McDonald's dominates globally with 40,000+ locations and higher profitability ($23.2B revenue), while Burger King differentiates through flame-grilling and customization but operates 18,000 locations with lower margins. McDonald's is the world's largest fast-food chain by revenue and scale, whereas Burger King competes on product quality and brand positioning.
McDonald's vs Burger King — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global fast-food chain with 13,574 U.S. locations and 24/7 availability, serving 69 million daily customers.
Global fast-food chain specializing in flame-grilled burgers with diverse menu offerings
Global Restaurant Count. Annual Revenue (2023). Cooking Method. Signature Burger. Customization Philosophy. Operating Margin (2023). Brand Recognition (Global)
McDonald's wins for investors, franchisees, and those prioritizing consistency, scale, and profitability—it's the undisputed market leader with superior margins and 2.2x more locations. Choose Burger King if you value flame-grilled flavor, customization flexibility, and a smaller brand with more direct control over your franchise operations, though expect lower revenue potential and less brand ubiquity.
McDonald's: Frozen patties standard | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: AI-powered order systems 2026 | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Standard options | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Expansion planned | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Standard offerings | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 40,000+ | Burger King: 18,000+
McDonald's: 365 days | Burger King: 365 days
McDonald's: 80+ items | Burger King: 120+
McDonald's: Frozen patties + fresh beef option | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Voice-activated with AI accuracy scaling | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Frozen beef (100% beef) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 3.8 minutes | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 2-3 items | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: AI voice-activated with accuracy scaling | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 8,000 new locations planned | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Optimized drive-thru layout | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 105% cheaper than Wendy's | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: #1 fries only | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Top 3 ($107B trifecta) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: U.S. only | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 40,575 | Burger King: 18,000+
McDonald's: $2,900 | Burger King: $1,650
McDonald's: $1.3 - $2.2 million | Burger King: $316-$550
McDonald's: 563 cal (Big Mac) | Burger King: 660 cal (Whopper)
McDonald's: 40M+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Burger King: 8M+ (BK Rewards)
McDonald's: ~200 menu variations | Burger King: ~1000+ 'Have it Your Way' combos
McDonald's: All-day breakfast/lunch/dinner | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 100+ countries | Burger King: 90+ countries
McDonald's: 40,275 locations | Burger King: 18,500+
McDonald's: $23.2 billion | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: $2.8 million | Burger King: $1.2 million
McDonald's: 93% of US consumers | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 28% of customer base | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 40,575 | Burger King: 18,291
McDonald's: $23.2B (2024) | Burger King: $6.5B
McDonald's: $2,700 | Burger King: $1,200
McDonald's: $5.99 (Big Mac) | Burger King: $5.49 (Whopper)
McDonald's: 3-4 minutes | Burger King: 4-5 minutes
McDonald's: $23.2 billion | Burger King: $6.5 billion
McDonald's: 40,275 | Burger King: 18,000
McDonald's: 28M DAU | Burger King: 4.2M DAU
McDonald's: $1.6M - $2.3M | Burger King: $316K - $516K
McDonald's: 12+ items | Burger King: 6 items
McDonald's: Griddle-cooked (consistent) | Burger King: Flame-grilled (smoky flavor)
McDonald's: 40+ (McDonald's Rewards) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 24 hours (all-day breakfast) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 150+ items | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 40,275 | Burger King: 18,000+
McDonald's: $196.5 billion | Burger King: $19.3 billion
McDonald's: 550 (Big Mac) | Burger King: 660 (Whopper)
McDonald's: 3-4 minutes | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Frozen beef patties | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: Limited (15-20 burger variations) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 150+ countries | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: 550 cal (Big Mac) | Burger King: N/A
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: $1.8 Billion
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Saves £2.00
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Flame-grilled (quality varies by location)
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: ~40 seconds per Whopper
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Standard Frosty-style offerings
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Traditional format
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: 5+ burger options at £5.99
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: 4.5 minutes
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Whopper: 660 cal
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: 6 minutes
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: Flame-grilled frozen patties
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: 6 standard toppings
McDonald's: N/A | Burger King: 168 (24/7 at many locations)
How to choose between McDonald's and Burger King
McDonald's vs Burger King — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for McDonald's vs Burger King. Contains 132 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
McDonald's vs Burger King — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for McDonald's vs Burger King.
Which fast-food chain is more profitable for franchisees?
McDonald's franchisees earn higher average unit volumes ($2.9M annually) compared to Burger King ($1.65M annually), resulting in 38% operating margins vs Burger King's 28%. However, McDonald's requires $1-2.2M initial investment versus Burger King's $316-550K, making Burger King accessible to capital-constrained entrepreneurs despite lower profit ceilings.
What's the difference between flame-grilled and McDonald's cooking method?
Burger King flame-grills patties over an open flame, creating a charred exterior and smoky flavor that Burger King emphasizes as superior taste. McDonald's uses a flat griddle for deep-fried cooking, producing consistent, faster results. Taste preference is subjective, but flame-grilling is associated with higher-quality burger restaurants, while griddle cooking enables McDonald's volume efficiency.
How many locations does each chain have and where are they strongest?
McDonald's operates 40,275 locations globally with 13,000+ in the US alone, dominating North America and Europe. Burger King has 18,438 locations with stronger penetration in Latin America (6,000+) and Europe (4,500+), but significantly fewer locations in developed markets limits competitive reach against McDonald's ubiquity.
Which has better customer loyalty programs?
McDonald's Rewards app boasts 40M+ active members with digital ordering integration, push notifications, and personalized offers driving repeat purchases. Burger King Rewards has 8M members with similar features but smaller scale. McDonald's program's 5x larger membership base creates stronger network effects and data advantages for targeted marketing.
The Big Mac (563 calories, 30g fat) is slightly lighter than the Whopper (660 calories, 40g fat), but both are high-calorie indulgences. Burger King offers more customization to reduce calories (remove mayo, add vegetables), while McDonald's has expanded salad and wraps. Neither is positioned as a health-focused option; moderation and customization matter more than brand choice.
How to Choose Between McDonald's and Burger King
Global Restaurant Count: McDonald's has 40,275 locations, while Burger King has 18,438 locations.
Annual Revenue (2023): McDonald's has $23.2 billion, while Burger King has $6.4 billion.
Cooking Method: McDonald's has Deep-fried griddle, while Burger King has Flame-grilled.
Signature Burger: McDonald's has Big Mac (563 calories), while Burger King has Whopper (660 calories).
Customization Philosophy: McDonald's has Limited 'Have it Your Way' options, while Burger King has 'Have it Your Way' - full customization.
Operating Margin (2023): McDonald's has 38% average franchisee margin, while Burger King has 28% average franchisee margin.
Brand Recognition (Global): McDonald's has 99% awareness in developed markets, while Burger King has 94% awareness in developed markets.