Culver's vs Sonic Drive-In: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 7, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Sonic Drive-In is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $1.46 per item.

Typical menu price: Culver's $8.29 · 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 — Culver's's wording first.

Item	Culver's	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$8.79	$6.79	$2.00 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$8.49	$6.99	$1.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$8.29	$6.79	$1.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Sundae	$5.79	$3.99	$1.80 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Onion Rings	$4.79	$4.29	$0.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In

Make Culver's and Sonic Drive-In at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Countertop Nugget Ice Maker The soft, chewable "Sonic ice" at home. Check price on Amazon Burger Press Uniform smash-style patties in seconds. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Griddle The crust fast-food flat-tops are known for. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

Culver's vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	Culver's	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$8.29	$4.29
Average menu price	$8.19	$4.66
Cheapest item	Fountain Drink (regular) — $2.79	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	North Atlantic Cod Dinner (3 pc) — $16.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	42	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	1984	1953
Headquarters	Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	More than 970 restaurants, concentrated in the Midwest	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 $8.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Sonic Drive-In gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Culver's is strongest on ButterBurger Deluxe, Butterburger Cheese Double, Cheese Curds; 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

Culver's

Kids meals include a scoop of frozen custard at no extra charge — an unusual inclusion that adds about $3.79 of value.
Buy custard by the pint or quart to go: a quart at $11.99 is roughly half the per-ounce cost of individual scoops.
Culver's e-club sends a free-item coupon on signup and again on your birthday.

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.

Culver's vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

Is Culver's cheaper than Sonic Drive-In in 2026?

Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $8.29 at Culver's.

What is the price difference between Culver's and Sonic Drive-In?

On matched items the average difference is $1.46, or about 43% overall. Culver's averages $8.19 across 42 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Culver's or Sonic Drive-In?

Culver's starts at $2.79 (Fountain Drink (regular)) 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.