McDonald’s vs. Burger King (Quality, Price + Who’s Best)

Have you ever wondered which is better when it comes to McDonald’s and Burger King? Whether you’re talking about the burgers, fries, or overall quality?

Well, look no further for answers! I’m going to tell you all about the differences between McDonald’s and Burger King below, so read on to learn which fast food restaurant reigns supreme!

McDonald’s vs. Burger King

When it comes to McDonald’s Vs. Burger King, McDonald’s offers healthier options, and serves better Coke, fries, and chicken nuggets. On the flip side, Burger King excels with its burgers and customer service and is known for better ads. Although, there are about half as many Burger King locations as McDonald’s.

If you want to know more about McDonald’s vs. Burger King, such as which has the best prices, fries, sales, and much more, then keep reading!

Which is Better: McDonald’s Or Burger King?

When talking about an overall metric, McDonald’s undoubtedly wins compared to Burger King in almost every aspect.

For example, McDonald’s offers more variety in burgers, breakfast menu items, desserts, coffee drinks, salads, and more!

However, Burger King is still an excellent fast-food restaurant with several delicious options!

How Big Is Burger King Compared To McDonald’s?

Burger King isn’t as small as Wendy’s, but it’s still only about half as big as McDonald’s in terms of the number of locations and worldwide presence.

Furthermore, there are 18,573 Burger King locations worldwide, with just over 7,200 in the United States.

On the other hand, McDonald’s has more than 39,000 locations worldwide but only has around 14,000 locations in the United States.

Are Burger King Burgers Better Than McDonald’s?

Burger King does win in the burger department, which goes well beyond the health aspect, although that’s a nice benefit.

Additionally, Burger King has fresher ingredients, a much sturdier bun, and a more balanced hamburger compared to McDonald’s with the ingredients-to-burger ratio.

That said, the flame-grilled burger at Burger King offers a taste that McDonald’s cannot replicate or even come close to, and it tastes much more like a real beef burger.

On top of that, consistency in the quality of the burgers, such as the Whopper, from one Burger King to the next is another reason Burger King tops McDonald’s in burger wars.

One area where McDonald’s does win, though, is that its burgers don’t sit nearly as heavy as Burger King’s, which makes for a better lunch if you want something lighter.

Is McDonald’s Chicken Sandwich Better Than Burger King’s?

Is McDonald's Chicken Sandwich Better Than Burger King's?

Burger King easily wins the chicken sandwich debate, even when you’re comparing the different chicken sandwiches.

Furthermore, Burger King offers a thicker piece of chicken on sandwiches, and the buns hold up a little better when sauce and toppings are on the sandwich.

Also, Burger King uses a sauce that has a tang to it, whereas if McDonald’s has any sauce on the sandwich, it’s just a splatter of mayo.

Is McDonald’s More Expensive Than Burger King?

There isn’t too much difference in price between Burger King and McDonald’s, but McDonald’s is often cheaper in the grand scheme of things.

However, the quality of Burger King makes it worth paying a few extra cents for burgers, fries, and other menu items.

Does Burger King Have Better Customer Service Than McDonald’s?

Yes, Burger King offers superior customer service and has a reasonably quick drive-thru service as well.

On top of that, Burger King has started a marketing campaign going onto the Facebook page for McDonald’s and replying to the bad customer service complaints.

With that, Burger King is sending links to those complaining, which gives them a free Whopper, and that’s a clever marketing department that shows it cares more about customer service.

In addition to that, if you walk into a Burger King, you feel like you’re welcome because everyone greets you and is ready to take your order.

In comparison, McDonald’s doesn’t have that same welcoming environment.

Does McDonald’s Or Burger King Have Better Breakfast?

McDonald’s wins single-handedly in the breakfast department, and there’s no debate about this.

Furthermore, McDonald’s has some of the most iconic breakfast items in all fast-food markets, including the Egg McMuffin and various McGriddle offerings.

On the other hand, Burger King hardly can say it has a breakfast menu, and it took them 12 years after McDonald’s to have a breakfast menu.

However, the Croissan’wich from Burger King is pretty good, but it doesn’t compare to the variety of breakfast items McDonald’s offers!

Does McDonald’s Or Burger King Have Better Nuggets?

McDonald’s is the winner with nuggets, as the McNugget is one of McDonald’s most iconic menu items.

Further, while crispy, Burger King chicken nuggets have a dry texture, can be a little too chewy, and lack authentic flavor or spices.

Moreover, McDonald’s chicken nuggets are fried in that delicious oil, are seasoned well, and both inside and outside textures are just better than those at Burger King.

Who Sells More – McDonald’s Or Burger King?

Who Sells More; McDonald's Or Burger King?

McDonald’s outdoes Burger King in overall U.S. sales, and it’s not even close!

For example, McDonald’s brings in about $37 billion annually within the United States, whereas Burger King pulls in about $10 billion annually.

However, Burger King is sixth in sales, so it’s competitive, but it just cannot compete with the marketing, loyalty, and branding that McDonald’s has mastered.

Additionally, McDonald’s has a more loyal customer base willing to stick with the company even when it strikes out with menu items, which helps the company keep consistent sales.

Does McDonald’s Or Burger King Have Better Advertisements?

You probably know that McDonald’s and Burger King are competition, making for some spicy ads from both companies.

However, Burger King has the better ads between the two, especially television commercials, and they’re funnier on top of being more memorable.

With that, Burger King is more into taking risks with ads and pushing the envelope more than McDonald’s, which traditionally plays it safe with ads.

However, if you’re talking more about branding in ads, McDonald’s has had more consistent branding and image throughout the years compared to Burger King.

Also, McDonald’s has maintained a family-friendly environment and image, whereas Burger King has focused on being an adult burger restaurant due to ads and marketing.

Does Burger King Or McDonald’s Have Better Coffee?

McDonald’s is one of the best places to go if you need a cup of coffee, with some putting it ahead of Starbucks.

That said, Burger King isn’t even in the same category when it comes to coffee.

Furthermore, McDonald’s has an entire line of coffee and espresso products within the McCafe line, which launched in 2009 in-store and is on top of the regular coffee McDonald’s serves.

In comparison, Burger King doesn’t have very good coffee, although it’ll get the job done if you need caffeine and you’re in a bind.

At Burger King, the coffee is bland and doesn’t offer much flavor.

Why Is Burger King Not Popular?

Burger King has fallen in popularity with American consumers in recent years, which has to do with it not offering more healthy options.

For example, McDonald’s has a variety of healthier options, such as wraps, salads, apple slices, and more, making it a better option for health-conscious people.

However, when you look at the Burger King menu, you don’t see those options, and the Impossible Whopper, which is a plant-based burger, was never marketed the right way.

Additionally, the lack of healthy options has contributed to Burger King falling from the second-largest fast-food restaurant in system-wide sales down to number six.

McDonald’s vs. Burger King’s Social Media Presence

McDonald’s has a huge social media presence, which helps the company advertise, reach a wider audience, and even get kids into the fast-food chain.

Furthermore, McDonald’s has more than 80 million followers on Facebook, over 3.8 million on Twitter, and more than 3.9 million on Instagram!

Burger King cannot compete with that, especially on Facebook, where Burger King only has 8.4 million followers.

Additionally, on Twitter and Instagram, Burger King has around 2 million followers each, so it’s much less than the eyes of McDonald’s online.

That said, social media presence is a huge part of marketing and strategy for any company in current times, and Burger King is sorely lacking in this area!

Does McDonald’s Or Burger King Have Better Coke?

Does McDonald's Or Burger King Have Better Coke?

There is no debate here because McDonald’s wins the Coke wars against any restaurant or fast-food chain due to the special relationship between McDonald’s and Coke.

That said, Coke delivers McDonald’s syrup in stainless steel tanks, whereas Burger King and other restaurants just get a plastic container.

Therefore, you can taste the difference at McDonald’s, as the Coke is more bubbly and consistent from one location to the next.

Who Has a Better Drive-Thru – McDonald’s Or Burger King?

McDonald’s offers a better drive-thru experience because it began digitizing the drive-thru signs and operations before Burger King.

On top of that, Burger King appears more of a follower when it comes to technology and only digitized drive-thru signs in 2020.

Due to the number of sales done through the drive-thru, it’s clear that McDonald’s knows how to make it easier and quicker for customers by using new technology as soon as possible.

Additionally, McDonald’s has long allowed the use of credit and debit cards in the drive-thru and was one of the first to accept credit and debit cards back in 2003.

Also, McDonald’s is further along when accepting Apple Pay and NFC payments both in-store and in the drive-thru compared to Burger King.

If you want to know more, you can also see our posts on McDonald’s vs. KFC, McDonald’s vs. Five Guys, and McDonald’s vs. Wendy’s.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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