Arby's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 86 items at Arby's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Arby's averages $6.03 per item across 86 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $2.50 cheaper per item (42% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 474 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Arby's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 86 | 77 | Arby's |
| Avg Calories | 474 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 2,163 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 14 | 2 | Arby's |
Wendy's is 42% cheaper on average than Arby's ($2.50 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Arby's
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Arby's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Arby's delivers 1.08¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Arby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Arby's and Wendy's share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:
- sides: Arby's avg $3.46 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Wendy's is 6% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Arby's fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Arby's ranks #154 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Arby's, 57% 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 $6.03)
- More variety: Arby's (86 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Arby's (1.08¢/cal)