McDonald's operates 40,575 locations globally with higher revenue ($23.2B in 2024) and dominates market share, while Wendy's focuses on fresh beef and made-to-order customization with 7,000 locations primarily in North America, appealing to customers who prioritize quality over convenience.
McDonald's vs Wendy's — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global fast-food chain specializing in burgers, fries, and quick service with 40,575 locations worldwide.
North American fast-casual burger chain known for fresh, never-frozen beef and customizable menu items with 7,000 locations.
Global Restaurant Count. Annual Revenue (2024). Beef Source. Customization Model. Average Order Wait Time. Market Cap (2024). Geographic Focus
Choose McDonald's if you value speed, global consistency, convenience, and lower prices—it's optimized for efficiency and accessibility across 150+ countries. Choose Wendy's if you prioritize fresh ingredients, customizable meals, and a more premium burger experience, particularly in North America.
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: 80+ items | Wendy's: 40+ items
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: $23.2B | Wendy's: $2.1 billion
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: $5.99 (Big Mac) | Wendy's: N/A
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: Limited (15-20 burger variations) | Wendy's: Extensive (40+ custom combinations)
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: 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)
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 118 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.
Wendy's uses fresh, never-frozen beef patties, while McDonald's uses frozen patties. This is Wendy's primary quality differentiator and has been their core marketing message since 2009.
Both chains offer comparable pricing ($5-8 for combo meals in 2024), but McDonald's edges slightly lower on average. However, Wendy's customers often perceive better value due to fresh beef and customization options.
McDonald's averages 3-4 minutes per order due to assembly-line efficiency, while Wendy's averages 5-7 minutes because meals are made-to-order. McDonald's prioritizes speed; Wendy's prioritizes customization.
Wendy's has limited international presence with locations primarily in North America, UK, and a few other countries (approximately 6 regions). McDonald's operates in 150+ countries, making it far more globally accessible.
Wendy's offers slightly lower-calorie burger options (480 cal average) compared to McDonald's (550 cal average), and fresh beef contains fewer preservatives. However, both chains require careful menu selection for healthy eating.
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 Source: McDonald's has Frozen beef patties, while Wendy's has Fresh, never frozen beef.
Customization Model: McDonald's has Limited customization, assembly-line speed, while Wendy's has Make-to-order with extensive options.
Average Order Wait Time: McDonald's has 3-4 minutes, while Wendy's has 5-7 minutes.
Market Cap (2024): McDonald's has $195 billion, while Wendy's has $8.2 billion.
Geographic Focus: McDonald's has 150+ countries worldwide, while Wendy's has Primary North American presence.