arby's fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Arby's ranks #154 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Arby's, 57% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Arby's ($6.03 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Arby's (86 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Arby's (1.08¢/cal)