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Dairy Queen vs Papa John's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 79 items at Papa John's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Dairy Queen is $7.64 cheaper per item (65% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 571 per item).

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Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Papa John's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric Dairy Queen Papa John's Winner
Avg Price $4.08 $11.72 Dairy Queen
Menu Items 64 79 Papa John's
Avg Calories 571 369 Papa John's
US Locations 4,500 3,200 Dairy Queen
Secret Menu 7 1 Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 65% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($7.64 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Dairy Queen

Add Extra Stuff $0.69
Add a Boost (Protein) $0.99
Add a Boost (Fresh Banana) $0.99
Buffalo Chicken $1.89
Chicken Bacon BBQ $1.89

Papa John's

Cheese (Large) $0.50
Special Garlic $0.50
Barbeque $0.50
Blue Cheese $0.50
Buffalo $0.50
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Lowest Calorie Options

Dairy Queen

Chicken Wrap 280 cal
Fries 280 cal
1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger 390 cal
1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger – Combo 390 cal
Chicken Bacon Ranch – Combo 390 cal

Papa John's

Jalapeño Peppers 60 cal
Ranch 100 cal
Special Garlic 150 cal
Honey Mustard 150 cal
Blue Cheese 160 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Papa John's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Papa John's share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

  • $10 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal), Papa John's fits 0 items
  • $15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
  • $20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% 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: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $11.72)
  • More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
  • More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
  • Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Papa John's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide