Cook Out vs Sonic Drive-In: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 15, 2026 7 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 7 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $1.29 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · Sonic Drive-In $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cook Out's wording first.

Item	Cook Out	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
Grilled Chicken Platevs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$9.79	$6.99	$2.80 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Cajun Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$5.49	$6.79	$1.30 cheaper at Cook Out
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$6.99	$1.70 cheaper at Cook Out
Cheesecake Shakevs Classic Shake (medium)	$4.79	$4.79	same
Cheeseburgervs SONIC Cheeseburger	$3.99	$5.49	$1.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Onion Rings	$2.79	$4.29	$1.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Corn Dog	$2.29	$2.49	$0.20 cheaper at Cook Out

Cook Out vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	Cook Out	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$4.79	$4.29
Average menu price	$5.16	$4.66
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	43	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1953
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	More than 3,500 drive-ins across the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Sonic Drive-In has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $4.79 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cook Out gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; Sonic Drive-In on Cherry Limeade, SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger, Tots. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cook Out

The Cook Out Tray at $7.49 to $8.79 includes an entree, two sides and a drink — the cheapest complete combo of any national or regional chain.
Upgrading the tray drink to a milkshake for $2.99 costs less than buying the shake separately at $4.29.
Cook Out stays open until 3:00 or 4:00 AM, which makes it one of the only late-night sit-down-quality options in much of the Southeast.

Sonic Drive-In

Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00 PM every day takes 50 percent off all drinks and slushes — the single biggest recurring discount in fast food.
The Sonic app frequently offers half-price burgers on Tuesdays and free items with a purchase.
Upgrading to a Route 44 (44 oz) for $0.60 more is the cheapest per-ounce drink on the menu, especially during Happy Hour.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cook Out vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Sonic Drive-In in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 7. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $4.79 at Cook Out.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Sonic Drive-In?

On matched items the average difference is $1.29, or about 10% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Sonic Drive-In?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) and Sonic Drive-In at $1.99 ($1.99 Snack Menu items).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.