Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Popeyes?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $8.00 for Popeyes — a 49% difference. Based on 104 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Popeyes?

Dairy Queen has more menu items (64 vs 40). The total combined menu across both chains is 104 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Popeyes?

Dairy Queen averages 571 calories per item, compared to 649 for Popeyes. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Popeyes similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Popeyes (5,001 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Popeyes (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 40 items at Popeyes.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Popeyes averages $8.00 across 40 items. Dairy Queen is $3.92 cheaper per item (49% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 649 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Popeyes: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Popeyes	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$8.00	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	40	Dairy Queen
Avg Calories	571	649	Dairy Queen
US Locations	4,500	5,001	Popeyes
Secret Menu	7	1	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 49% cheaper on average than Popeyes ($3.92 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

Popeyes

Jalapeno $0.49

Biscuit $0.79

Raspberry Cheesecake Fried Pie $1.20

Hot Cinnamon Apple Pie $1.29

Cajun Fries (Regular) $1.79

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

Popeyes

Lemonade or Fruit Punch 90 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 110 cal

Bonafide® Chicken – Combo 160 cal

Biscuit 200 cal

Red Beans & Rice 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Popeyes

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Popeyes delivers 1.06¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Popeyes 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), Popeyes fits 0 items
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Popeyes fits 0 items
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Popeyes fits 0 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Popeyes ranks #233 of 414 (pricier than 56% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Popeyes, 54% are under 500 calories. Popeyes offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $8.00)
More variety: Dairy Queen (64 items)
More locations: Popeyes (5,001 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Popeyes Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide