Krispy Kreme vs Dunkin’ Donuts: Which is Better?

There’s a difference between two of the nation’s leading doughnut shops and it’s not just how they spell the word “donut.” When you have the choice between Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, which do you choose?

Many factors set these donut shops apart from one another. And today we lay it all on the line. This is your most comprehensive and in-depth comparison between Dunkin’ vs Krispy Kreme.

Our report covers all the data points, from flavor, price, and convenience, to customer feedback, nutritional value, and ingredients. While the best donut ultimately depends on an individual’s personal preference, these other key points need to be considered in a head-to-head showdown.

Let’s highlight the good things and uncover the bad to determine which fast food donut chain reigns supreme.

Which is Best: Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts?

The Convenience Factor

When it comes to size and number of locations, the clear winner is Dunkin’. This industry-leading behemoth currently operates 13,700 locations in the U.S. I can easily spot five Dunkin’ locations on my short 7-mile drive to work without taking any exits or detours from my route.

Krispy Kreme Operates Fewer Locations

The number of Krispy Kreme shops pales by comparison. ​According to the doughnut shop, there are currently 357 locations in the United States.

The top five states with the most Krispy Kreme locations include California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. Yet, despite living in one of the top five states (Florida), I would still have to drive 45 minutes to Miami for a freshly made Krispy Kreme. Imagine how many Dunkin’ shops I would pass along the way!

Not All Dunkin’ Shops are Equal

However, even though a shop is easy to find and store managers are expected to provide a standardized guest experience, not all Dunkin’ locations are equal.

​Allow me to provide an example based on personal experience. A couple of months ago, I walked to a Dunkin’ Donuts in East Delray Beach, Florida while the mechanic changed the oil in my car.

I was in and out of that Dunkin’ within 30 seconds. But, the quick stop wasn’t due to fast service. The store was a filthy mess. I saw crumpled napkins on the floor, dried coffee on an empty table, and a dirty sneeze guard display.

Meanwhile, the Dunkin’ shop located near our house, about five miles west of that first dirt trap, is always sparkling clean. It has a convenient drive-thru and top-notch customer service.

Dunkin’ Bests Krispy in Convenience

So quantity doesn’t always equal quality. However, with 13,700 U.S. locations, most Americans can find multiple sparkling clean Dunkin’ shops easier than a single Krispy Kreme.

A quick, convenient stop is an easy trade-off for a preferred brand when you’re craving a sweet pastry and a hot coffee during the morning rush hour.

Sure, Krispy Kreme donuts are far better than Dunkin’s. But there’s only one KK in the entire state there are DDs everywhere. You pass one every 5 mins.

Comment on Reddit

All that said, Dunkin’s dominance in delivering a convenient customer experience may soon be challenged as Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s ramp up their partnership (more on that below).

Operations

In terms of operational prowess, it’s hard to declare a winner between these two breakfast chains.

Both started out with an individual founder and have long operational histories as privately held companies. In addition, both chains have been publicly traded, which requires more stringent financial reviews, audits, and accountability to shareholders.

Moreover, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts have each operated under large parent holding companies that control multiple restaurant franchises. The benefit is having access to a network of highly experienced professionals and solid financial capital.

Brief Operational History of Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts was founded in 1948 with a single shop in Quincy, Massachusetts. Fast forward more than 70 years to 2020 and you’ll find that Dunkin’ was acquired by Inspire Brands.

Inspire also owns and operates Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings. That’s an exceptional wealth of knowledge under one umbrella.

Moreover, Inspire is owned by Roark Capital, a private equity firm with $37 billion in assets under management, that specializes in the foodservices industry.

Brief Operational History of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Likewise, Krispy Kreme has an extensive operating history. It was founded in 1937 after Vernon Rudolph purchased a secret recipe for a yeast-raised doughnut and opened the first donut shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In 2016, Krispy was acquired by JAB Holding Company. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, the origination of JAB dates back to 1823 with an early business as a chemical producer.

JAB has grown and diversified significantly over the past 200 years and is now considered a juggernaut in the restaurant industry. Privately-held JAB owns a long list of well-known foodservice brands, including Caribou Coffee, Einstein, Panera Bread, Peet’s Coffee, and Pret a Manger, among others.

Krispy Kreme was taken public in 2021 and trades under the symbol DNUT.  According to the recent 10-K SEC filing, JAB Holdings BV continues to be the doughnut and coffeehouse chain’s largest shareholder.

Let’s Review The Donuts!

Both shops offer the traditional assortment of donuts, including glazed, frosted, powdered, sprinkles, and donut holes.

The Best Glazed Donut

Both menus offer a traditional glazed donut. While many customers may not choose a simple glazed when offered options such as crème-filled or frosted, the glazed donut is a mainstay item. So much so that the special glaze is used on nearly all of Krispy Kreme’s donuts.

Donut aficionados are usually quick to share their views on which brand has the best donut. In a simple survey of my friends and family, Krispy Kreme was the ultimate winner. Not one person chose the Dunkin’ Glazed over the Krispy Kreme Original Glazed.

Full disclosure, two friends declined my survey since they have never tasted a Krispy Kreme doughnut. There are no locations or outlet stores offering the brand so they haven’t had a chance to decide which is their favorite donut. The lack of convenience is real.

By comparison, I received the opposite feedback about Dunkin’s Doughnuts. Every person gave it lower marks because the donuts are never made fresh in-store and the glaze is dry with a crystallized sugar texture.

Yes, I agree, my sample size was small. So I accessed a wider audience via Reddit and browsed existing comments on Quora.

Interestingly, many people were quick to disregard the focus of my survey question: Do you prefer the Glazed Donut from Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts?

Instead, they declared that neither is the winner. Many stated their personal preference is the local coffee shop while others apparently drive past Dunkin’ to purchase better donuts from grocery stores.

We also received many emphatic responses and determined a clear winner: Krispy Kreme makes the best glazed donut.

Customer Reviews

Here are a few select customer comments about the donuts.

Order Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at McDonald’s

Krispy Kreme’s signature Original Glazed® donut is so popular, it has earned a spot on McDonald’s restaurant menus. In early 2024, Krispy Kreme announced that it was launching a new partnership with the fast food restaurant chain to serve a limited offering of fresh donuts at participating McDonald’s locations.

The original press release states that a nationwide rollout is expected by the end of 2026. Customers will be lovin’ it!

Although the donut menu will be limited to the Original Glazed, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles, and Raspberry Filled, the partnership will significantly expand Krispy Kreme’s reach across the country.

According to McDonald’s most recent quarterly report, the restaurant operates over 40,000 locations around the world (including approximately 13,500 in the U.S. alone).

Specialty Donuts

With tens of thousands of locations across the nation, Dunkin’ Donuts serves an ever-expanding customer base. Since its humble beginnings just south of Boston, the menu now includes more than a dozen flavors at any given time, donut holes, and specialty items for the holidays.

Dunkin’ never disappoints with spider donuts during Halloween, red and green sprinkles for Christmas, and heart-shaped treats on Valentine’s Day.

Not to be outdone, Krispy Kreme offers a fun assortment of decorated goodies during the holiday season. My favorite is the Santa Belly Doughnut. It’s an unglazed round donut filled with white Kreme and decorated with red icing and a cute black and yellow Santa belt.

While both shops offer a menu of specialty donuts, Dunkin’ takes the lead on this point. Their local shops design donuts based on the customers in that area.

Regional favorites, for example, include donuts named and designed for sports fans. Pick up a red and black Bulls Donut, a Jaguars Hall of Fame goodie, or a TN Titans treat, depending on where you live and which team you support.

Freshness and Flavor

Opinions are plentiful when it’s time to discuss flavor. Thousands of people have posted comments or indicated their support of original feedback concerning which donut shop serves a better product. And, which restaurant has a subpar offering.

The biggest issue disgruntled customers have about Dunkin’s doughnuts is that the food is prepared in a factory and then delivered to franchise locations.

By comparison, guests enjoy a hot from the oven donut at many Krispy Kreme franchises. Moreover, you don’t need to worry and rush in the early morning to arrive first. The glazed donut is made fresh in-store throughout the day.

All that said, maintaining a massive oven with a conveyor belt filled with donuts for the delight of customers is capital-intensive. Undoubtedly, cost-savings and efficiencies are key reasons that Dunkin’ makes their foods off-site.

So, freshly baked donuts on-site may not be a sustainable advantage for Krispy Kreme in the long run.

But, for the time being, if you crave a hot, fresh-made donut, your best bet is to head to Krispy Kreme. Even if you have to drive a few extra miles (and pass multiple Dunkin’ shops along the way), it’s worth the trip.

That said, is it worth the cost?

​Price

When it comes to price, unless you believe in the old adage that you get what you pay for, Dunkin’ wins this race.

Here are the current prices for select donuts at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Nutritional Value

To compare the nutritional value of Krispy Kreme vs Dunkin’, we selected similar food items available on both menus prior to reviewing specific nutrition facts.

The list includes the glazed donut, chocolate iced donut, and a specialty latte. For the last item, we compare Dunkin’s Signature Latte against Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed Latte.

Calories

Here are the total calories in each menu item.

With the exception of the chocolate iced donuts, there is a significant difference in the total calories.

At 240 total calories per serving, a Dunkin’ Glazed Donut has 26% more calories than Krispy Kreme’s version.

Moreover, you will 130 fewer calories if you opt for the Original Glazed Latte at Krispy Kreme instead of Dunkin’s Signature Latte.

Total Fat and Sugars in Donuts

The total fats in each of the two donuts are comparable. Krispy Kreme’s glazed donut contains fewer sugars than Dunkin’ Donuts. But, the chocolate iced donut has 7 more grams of sugar.

​Ingredients

Before you make a final decision, let’s add one more important point to consider. Nutritional value cannot stand on its own. Ingredients are equally important.

Here are the ingredients in a Dunkin’ glazed donut and a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut.

Now that you have compared the summary nutritional information and list of ingredients, which donut would you prefer?

Loyalty Rewards Programs

Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme both reward loyal customers in hopes of enticing them to make repeat visits and purchases. Check out the rewards programs for special offers and incentives, such as a free donut on your birthday.

Both programs are easy to join. Simply visit the website and register your email address. However, the ease of redeeming points is dependent on whether you live in proximity to a Dunkin’ or a Krispy Kreme.

Dunkin’ Rewards members currently receive an offer for a free medium drink with any purchase just for signing up. Moreover, as a Dunkin’ Rewards member, you earn points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases and will receive exclusive members-only offers and discounts.

Krispy Kreme Rewards also earn points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases (both in-store and through the app). Members receive a free doughnut for signing up and a special treat on their birthday. In addition, as a Rewards Member, you receive special offers through the Krispy Kreme app.

National Doughnut Day

​Keep a look out for special offers from Krispy Kreme. On occasion, especially during the holiday, they offer free donuts!

Both Dunkin’ and Krispy market special promotions or offers on National Doughnut Day. It should be renamed National Doughnut Days because it’s a biannual celebration.

Make a note in your calendar for National Donut Day, which is on the first Friday in June. It was originally created to recognize members of The Salvation Army who served doughnuts to soldiers during WWI.

If you miss the first Donut Day of the year, don’t worry. You can get a special treat in early November. Either way, be prepared for the inevitably long waiting longs as donut aficionados scramble to start their day with a free donut.

Dunkin’ Menu vs Krispy Kreme Menu

Let’s start with a quick look at the overall menu. Because what goes better with a donut (other than another donut), than a hot drink?

In 2006, Dunkin’ Donuts continued its shift away from being a donut-centric franchise. Branding is dominated by a bright orange and pink “DD” logo and most ads encourage customers to consider a name change to simply Dunkin’.

With the launch of its America Runs on Dunkin’ slogan, the franchise sent a clear message that it was an industry leader. It competes not only with Krispy Kreme, but also with Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and other popular coffee chains.

Dunkin’ currently offers a long list of hot and cold drinks, from a traditional espresso shot to a frozen matcha latte.

Yes, Krispy Kreme also offers hot and iced coffee drinks, including frozen lattes and chillers. Check each company’s website to quickly see a vast difference in the variety of menu options.

Krispy Kreme’s online menu has two options: Doughnuts and Coffee & Drinks.

By comparison, you need to scroll a long list to view all the options at Dunkin’. Moreover, Espresso & Coffee is listed first, followed by other drinks, sandwiches, snacks, and muffins. Donuts are in 7th position, again reflecting Dunkin’s shift to bakery and coffeeshop over a donut shop.

In addition to coffee-based drinks, Dunkin’s menu includes tea, sodas, and milk. Pick up a frozen chocolate or iced chai latte on your next visit and then let us know if the extensive drink menu tips the “Best-of” scales in Dunkin’s favor.

When buying for a group, having many options makes it easier to please varied personal preferences. At Dunkin’, you can still order a tasty donut while also picking up cinnamon rolls, muffins, and an apple fritter with a box of DD coffee for the office breakroom.

Conclusion

Given the extensive length and breadth of this report, here is a quick summary of all the factors to compare Dunkin’ Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme: