Nationwide fast food chain challenges McDonald's with an epic value menu that may be even better-priced

Sonic Drive-In is the latest fast food giant to launch a value menu.

Sonic's new $1.99 menu launched on Friday - offering burgers, wraps, hot dogs, tots, desserts and shakes at that price indefinitely.

It comes after McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's all rolled out $5 four-item meal deals and Taco Bell a $7 combo.

'Now more than ever, consumers are focused on affordable food options, but they shouldn't have to settle for the same old, tired discounts or boring meals,' said Sonic chief marketing officer Ryan Dickerson.

'Many restaurant brands are touting value meals and discounts, and you see a lot of recycled ideas with limited options.

'At Sonic, we wanted to do something different — something fun — so we focused on variety, which is why we're introducing the new $1.99 Menu, or what we like to call the FUN.99 Menu.'

The $1.99 Menu options include:

Sonic Drive-In, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, has more than 3,500 locations nationwide.

At McDonald's, customers get four items for $5 - either a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, fries, soft drink and four McNuggets.

Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal is almost identical to McDonald's - and lasts all summer.

Customers  get a choice of one of three sandwiches - a Whopper Jr, a Bacon Cheeseburger or Chicken Jr - plus four chicken nuggets, fries and a soft drink.

Wendy's has a $3 breakfast offer and also a four-item $5 meal similar to McDonald's and BK's.

Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5.

As well as offering deals, fast food chains are battling each other with app-specific deals .

Apps let the chains learn about customers and cut down on staff costs - so the likes of McDonald's are willing to throw freebies and cut-price deals at Americans to reward them for using them.

Sonic has in-app offers. The company says customers get half-price drinks and slushes any time they order in the app. They can also take advantage of half-price classic Sonic Cheeseburgers on Tuesday nights.