McDonald's operates 40,575 locations globally with higher revenue ($23.2B in 2024) and focuses on consistency and speed, while Wendy's runs 7,000+ locations emphasizing fresher ingredients, never-frozen beef, and a more premium positioning despite lower overall scale.
McDonald's vs Wendy's — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest fast-food chain by revenue, operating 40,575 locations across 100+ countries.
Premium fast-casual chain operating 7,000+ locations with a focus on fresh, never-frozen beef and higher-quality ingredients.
Global Restaurant Count. Annual Revenue (2024). Beef Quality Positioning. Average Transaction Time. Menu Items Offered. Breakfast Service Hours. Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
Choose McDonald's if you prioritize global availability, fastest service, variety of menu options, and proven consistency across locations. Choose Wendy's if you value fresher beef quality, higher customer satisfaction scores, and prefer a slightly more premium fast-food experience with personalized service.
McDonald's: Frozen patties standard | Wendy's: Never-frozen fresh beef
McDonald's: AI-powered order systems 2026 | Wendy's: Traditional automated systems
McDonald's: Standard options | Wendy's: Extensive customization
McDonald's: Expansion planned | Wendy's: Closing hundreds
McDonald's: Standard offerings | Wendy's: Premium improved recipes 2026
McDonald's: Frozen patties + fresh beef option | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: Voice-activated with AI accuracy scaling | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: Frozen beef (100% beef) | Wendy's: Fresh, never frozen beef
McDonald's: 2-3 items | Wendy's: 7 items
McDonald's: AI voice-activated with accuracy scaling | Wendy's: Digital menu boards, traditional operation
McDonald's: 8,000 new locations planned | Wendy's: Incremental expansion, undisclosed target
McDonald's: Optimized drive-thru layout | Wendy's: Future Fresh design with blue aesthetic and digital integration
McDonald's: 105% cheaper than Wendy's | Wendy's: Base comparison point
McDonald's: #1 fries only | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: Top 3 ($107B trifecta) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: $1.3 - $2.2 million | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 563 cal (Big Mac) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 40M+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: ~200 menu variations | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: All-day breakfast/lunch/dinner | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 100+ countries | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 40,275 locations | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: $23.2 billion | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 93% of US consumers | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 28% of customer base | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 100+ countries | Wendy's: 30+
McDonald's: $5.99 (Big Mac) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 3.5 minutes | Wendy's: 4.5 minutes
McDonald's: $1.6M - $2.3M | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: Griddle-cooked (consistent) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 40+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 24 hours (all-day breakfast) | Wendy's: 4.5 hours (6AM-10:30AM typical)
McDonald's: $196.5 billion | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 550 (Big Mac) | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 3-4 minutes | Wendy's: 5-7 minutes
McDonald's: Frozen beef patties | Wendy's: Fresh, never-frozen beef
McDonald's: 150+ countries | Wendy's: 6 countries (NA-focused)
McDonald's: 550 cal (Big Mac) | Wendy's: 480 cal (Dave's Single)
McDonald's: 41,025 locations | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: 180-200 globally | Wendy's: 130-150
McDonald's: Not flame-grilled | Wendy's: N/A
McDonald's: Limited (10-15 combinations) | Wendy's: Extensive (40+ custom combinations)
Whipper/Quarter Pounder Beef Patty Weight
McDonald's: Fresh & Frozen (varies by region) | Wendy's: Never-Frozen (U.S. locations)
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: Never-frozen fresh beef
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: ~25 seconds per Dave's Single
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: Cookie Dough Frosty Fusion (new core item)
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: Future Fresh design (2026) with digital ordering
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: 2-3 burger options at £7.99
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: Conventional sourced
Average Meal Cost (Burger + Fries + Drink)
McDonald's: N/A | Wendy's: Fresh, never frozen
How to choose between McDonald's and Wendy's
McDonald's vs Wendy's — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for McDonald's vs Wendy's. Contains 140 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
McDonald's vs Wendy's — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for McDonald's vs Wendy's.
Is Wendy's really using never-frozen beef?
Yes, Wendy's has used never-frozen beef in U.S. locations since 2009. This is a core marketing differentiator and is independently verified. However, frozen beef options may exist in international locations depending on local regulations and supply chains.
Why is McDonald's so much cheaper than Wendy's?
McDonald's operates at higher volume (40,575 vs 7,000 locations), achieving greater economies of scale and supplier negotiating power. Wendy's positions itself as premium fast-casual with fresher ingredients and higher-quality sourcing, justifying a 15-20% price premium on average.
Which chain is faster for drive-thru orders?
McDonald's averages 3-4 minutes per transaction versus Wendy's 4-5 minutes—making McDonald's approximately 25-33% faster. McDonald's optimized their drive-thru design and workflow specifically for speed, while Wendy's prioritizes made-to-order customization.
Are there more McDonald's or Wendy's locations?
McDonald's has 40,575 locations globally compared to Wendy's 7,000+, making McDonald's nearly 6x larger in physical footprint. McDonald's operates in 100+ countries while Wendy's has a stronger concentration in North America.
Which chain has higher customer satisfaction?
Wendy's scores 82% customer satisfaction versus McDonald's 78%, a 4-point advantage. This reflects Wendy's focus on fresher ingredients and perceived quality, though McDonald's dominates on convenience and accessibility metrics.
How to Choose Between McDonald's and Wendy's
Global Restaurant Count: McDonald's has 40,575 locations, while Wendy's has 7,000+ locations.
Annual Revenue (2024): McDonald's has $23.2 billion, while Wendy's has $2.1 billion.
Beef Quality Positioning: McDonald's has Fresh beef (varies by region), while Wendy's has Never-frozen beef patties.
Average Transaction Time: McDonald's has 3-4 minutes, while Wendy's has 4-5 minutes.
Menu Items Offered: McDonald's has 180-200 items globally, while Wendy's has 130-150 items.
Breakfast Service Hours: McDonald's has 6:00 AM - 10:30 AM (varies), while Wendy's has 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM (varies).
Consider: Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
Customer Satisfaction Score (2024): McDonald's has 78% satisfied, while Wendy's has 82% satisfied.