Domino's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 137 items at Domino's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Domino's averages $9.46 per item across 137 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Domino's is $2.26 cheaper per item (19% difference). Domino's has lower average calories (312 vs 369 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Domino's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $9.46 | $11.72 | Domino's |
| Menu Items | 137 | 79 | Domino's |
| Avg Calories | 312 | 369 | Domino's |
| US Locations | 6,753 | 3,200 | Domino's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Domino's is 19% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($2.26 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Domino's
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Domino's
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Domino's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Domino's delivers 8.36¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Papa John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Domino's and Papa John's share 5 menu categories (31% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: pizza, sides, drinks, desserts, sauces. Moderate overlap — they compete on some categories but specialize differently.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- sides: Domino's avg $4.74 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Domino's is 25% cheaper
- sauces: Domino's avg $0.65 vs Papa John's $0.50 — Papa John's is 23% cheaper
- pizza: Domino's avg $11.79 vs Papa John's $13.50 — Domino's is 13% cheaper
- desserts: Domino's avg $5.74 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Domino's is 4% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Domino's fits 1 item, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Domino's fits 1 item (310 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Domino's fits 3 items (660 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Domino's ranks #293 of 414 on price (pricier than 71% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Domino's, 80% 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: Domino's ($9.46 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Domino's (137 items)
- More locations: Domino's (6,753 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Papa John's (3.50¢/cal)