Firehouse Subs vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 66 items at Firehouse Subs vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Firehouse Subs averages $8.49 per item across 66 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $4.97 cheaper per item (59% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Firehouse Subs | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.49 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 66 | 77 | Wendy's |
| Avg Calories | 586 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 1,200 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 59% cheaper on average than Firehouse Subs ($4.97 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Firehouse Subs
Wendy's
Deep Comparison: Firehouse Subs vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Firehouse Subs delivers 5.63¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Wendy's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Firehouse Subs and Wendy's share 2 menu categories (7% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: drinks, 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: Firehouse Subs avg $2.21 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Firehouse Subs is 32% cheaper
- drinks: Firehouse Subs avg $1.89 vs Wendy's $1.59 — Wendy's is 16% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 1 item, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 1 item (310 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Firehouse Subs ranks #249 of 414 on price (pricier than 60% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Firehouse Subs, 63% 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 $8.49)
- More variety: Wendy's (77 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wendy's (2.09¢/cal)