Papa John's vs Popeyes (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 40 items at Popeyes.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Popeyes averages $8.00 across 40 items. Popeyes is $3.72 cheaper per item (32% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 649 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Popeyes | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $8.00 | Popeyes |
| Menu Items | 79 | 40 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 649 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 5,001 | Popeyes |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Popeyes is 32% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($3.72 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Popeyes
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Popeyes
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Popeyes
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Popeyes delivers 1.06¢/cal. Popeyes gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Popeyes share 3 menu categories (18% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, drinks, desserts. 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:
- desserts: Papa John's avg $6.00 vs Popeyes $1.29 — Popeyes is 79% cheaper
- sides: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Popeyes $1.73 — Popeyes is 73% cheaper
- drinks: Papa John's avg $1.80 vs Popeyes $2.76 — Papa John's is 35% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Popeyes fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Popeyes fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Popeyes fits 0 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Popeyes ranks #233 of 414 (pricier than 56% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Papa John's, 93% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Popeyes, 54% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Popeyes ($8.00 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Popeyes (5,001 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Popeyes (1.06¢/cal)