Papa Murphy’s vs Papa John’s: Pizza Showdown!
Craving pizza tonight? The eternal question arises: where to order from? Two titans of the pizza world often dominate the decision: Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s. Both offer convenient pizza solutions, but their approaches to taste, preparation, and overall experience differ significantly, making the choice a complex one.
Papa Murphy’s, with its take-and-bake model, presents a unique proposition. You pick up a fresh, uncooked pizza and bake it at home. This allows for customization and control over the final product. On the other hand, Papa John’s delivers hot, ready-to-eat pizzas straight to your door, a convenience factor that’s hard to beat.
This comparison dives deep into the details, analyzing everything from crust and sauce to toppings and value. We’ll explore the pros and cons of each pizza giant, ultimately helping you decide which one best satisfies your pizza cravings. Get ready to settle the score in the Papa Murphy’s vs Papa John’s debate!
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Papa Murphy’s | Papa John’s |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza Style | Take-and-Bake | Delivery/Carryout |
| Crust Options | Various (Thin, Original, etc.) | Various (Thin, Original, etc.) |
| Topping Options | Extensive | Extensive |
| Sauce Options | Multiple | Multiple |
| Cheese Options | Multiple | Multiple |
| Availability | Primarily Carry-Out | Delivery and Carry-Out |
| Preparation | Unbaked | Baked |
| Convenience | Requires Baking at Home | Ready to Eat |
| Customization | High | High |
| Sides Offered | Limited | Breadsticks, Wings, etc. |
| Online Ordering | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty Program | Yes | Yes |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Pizza Preparation Method
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s offers take-and-bake pizzas. You pick up a pizza prepared fresh with raw ingredients, and bake it at home. This allows for customization of baking preferences and ensures freshness upon consumption. A potential downside is the time and effort required for home baking.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s delivers fully cooked pizzas ready to eat. This provides instant gratification and eliminates the need for home preparation. The trade-off is less control over the final baking process and potentially slightly reduced freshness compared to take-and-bake.
- Winner: Papa John’s
Pizza Crust Options
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s offers a variety of crust options, including traditional, thin, and stuffed crust. This caters to diverse preferences. However, specific crust availability might vary by location.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s also provides various crust options, such as original, thin, and pan crust. They are known for their garlic sauce, which is a popular offering. Crust availability may vary by location.
- Winner: Tie
Ingredient Freshness
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s emphasizes fresh ingredients and prepares pizzas with raw toppings. This often translates to a perception of higher quality ingredients. The raw state of the pizza requires home baking, which may impact convenience.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s uses fresh ingredients and has a reputation for quality. Ingredient freshness might be slightly less pronounced compared to take-and-bake, depending on the time from preparation to consumption.
- Winner: Papa Murphy’s
Customization Options
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s allows extensive customization, as the pizza is prepared in front of you and baked at home. You can choose from various toppings and adjust the baking process. This provides maximum control over the final product.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s offers a wide range of toppings and pre-designed pizzas, allowing for customization. While readily customizable, you are limited to their available ingredients.
- Winner: Papa Murphy’s
Price Point
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s prices are generally competitive, especially considering the larger size of some pizzas and the freshness factor. Pricing can vary based on toppings and location.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s offers various promotions and deals, which can make their pizzas affordable. Pricing is subject to change based on location and current offers.
- Winner: Papa John’s
Delivery Availability
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s primarily focuses on take-and-bake, with limited or no delivery options. This requires a trip to the store for pickup.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s is known for its extensive delivery service, offering convenient access to freshly cooked pizzas. Delivery availability and speed may vary by location.
- Winner: Papa John’s
Speed of Service
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s offers relatively fast service for pickup, as the pizza is assembled quickly. The actual cooking time is dependent on the customer’s oven and cooking preferences.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s provides convenient and relatively fast service for delivery. Cook time is eliminated. Delivery speed is dependent on factors like location and traffic.
- Winner: Papa John’s
Overall Value
- Papa Murphy’s: Papa Murphy’s provides good value, especially for those who prioritize ingredient freshness and customization. The take-and-bake model offers a unique experience. However, the requirement of home baking could be a deterrent for some.
- Papa John’s: Papa John’s offers a balance of convenience, affordability, and taste. With frequent promotions and delivery options, Papa John’s provides a great value proposition for many customers.
- Winner: Tie
Winner by Category:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Convenience (Ready to Eat) | Papa John’s |
| Freshness (Preparation Control) | Papa Murphy’s |
| Customization | Tie |
| Variety of Sides | Papa John’s |
| Value | Tie |
What They Have in Common:
- Pizza Selection: Both Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s offer a wide variety of pizza styles, toppings, and crust options to cater to diverse preferences. They both allow for customization.
- Online Ordering: Both pizzerias provide convenient online ordering platforms, making it easy for customers to browse menus, customize pizzas, and place orders for pickup or delivery.
- Customization: Both chains allow customers to personalize their pizzas with a wide array of toppings, crusts, and sauces, allowing for a tailored pizza experience.
- Loyalty Programs: Both Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s feature loyalty programs, rewarding repeat customers with points, discounts, and exclusive offers.
- Family-Friendly: Both restaurants are generally considered family-friendly and offer options like family-sized pizzas to accommodate larger groups.
Pizza Buying Guide
Price and Value
Papa Murphy’s generally offers a better value for your money. Because you bake their pizza at home, you’re essentially getting a larger pizza for the same price compared to a delivered pizza. Their ingredients are often fresh, and they frequently have promotions and deals. Papa John’s, while also offering deals, tends to be slightly pricier, particularly when considering the cost of delivery and potential tip. The perceived value can be highly dependent on individual preferences, though.
Taste and Ingredients
Taste is subjective, but Papa Murphy’s often scores high for its fresh, uncooked dough and customizable toppings. The baking process at home allows for a crispier crust, which some people prefer. Papa John’s uses a consistent recipe that is well-known, and they offer a variety of crust options. They have signature sauces and ingredients. Both chains use quality ingredients, but the freshness of Papa Murphy’s toppings, especially due to the “take and bake” model, is a strong point.
Convenience and Delivery
Papa John’s wins hands down on convenience. You can have a pizza delivered to your door hot and ready to eat. Papa Murphy’s requires you to pick up the pizza and bake it yourself, which adds a degree of planning and effort. This is great if you want to eat at home, or if you’re not in a hurry, it can be a great option. If you are ordering for a party or event, Papa John’s offers more streamlined ordering and delivery options.
Customization Options
Both Papa John’s and Papa Murphy’s offer a wide array of customization choices. Papa Murphy’s allows you to build your own pizza from scratch with a variety of toppings and crusts. Papa John’s also has a lot of options, but the customization process can be a little different. They have specialty pizzas. Both chains cater to dietary restrictions and preferences, such as vegetarian and gluten-free options. Papa Murphy’s lets you build your own pizza.
Crust Quality and Variety
Papa John’s offers a larger variety of crusts, including thin crust, pan crust, and their signature original crust. Their crusts are generally consistently prepared and have a familiar taste. Papa Murphy’s focuses on offering a fresh, uncooked crust that the customer bakes at home. This allows for a customized baking experience and a potentially crispier crust. The crust is very important to the overall taste and satisfaction of the pizza.
Overall Experience
The overall experience differs significantly between the two. Papa John’s provides a quick, easy, and convenient pizza experience, perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings. Papa Murphy’s offers a more hands-on approach, allowing for a personalized pizza experience with fresh ingredients, and is ideal for a more relaxed, at-home meal. The choice depends entirely on the consumers’ preferences and time constraints. Both companies offer good pizza.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy Papa Murphy’s If…
- You enjoy the experience of baking your own pizza at home and prefer a fresh, customizable option.
- You want to control the baking process and the final crispiness of the crust.
- You are looking for a pizza that can be prepared when you’re ready to eat it.
- You want to save time on busy weeknights by baking a pizza quickly at home.
Buy Papa John’s If…
- You want the convenience of a ready-to-eat pizza delivered to your door or picked up immediately.
- You prefer a pizza that’s already baked and ready to consume without any further preparation.
- You value a wider selection of sides and extras, such as breadsticks and wings.
- You are looking for a quick and easy meal solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s?
The primary difference is the cooking method. Papa Murphy’s is a “take and bake” pizzeria, where you bake the pizza at home. Papa John’s delivers a ready-to-eat pizza. They also vary in price, convenience, and the overall experience. Papa Murphy’s often provides a better value and fresher ingredients due to its business model. Papa John’s has the convenience factor.
Which pizza chain offers better value for money?
Papa Murphy’s generally offers better value. You get a larger pizza for the price, and you avoid delivery fees. They often have promotions and deals that make their pizzas more affordable. Papa John’s can be more expensive, especially when adding delivery and tips. However, Papa John’s sometimes have special offers and deals as well.
Which chain has the best-tasting pizza?
Taste is subjective. However, many people prefer Papa Murphy’s for its fresh ingredients and customizable toppings. The baking at home allows for a crispier crust. Papa John’s has a consistent taste and is well-known for its signature flavors and crust options. It is really a matter of personal preference.
Is Papa John’s pizza better for a quick meal?
Yes, Papa John’s is significantly better for a quick meal. You can order online or by phone, and have the pizza delivered to your door or pick it up hot and ready to eat. Papa Murphy’s requires you to pick up the uncooked pizza and bake it at home, which takes about 15-20 minutes. It’s not a quick process.
Which chain offers more customization options?
Both chains offer a lot of customization. Papa Murphy’s lets you build your pizza from scratch with a large selection of toppings and crusts. Papa John’s also has many options, including specialty pizzas, and crust options. Both chains cater to various dietary preferences, such as vegetarian and gluten-free choices. They both have a lot to choose from.
Does Papa Murphy’s or Papa John’s cater to dietary restrictions?
Yes, both Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s cater to dietary restrictions. They both offer gluten-free crust options and vegetarian toppings. Papa John’s also has vegan cheese options. It is best to check the specific menu at your local restaurant for the latest options and ingredients. Both chains are working to address dietary needs.
Which chain is better for a party or large gathering?
Papa John’s is generally better for a party or large gathering. They offer easier ordering and delivery options, and the pizzas are ready to eat immediately. Papa Murphy’s requires you to bake multiple pizzas, which can be time-consuming. Papa John’s is quicker and easier, making it more convenient for a party. It will be easier to manage the logistics.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Papa Murphy’s and Papa John’s depends on your priorities. Papa Murphy’s provides a fresh, customizable, and cost-effective option, best suited for those who enjoy the baking experience and prioritize fresh ingredients. Papa John’s excels in convenience, offering hot, ready-to-eat pizzas with a wide variety of crusts and toppings. The best choice depends on your needs.
Winner: Papa John’s