Wendy’s vs Five Guys: Prices, Burgers & Is It Worth It 2026
By Jimmy
Wendy’s wins on price and value, Five Guys wins on burger size and customization, and the fries are a genuine split decision. A Dave’s Single costs $6.30 and has 560 calories, while a Five Guys Hamburger costs $10.49 to $10.79 and has 840 calories. That is the whole comparison in one line: Five Guys gives you a bigger, beefier burger, but it charges nearly double for it, and the gap only grows once you add fries and a drink.
This is a practical head-to-head, not a one-visit taste test. The Wendy’s prices and calories below come from our own Wendy’s menu tables, and the Five Guys calories come from Five Guys’ own Nutrition and Allergen Guide from June 2026. Five Guys publishes no national price list, so its prices are shown as a range from current US price indexes, and they vary by location. The table below gives the winner in every category, and the sections after it show the numbers behind each call. If you only want the cheapest lunch, stop at the value section; if you want the biggest burger, skip to the burger duel.
The verdict, category by category
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Wendy’s | Dave’s Single $6.30 against a Hamburger at $10.49 to $10.79; almost every Five Guys item costs roughly double its Wendy’s match |
| Burger size | Five Guys | A regular Five Guys burger has two patties and 840 calories; a Dave’s Single has one quarter-pound patty and 560 calories |
| Burger quality | Five Guys, narrowly | Fresh beef cooked to order with more toppings, but Wendy’s square patty is the same fresh, never-frozen idea, so the gap is smaller than the price gap |
| Fries | Tie | Wendy’s wins on price, Five Guys wins on portion: Wendy’s fries are $1.79 to $3.39, while regular Five Guys fries are $7.69 and 953 calories, and the cup overflows |
| Shakes and dessert | Wendy’s for value, Five Guys for indulgence | A Frosty starts at $1.79 and 190 calories; a Five Guys shake starts at $6.69 and 670 calories before mix-ins |
| Customization | Five Guys | 15 free toppings, in any combination, at no extra charge |
| Value meal | Wendy’s | A Dave’s Single combo is $7.99; a Five Guys burger, fries and drink is $21.47 to $23.07 |
| Healthiest choice | Wendy’s | Lower-calorie burgers, smaller fries and a 190-calorie Frosty give you room Five Guys does not |
| Breakfast | Wendy’s | Five Guys serves no breakfast |
| Experience | Wendy’s for speed, Five Guys for theatre | Drive-thru and app ordering against counter service, free peanuts and a burger cooked to order while you wait |
No single chain wins everything, and that is the point. Wendy’s wins the categories that decide most lunches, which are price, value and convenience, while Five Guys wins the categories that decide a treat, which are size, customization and the sheer amount of food on the tray. The rest of this post is the evidence, item by item, so you can pick the winner for the meal you actually want.
Burgers: Dave’s Single vs Hamburger
Both chains build their burgers on fresh, never-frozen beef, and both cook to order, so the difference is not the idea, it is the execution and the size. Wendy’s Dave’s Single is a square quarter-pound patty on a toasted bun, and it is the burger the chain is built around. A regular Five Guys burger has two patties, which is why its calorie count starts where Wendy’s double burgers end. The word Little is the giveaway: a Little burger at Five Guys has one patty, and it is the closest thing on the Five Guys menu to a Dave’s Single.
| Burger | Wendy’s price and calories | Five Guys price and calories |
|---|---|---|
| Dave’s Single vs Hamburger | $6.30 ($5.89 to $6.99 range), 560 cal | $10.49 to $10.79, 840 cal |
| Dave’s Double vs Cheeseburger | $7.50, 810 cal | $11.39 to $12.09, 980 cal |
| Baconator vs Bacon Cheeseburger | $8.79, 890 cal | $13.09 to $13.59, 1,060 cal |
| Son of Baconator vs Little Cheeseburger | $6.90, 590 cal | $7.99 to $8.69, 610 cal |
| Dave’s Single vs Little Hamburger | $6.30, 560 cal | $7.09 to $7.19, 540 cal |
The size story is clearest in the doubles. A Dave’s Double has two quarter-pound patties, half a pound of beef, for $7.50 and 810 calories. A Five Guys Cheeseburger has two patties too, for $11.39 to $12.09 and 980 calories. So for the same two-patty idea, Wendy’s charges about $4 less and serves about 170 fewer calories. The Baconator is the exception that proves the rule: at $8.79 and 890 calories, it is still cheaper than a Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger at $13.09 to $13.59 and 1,060 calories, and it is the only Wendy’s burger that gets close to Five Guys on sheer heft.
Per dollar, Wendy’s wins every burger duel. A Dave’s Single gives you about 89 calories per dollar, while a Hamburger gives you about 78 to 80. A Baconator gives you about 101 calories per dollar, while a Bacon Cheeseburger gives you about 78 to 81. Five Guys gives you more burger per burger; Wendy’s gives you more burger per dollar. That is the trade-off in one sentence, and it repeats in every section below. See the full Wendy’s menu for every burger, and compare it with our Wendy’s vs Burger King head-to-head, where the same pattern shows up at a smaller price gap. The same gap shows up in our Wendy’s vs McDonald’s comparison.
Fries: Natural-Cut vs Boardwalk
Fries are where Five Guys makes its most visible case, and also where it charges the most. Five Guys fries are boardwalk style: cut from whole potatoes, cooked in 100 percent peanut oil, and served in a cup that is deliberately overfilled, with extra fries scooped into the bag. Wendy’s Natural-Cut Fries are cut with the skin on and seasoned with sea salt, and they are a side dish, not a second meal.
| Fries | Wendy’s price and calories | Five Guys price and calories |
|---|---|---|
| Small / Little | $1.79, 210 cal | $5.49 to $5.79, 526 cal |
| Regular | $1.79 to $3.39 range, 210 to 470 cal across sizes | $7.69, 953 cal |
| Large | $3.39, 470 cal | $9.09, 1,314 cal |
| Cajun style | Not on the menu | Regular $7.69, 967 cal; Large $9.09, 1,328 cal |
Look at the portion before the price. A regular Five Guys fries has 953 calories, which is more than a Baconator at 890 calories, and a large has 1,314 calories, which is more than a Bacon Cheeseburger at 1,060. A regular order also costs $7.69, which is more than a Dave’s Single at $6.30. So the fries alone can cost more, and weigh in heavier, than the burger they sit next to. Wendy’s fries stay in side-dish territory: the whole range is $1.79 to $3.39 and 210 to 470 calories, so even the largest Wendy’s fries has fewer calories than the smallest Five Guys fries at 526.
That does not mean Wendy’s fries are better. Five Guys fries are fresh-cut, thicker and served in a portion that two people can share, and the Cajun style adds seasoning for the same price. Wendy’s fries are thinner, saltier and easier to finish on your own. If you are splitting a meal, Five Guys wins the fries. If you are eating alone and watching the bill, Wendy’s wins by a distance.
Shakes and dessert: Frosty vs Five Guys milkshakes
Dessert is the most one-sided price gap in this whole comparison, and the most one-sided indulgence gap too. A Classic Frosty starts at $1.79 and 190 calories. A Five Guys milkshake starts at $6.69 and 670 calories, before a single mix-in, and the mix-ins are free.
| Dessert | Wendy’s price and calories | Five Guys price and calories |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Frosty vs Vanilla shake | $1.79 to $3.79, 190 to 510 cal | $6.69, 670 cal |
| Chocolate Frosty vs Chocolate shake | $1.79 to $3.79, 190 to 510 cal | $6.69, 803 cal (670 base plus 133 chocolate) |
| Frosty Swirls and Fusions vs Shake with Oreo Creme | $1.79 to $5.49, Swirls: Brownie Batter 480-680 cal, Strawberry 350-550 cal, Caramel 370-560 cal. Fusions: Cookie Dough 540-930 cal (Small 540, Medium 740, Large 930), OREO Brownie 500-820 cal, Caramel Crunch 410-740 cal | $6.69, 990 cal (670 base plus 320 Oreo Creme) |
| Peanut butter shake | Not on the menu | $6.69, 992 cal (670 base plus 322 peanut butter) |
The Five Guys shake is a different kind of dessert. The vanilla base alone is 670 calories, a chocolate mix-in takes it to 803, Oreo Creme takes it to 990 and peanut butter takes it to 992, and whipped cream adds a little more. That is a small meal in a cup, and it is also the most customizable dessert on either menu, with free mix-ins including banana, blackberry, coffee, salted caramel and strawberry. The Frosty cannot match that range, and it does not try to: it is a thick, simple, spoonable dessert that costs less than a bottle of water at some restaurants, and at 190 calories for a small, it is the lightest way to finish a meal on either menu.
Customization: 15 free toppings vs build-your-own
Customization is Five Guys’ clearest win, and it is free. Every Five Guys burger and hot dog can be built with 15 free toppings, in any combination, at no extra charge. Order it all the way and you get mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomato, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup and mustard. Add the rest of the list, which is relish, raw onions, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A.1. sauce, barbecue sauce and hot sauce, and you can build a burger that tastes completely different from the next person’s, for the same price.
| Customization | Wendy’s | Five Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Free toppings | Build your own from the standard toppings; extras such as bacon and cheese cost extra | 15 free toppings, any combination |
| All the way | No set all-the-way build | Mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomato, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard |
| Cheese and bacon | Added for a charge, as in the Baconator | Built into the burger you order: a Bacon Cheeseburger is a separate item |
| Beyond beef | Chicken sandwiches, nuggets and salads instead of a veggie burger | Veggie Sandwich, Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a BLT on the menu |
Wendy’s is not rigid. You can build your own burger, add or remove toppings, and the Dave’s burgers are designed to be customized, but every meaningful extra has a price, and the range is narrower. Five Guys is the opposite: the base burger is plain, and the 15 free toppings are the menu. If you like your burger exactly your way, Five Guys is the better kitchen. If you like a set burger that is already built, Wendy’s is the simpler order.
Value: Biggie deals vs Five Guys meal math
Five Guys has no nationwide combo and no value tier, so a meal is the sum of its parts, and the parts are all expensive. Wendy’s has the opposite structure: Biggie Deals at $4, $6 and $8, a $5 Biggie Bag, and combos that bundle a burger, fries and a drink for a single price. Put the two structures side by side and the gap is the story of this post. Check the current Wendy’s deals before you order, because the Biggie prices are where Wendy’s pulls away fastest.
| Meal | Wendy’s | Five Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Burger only | Dave’s Single, $6.30, 560 cal | Hamburger, $10.49 to $10.79, 840 cal |
| Burger, fries and drink | Dave’s Single combo, $7.99 | Hamburger plus Regular Fries plus Drink, $21.47 to $21.77 |
| Cheeseburger meal | Dave’s Double, $7.50 burger only | Cheeseburger plus Regular Fries plus Drink, $22.37 to $23.07 |
| Cheapest full meal | $5 Biggie Bag | Little Cheeseburger plus Little Fries plus Drink, $16.77 to $17.77 |
| Value tiers | Biggie Deals at $4, $6 and $8 | None: every item is priced separately |
The cheapest full meal at Five Guys still costs more than three times the cheapest at Wendy’s: $16.77 to $17.77 against a $5 Biggie Bag, and more than twice a Dave’s Single combo at $7.99. For two people, a pair of Five Guys burger meals is about $43 to $46, while a pair of Dave’s Single combos is $15.98. Five Guys is not trying to be cheap. It is selling a bigger, cooked-to-order burger with free toppings and a mountain of fries, but if the question is value, there is no contest. Wendy’s also keeps the gap growing after the meal, with Wendy’s Rewards points on every order; Five Guys has no loyalty program in the US, so there is nothing to earn back.
Experience: drive-thru, peanuts, breakfast and rewards
The experience gap is about convenience against theatre. Wendy’s is built for speed: drive-thru, app ordering, delivery and a breakfast menu that starts early. Five Guys is built for the counter: you order, you wait while your burger is cooked to order, and you eat free in-shell peanuts while you wait. Neither is wrong, but they suit different days.
| Experience | Wendy’s | Five Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-thru | Yes, at most locations | No drive-thru at most locations: counter service |
| Breakfast | Yes, full breakfast menu from $1.49 | None: the menu is burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and shakes |
| Rewards | Wendy’s Rewards: points on every order | No loyalty program in the US |
| Peanuts | None | Free in-shell peanuts while you wait, 170 calories per ounce |
| Ordering | Drive-thru, app, delivery | Counter, online ordering, delivery |
| Wait | Minutes | Cooked to order, so a longer wait |
The peanuts deserve a note of their own. They are free, they are in the shell, and they are everywhere in a Five Guys restaurant, which is part of the charm and also a warning: the fries are cooked in peanut oil too, so anyone with a peanut allergy should steer clear of the whole restaurant. Wendy’s has no equivalent freebie, and no peanut-oil fryer, which makes it the safer and simpler stop for families with allergies. On rewards, the gap is just as clear: Wendy’s Rewards earns points on every order, while Five Guys has no loyalty program in the US, so a regular at Wendy’s gets something back that a regular at Five Guys does not.
Conclusion
So, is Five Guys worth nearly double? For the burger alone, sometimes. A Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger is bigger, beefier and more customizable than anything on the Wendy’s menu, and if you want the biggest burger and the biggest fries and you are happy to pay for them, Five Guys delivers. For everything else, the price, the value meal, the fries bill, the dessert, the drive-thru, the breakfast and the rewards, Wendy’s wins, and usually by a lot.
- Cheapest meal: Wendy’s, with a $5 Biggie Bag or a $4 Biggie Deal.
- Best value: Wendy’s, with a Dave’s Single combo at $7.99.
- Biggest burger: Five Guys, with a Bacon Cheeseburger at 1,060 calories.
- Best fries: a split, Wendy’s for price and Five Guys for portion.
- Healthiest choice: Wendy’s, with a Jr. Hamburger at 250 calories and a small Frosty at 190 calories.
Our call: eat at Wendy’s most days, and save Five Guys for the day you want a big, messy, cooked-to-order burger and you do not mind paying $21 or more for the meal. That is the honest split, and it is why both chains can be busy on the same street: they are not selling the same lunch.
