McDonald's operates 13,500+ US locations with lower prices and broader menu variety, while Chick-fil-A has 3,000+ locations focused on chicken with higher customer satisfaction scores (86 vs 74) and closed Sundays.
Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
US-only fast-casual chicken chain with 3,000+ locations closed on Sundays
Global fast-food giant with 40,000+ locations in 100+ countries
US Restaurant Count. Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI). Average Chicken Sandwich Price. Operating Days Per Year. Menu Item Count. Global Presence. Annual Revenue (2024)
Choose Chick-fil-A if you prioritize superior customer satisfaction (86 vs 74), fresh chicken preparation, and consistent quality despite limited menu and Sunday closures. Choose McDonald's if you value menu variety, convenience with 4.5x more locations, lower prices, and 24/7 availability across the globe.
Chick-fil-A: 15-20 | McDonald's: 80+ items
Chick-fil-A: 150-200 estimated | McDonald's: 8,000
Chick-fil-A: Hand-breaded fresh daily | McDonald's: Frozen patties + fresh beef option
Chick-fil-A: Mobile app + traditional ordering | McDonald's: Voice-activated with AI accuracy scaling
Chick-fil-A: 4.5 minutes | McDonald's: 3.8 minutes
Chick-fil-A: #1 overall quality | McDonald's: #1 fries only
Chick-fil-A: 365 days | McDonald's: 340 days
Chick-fil-A: +38% higher | McDonald's: baseline
Chick-fil-A: Top 3 ($107B trifecta) | McDonald's: Top 3 ($107B trifecta)
Chick-fil-A: 100+ countries | McDonald's: U.S. only
Chick-fil-A: 260 days (closed Sundays) | McDonald's: 365 days
Chick-fil-A: 3,000+ | McDonald's: 40,275
Chick-fil-A: 3.2 minutes | McDonald's: N/A
Chick-fil-A: Chicken Sandwich: 440 cal | McDonald's: N/A
Chick-fil-A: 3,052 | McDonald's: 13,000+
Chick-fil-A: 4.2 minutes | McDonald's: N/A
Chick-fil-A: Hand-breaded fresh daily, never frozen | McDonald's: N/A
Chick-fil-A: 3-4 | McDonald's: 6-8 minutes
Chick-fil-A: $2.7-3.2M | McDonald's: N/A
Chick-fil-A: 4.3 min | McDonald's: 5.8 min
Chick-fil-A: ~25 items | McDonald's: 150+ items
Chick-fil-A: 1 (USA only) | McDonald's: 100+
Chick-fil-A: $17.00 | McDonald's: $13.50
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Frozen patties standard
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: AI-powered order systems 2026
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Standard options
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Expansion planned
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Standard offerings
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Frozen beef (100% beef)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 2-3 items
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: AI voice-activated with accuracy scaling
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 8,000 new locations planned
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Optimized drive-thru layout
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 105% cheaper than Wendy's
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $1.3 - $2.2 million
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 563 cal (Big Mac)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 40M+ (McDonald's Rewards)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: ~200 menu variations
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: All-day breakfast/lunch/dinner
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $8.50-10.50
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 40,275 locations
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $23.2 billion
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $2.8 million
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 93% of US consumers
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 28% of customer base
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $5.99 (Big Mac)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $1,006-$2,214
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: $1.6M - $2.3M
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 12+ items
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: Griddle-cooked (consistent)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 40+ (McDonald's Rewards)
Chick-fil-A: N/A | McDonald's: 24 hours (all-day breakfast)
How to choose between Chick-fil-A and McDonald's
Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's. Contains 111 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Chick-fil-A vs McDonald's.
Founder Truett Cathy established a company policy in 1946 based on his Christian faith, allowing employees rest and family time. The policy remains core to company culture and hasn't changed despite growth. This limits access but maintains employee satisfaction at 86% vs industry average of 62%.
Chick-fil-A offers grilled chicken with 320 calories and 35g protein vs McDonald's burgers with 540+ calories. However, McDonald's has 25+ salad options vs Chick-fil-A's limited sides. Both exceed 800mg sodium per entree. Chick-fil-A uses fresh chicken; McDonald's uses frozen patties.
Chick-fil-A's premium pricing ($8.49 vs $6.79 sandwich) reflects fresh, never-frozen chicken prepared daily, higher employee wages ($17 vs $13.50/hour), and limited menu reducing operational costs. McDonald's scale (40,000+ locations) enables lower prices through volume purchasing and standardized frozen products.
Can I get Chick-fil-A outside the United States?
No. Chick-fil-A operates exclusively in the United States with 3,039 locations as of 2026. The company has rejected international expansion to maintain quality standards and focus on US markets. McDonald's operates in 100+ countries with 40,000+ locations.
Which chain has better customer service?
Chick-fil-A ranks higher in customer satisfaction (86/100 ACSI) and drive-thru speed (4.3 vs 5.8 minutes), attributed to higher employee wages and focused training. McDonald's scores 74/100 but excels in consistency and accessibility across global markets.
How to Choose Between Chick-fil-A and McDonald's
US Restaurant Count: Chick-fil-A has 3,039 locations, while McDonald's has 13,573 locations.
Consider: Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI)
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI): Chick-fil-A has 86/100, while McDonald's has 74/100.
Consider: Average Chicken Sandwich Price
Average Chicken Sandwich Price: Chick-fil-A has $8.49, while McDonald's has $6.79.
Operating Days Per Year: Chick-fil-A has 358 days, while McDonald's has 365 days.
Menu Item Count: Chick-fil-A has ~25 items, while McDonald's has 150+ items.
Global Presence: Chick-fil-A has Only US (3,039), while McDonald's has 100+ countries (40,000+).
Annual Revenue (2024): Chick-fil-A has $14.3 billion, while McDonald's has $26 billion.