IHOP vs Wendy's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 25, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

Wendy's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Wendy's is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $4.07 per item.

Typical menu price: IHOP $12.49 · Wendy's $4.19

Matched Items, Side by Side

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

Item	IHOP	Wendy's	Difference
Grilled Chicken Dinnervs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$15.99	$6.99	$9.00 cheaper at Wendy's
Soft Drink (bottomless)vs Soft Drink (medium)	$3.79	$2.39	$1.40 cheaper at Wendy's
Coffee (bottomless)vs Coffee	$3.79	$1.99	$1.80 cheaper at Wendy's

IHOP vs Wendy's at a Glance

	IHOP	Wendy's
Typical menu price	$12.49	$4.19
Average menu price	$11.57	$4.95
Cheapest item	Coffee (bottomless) — $3.79	Frosty (junior) — $1.49
Most expensive item	Sirloin Tips & Eggs — $18.99	Baconator Combo — $12.29
Items priced	41	49
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	1958	1969
Headquarters	Pasadena, California	Dublin, Ohio
Locations	About 1,650 restaurants in the U.S. and internationally	About 6,000 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Wendy's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.19 against $12.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Wendy's gets you in cheaper at $1.49.

IHOP is strongest on Original Buttermilk Pancakes, Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity, Breakfast Sampler; Wendy's on Dave's Single, Baconator, Spicy Chicken Sandwich. 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

IHOP

All You Can Eat Pancakes returns several times a year and is the best value IHOP ever offers — usually around the price of a full stack.
The 55+ menu is available all day to guests 55 and older and runs roughly $2 to $4 below the standard versions of the same dishes.
Coffee and soft drinks are bottomless, so a single drink charge covers the whole meal.

Wendy's

The $5 Biggie Bag is the most complete meal for the money at any national burger chain — the four items separately run about $11.
A junior Frosty at $1.49 is the cheapest dessert in fast food, and Wendy's regularly sells a season-long Frosty Key Tag for around $3 that gives one free junior Frosty per visit for a year.
A small chili at $3.49 is more food per dollar than a small fries at $2.49 and is the only hot vegetable-and-protein side on a burger menu.

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.

IHOP vs Wendy's — FAQ

Is IHOP cheaper than Wendy's in 2026?

Wendy's is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 3. Across the whole menu Wendy's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.19 for a typical item against $12.49 at IHOP.

What is the price difference between IHOP and Wendy's?

On matched items the average difference is $4.07, or about 57% overall. IHOP averages $11.57 across 41 priced items; Wendy's averages $4.95 across 49.

Which has the cheaper entry price, IHOP or Wendy's?

IHOP starts at $3.79 (Coffee (bottomless)) and Wendy's at $1.49 (Frosty (junior)).

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.