Burger King operates 18,000+ global locations with flame-grilled burgers and larger menu variety, while Wendy's has 7,000+ locations focused on fresh, never-frozen beef and higher customer satisfaction ratings (79% vs 71%). Wendy's emphasizes quality ingredients while Burger King prioritizes scale and international presence.
Burger King vs Wendy's — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global flame-grilled burger chain with 18,190+ locations and diverse international menu offerings.
Fast-casual burger chain with 7,193 locations emphasizing fresh never-frozen beef and high customer satisfaction.
Global Restaurant Count. Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024). Beef Quality Standard. Annual Revenue (2023). Menu Item Count. Average Transaction Time. Online Ordering Adoption Rate
Choose Burger King if you prioritize global reach, diverse menu options, and flame-grilled preparation with broader international availability. Choose Wendy's if you value higher customer satisfaction, fresh never-frozen beef quality, and faster service times with a more focused menu strategy.
Burger King: $1.8 Billion | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: Flame-grilled (quality varies by location) | Wendy's: Never-frozen fresh beef
Burger King: ~40 seconds per Whopper | Wendy's: ~25 seconds per Dave's Single
Burger King: Standard Frosty-style offerings | Wendy's: Cookie Dough Frosty Fusion (new core item)
Burger King: Traditional format | Wendy's: Future Fresh design (2026) with digital ordering
Burger King: 18,000+ | Wendy's: 7,000+ locations
Burger King: 5+ burger options at £5.99 | Wendy's: 2-3 burger options at £7.99
Burger King: $6.5B | Wendy's: $2.1 billion
Burger King: 660 cal (Whopper) | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: 8M+ (BK Rewards) | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: ~1000+ 'Have it Your Way' combos | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: Whopper: 660 cal | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: $5.49 (Whopper) | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: Flame-grilled frozen patties | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: 6 standard toppings | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: $316K - $516K | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: Flame-grilled (smoky flavor) | Wendy's: N/A
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Never-frozen fresh beef
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Traditional automated systems
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Extensive customization
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Closing hundreds
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Premium improved recipes 2026
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Never frozen fresh beef
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Digital menu boards, traditional operation
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Incremental expansion, undisclosed target
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Future Fresh design with blue aesthetic and digital integration
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Base comparison point
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: 3-4 toppings
Burger King: N/A | Wendy's: Conventional sourced
Average Meal Cost (Burger + Fries + Drink)
How to choose between Burger King and Wendy's
Burger King vs Wendy's — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Burger King vs Wendy's. Contains 78 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Burger King vs Wendy's — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Burger King vs Wendy's.
Wendy's has a competitive advantage with its 'never-frozen' fresh beef promise, which has been their core differentiator since 2011. Burger King uses fresh flame-grilled beef that is not frozen before cooking, but Wendy's maintains stricter cold-chain standards emphasizing beef never enters a freezer. Independent quality audits from Consumer Reports (2024) ranked Wendy's beef freshness 8% higher in blind taste tests.
Why is Burger King bigger but less popular?
Burger King's 18,190 locations (2.5x more than Wendy's) reflect its aggressive international expansion and franchising model prioritizing market penetration. However, this rapid expansion sometimes sacrifices quality consistency. Wendy's 7,193 locations represent more selective growth focused on profitability and customer satisfaction, resulting in a 79/100 ACSI score vs Burger King's 71/100, an 8-point satisfaction gap.
Which is faster for drive-thru ordering?
Wendy's averages 3.8 minutes for drive-thru transactions vs Burger King's 4.2 minutes, a 10% speed advantage. This reflects Wendy's simpler menu (80+ items vs 150+) and streamlined operational processes. Speed ratings come from independent QSR Magazine drive-thru studies across 500+ locations in 2024.
How do their mobile apps and delivery compare?
Burger King leads with 31% of sales from digital channels vs Wendy's 28% (2024 data). Burger King's app offers broader delivery partnerships including Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub in most markets. Wendy's app emphasizes in-app ordering with direct delivery in select areas, but has narrower third-party integration, limiting digital convenience.
Wendy's emphasizes wellness with 15+ salads (150-400 calories), grilled chicken options, and calorie-posted menu items prominently. Burger King offers 8 salads but markets fewer health-focused items. Wendy's menu nutritional transparency scores 34% higher in NutritionScore FDA compliance audits, making it the better choice for calorie-conscious diners.
How to Choose Between Burger King and Wendy's
Global Restaurant Count: Burger King has 18,190 locations, while Wendy's has 7,193 locations.
Consider: Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024)
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI 2024): Burger King has 71/100, while Wendy's has 79/100.
Beef Quality Standard: Burger King has Flame-grilled (fresh patties), while Wendy's has Never-frozen fresh beef.
Annual Revenue (2023): Burger King has $6.5 billion, while Wendy's has $2.1 billion.
Menu Item Count: Burger King has 150+ items globally, while Wendy's has 80+ items globally.
Average Transaction Time: Burger King has 4.2 minutes, while Wendy's has 3.8 minutes.
Online Ordering Adoption Rate: Burger King has 31% of sales (2024), while Wendy's has 28% of sales (2024).