Dunkin' specializes in coffee and donuts with 9,000+ US locations focused on quick breakfast, while McDonald's is a global fast-food giant with 13,000+ US locations offering full meal service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dunkin' generates higher per-unit revenue ($1.4M annually) but McDonald's has broader menu appeal and international reach.
Dunkin' vs McDonald's — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
American quick-service chain specializing in donuts, coffee, and bagels with 9,500 locations.
Global fast-food chain specializing in burgers, fries, and quick service with 40,575 locations worldwide.
Primary Focus. US Locations. Average Unit Volume (Annual). Menu Categories. Global Countries. Average Transaction Time. Breakfast Revenue Share (% of Annual)
Choose Dunkin' if you prioritize quick breakfast, superior coffee quality, and fast service with higher per-unit profitability and breakfast specialization. Choose McDonald's if you need all-day meal options, global consistency, higher overall revenue potential, and broader customer appeal across all dayparts.
Dunkin': 12,500+ | McDonald's: 40,275 locations
Dunkin': $1.49 billion | McDonald's: N/A
Dunkin': $1.4M | McDonald's: $2.8 million
Dunkin': 2-3 min | McDonald's: 3-4 minutes
Dunkin': Breakfast/Coffee dominant | McDonald's: All-day breakfast/lunch/dinner
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Frozen patties standard
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: AI-powered order systems 2026
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Standard options
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Expansion planned
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Standard offerings
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Frozen patties + fresh beef option
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Voice-activated with AI accuracy scaling
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Frozen beef (100% beef)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: AI voice-activated with accuracy scaling
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 8,000 new locations planned
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Optimized drive-thru layout
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 105% cheaper than Wendy's
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: #1 fries only
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Top 3 ($107B trifecta)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: $1.3 - $2.2 million
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 563 cal (Big Mac)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 40M+ (McDonald's Rewards)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: ~200 menu variations
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 100+ countries
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: $23.2 billion
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 93% of US consumers
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 28% of customer base
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: $5.99 (Big Mac)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: $1.6M - $2.3M
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Griddle-cooked (consistent)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 40+ (McDonald's Rewards)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 24 hours (all-day breakfast)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: $196.5 billion
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 550 (Big Mac)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Frozen beef patties
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: Limited (15-20 burger variations)
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 150+ countries
Dunkin': N/A | McDonald's: 550 cal (Big Mac)
How to choose between Dunkin' and McDonald's
Dunkin' vs McDonald's — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Dunkin' vs McDonald's. Contains 109 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Dunkin' vs McDonald's — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Dunkin' vs McDonald's.
Which chain has better franchisee profitability?
Dunkin' franchisees achieve higher per-unit revenue at $1.4M annually compared to McDonald's $2.7M system-wide average, but this reflects Dunkin's smaller transaction volume. McDonald's franchisees benefit from all-day service and larger average ticket sizes, resulting in higher absolute profits despite lower per-unit metrics in some markets. Dunkin' requires lower initial capital investment ($250K-$500K) versus McDonald's ($1.4M-$2.3M), affecting profitability calculations.
Dunkin' averages 2-3 minutes from order to delivery, making it 40-50% faster than McDonald's 4-5 minute average. Dunkin's simplified menu (coffee, donuts, basic sandwiches) and drive-thru optimization enable faster throughput. McDonald's complex all-day menu, cooking requirements, and customization options increase order complexity and transaction time.
Yes, co-branding is possible. In 2020, Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins (both Inspire Brands owned) created co-branded units. McDonald's doesn't have similar co-branding arrangements with Dunkin' as they're competitors, but McDonald's does co-locate with other concepts. Dunkin' has approximately 1,200+ co-branded Dunkin'-Baskin-Robbins locations in North America.
Which has stronger international growth potential?
McDonald's dominates with 40,000+ locations across 100+ countries and established supply chains, making international expansion proven and systematic. Dunkin' operates in only 12 countries (primarily Japan, South Korea, UK, Canada) but is accelerating expansion, with plans to grow presence in Southeast Asia and Europe. McDonald's 2025 guidance projects 2,500+ new units globally; Dunkin' targets 1,500+ new units but primarily in North America.
Which loyalty program drives more repeat business?
McDonald's loyalty program has 50M+ mobile app users generating 30% of orders, while Dunkin' has 15M+ active loyalty members with 40% repeat purchase rates. McDonald's scale is larger, but Dunkin' shows higher engagement intensity among members. Both programs offer personalized offers; McDonald's emphasizes value promotion while Dunkin' focuses on beverage loyalty with free drink rewards.
How to Choose Between Dunkin' and McDonald's
Primary Focus: Dunkin' has Coffee & Donuts, while McDonald's has Full Fast-Food Menu.
US Locations: Dunkin' has 9,500+, while McDonald's has 13,000+.
Average Unit Volume (Annual): Dunkin' has $1.4M, while McDonald's has $2.7M.
Menu Categories: Dunkin' has Breakfast/Coffee Focus, while McDonald's has All-Day Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Global Countries: Dunkin' has 12, while McDonald's has 100+.
Average Transaction Time: Dunkin' has 2-3 minutes, while McDonald's has 4-5 minutes.
Consider: Breakfast Revenue Share (% of Annual)
Breakfast Revenue Share (% of Annual): Dunkin' has 85%, while McDonald's has 35%.