Papa John's vs Zaxby's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 101 items at Zaxby's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. Papa John's is $3.11 cheaper per item (21% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 877 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Zaxby's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $14.83 | Papa John's |
| Menu Items | 79 | 101 | Zaxby's |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 877 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 900 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Papa John's is 21% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($3.11 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Zaxby's
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Zaxby's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/cal. Zaxby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Zaxby's share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Zaxby's $3.59 — Zaxby's is 43% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Zaxby's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Zaxby's fits 1 item
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Zaxby's ranks #382 of 414 (pricier than 92% 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 Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Papa John's ($11.72 avg vs $14.83)
- More variety: Zaxby's (101 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Zaxby's (1.46¢/cal)