Cascade and Finish dishwasher detergents can be hard to differentiate. But you get lots of advantages and disadvantages if you choose the right brand for your needs. I clean my dishes with both. I especially use them during my late-night cleanups before going to sleep. Let’s share my thoughts and ideas so that you can gain a decent knowledge of both brands.
Cascade Dishwasher Overview
Cascade dishwasher detergent has been excellent for its effectiveness. It is a well-known detergent brand loved by many users, including me. This brand’s detergent has been excellent for its cleaning power for many years. It has a range of product line options. You can buy pods, gel, and powder to clean your dishes. I use Cascade for cleaning my greasy pan and my plates after taking my meal. It works for almost every dish I need to clean. The brand also has Cascade’s ActionPacs, which are loved by most users. It can deeply clean any kind of dirty dishes. Especially, the brand is good for its phosphate-free and septic safety. You can use it without worrying about any harm.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful cleaning action | Scent can be strong |
| Variety of formats | Sometimes leaves residue |
| Grease-fighting formula | Not always eco-friendly |
| Septic-safe options | Price can be higher |
| Trusted household name | Pods may stick together |
Finish Dishwasher Overview
Finish dishwasher detergent is also a quality brand, like Cascade. People also love it when it comes to cleaning dishes. The Finish brand is mostly famous for its Powerball and Quantum pods. It works great even if you have hard water. It has the ability to make the dishes sparkling clean. You can find gel, powder, and tablets from the Finish brand. You can choose any pack you like, and the products are also available in most stores, so you can easily buy them. I love Finish rinse and cleaner products. These products are great at stopping spots. They also keep my dishes fresh after each wash. The brand also has biodegradable options and focuses on stain removal. These kinds of facilities make the brand popular among its users.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent stain removal | Pods can be pricey |
| Great for hard water | Scent may linger |
| Rinse aid included | May need pre-rinsing |
| Biodegradable options | Tablets sometimes break |
| Consistent performance | Packaging can be bulky |
Cascade vs Finish Dishwasher Detergent
| Factor | Cascade Dishwasher Detergent | Finish Dishwasher Detergent | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning Performance | Cascade Platinum ActionPacs remove up to 99% of stuck-on food | Finish Quantum Max Powerball rated “Best Overall” by Business Insider | Cascade |
| Product Formats | ActionPacs, gel, powder, additives | Pods/tablets, gel, rinse aids, boosters | Cascade |
| Price | $0.22–$0.34 per pod (bulk) | $0.17–$0.28 per pod (bulk) | Finish |
| Ingredients | All phosphate-free | All phosphate-free | Tie |
| Scent Options | Fresh, lemon, citrus breeze, unscented (Free & Clear) | Milder, mostly lemon/fresh | Finish |
| Water Hardness Compatibility | Good for grease/protein | Best for Hard Water | Finish |
| Spotting & Residue Prevention | Rinse aid in some formulas | Jet-Dry rinse aid top-rated | Finish |
| Convenience & Ease of Use | Pods dissolve in 98%+ cycles but can stick if damp | Pods/tablets dissolve in 97%+ cycles | Tie |
| Specialized Needs | Platinum for heavy-duty, Free & Clear for sensitivities | Quantum/Powerball for hard water, delicate items | Finish |
| Brand Reputation & Reviews | #1 recommended in North America by 7+ brands | #1 recommended worldwide | Cascade |
Cleaning Performance
Cascade Platinum ActionPacs are a powerhouse when it comes to cleaning dishes. It has ability to clean stuck-on food up to 99%. Even you can use the pack if you have very hard water. No matter how dirty the dishes are, the detergent can still clean up for you. I have to say this dishwasher detergent is my number 1 priority when it comes to hard water and too much dirtiness. Finish Quantum is also good, just like Cascade Platinum ActionPacs. It also works great in hard water. But personally, I prefer Cascade Platinum ActionPacs for their overall performance.
Product Formats
Cascade detergent has four main types of product categories. They are ActionPacs, gel, powder, and additives. There are many packs available in the market. You can buy the packs from 12 to over 120 pods. You have the flexibility to buy as much as you want. If you own a restaurant and need to use the detergent a lot, you can buy commercial gallons.
On the other hand, Finish mostly has pods, tablets, and additives. They do not have a broader lineup of products like Cascade. I love to use pods for my weekly cleaning job. Because every weekend, I need to clean many dishes. For cleaning too many dishes, I prefer using pods. But when it comes to delicate loads, I prefer using gels.
Price & Value
Now it’s time to talk about Cascade and Finish prices. If you want to use Finish, you may have to pay $0.17 for each pod. If you buy 70–100 pod packs, you may get it for under $25. Compared to CasCade, Finish products are a little bit cheaper for each pod. And if you are willing to use Cascade, you may have to pay around $0.22–$0.34 for each pod. With 60–90 pod packs, it will cost around $15–$30, depending on how many pod packs you want to buy. I am a big fan of Cascade Platinum Plus. It’s a little more expensive than other products. I have to pay around $0.82 for each pod. This product line has 31 packs; you may have to pay for the pack around $25.49. Although it’s a little expensive, it has great effectiveness when it comes to cleaning. But if you are a person who loves to save money, you may go for Finish. The Finish product line can save you $30–$60 a year if you have a small family with four family members.
Ingredients & Environmental Impact
Since 2010, both Cascade and Finish brands have been phosphate-free. Both brands are also safe for septic systems. Cascade has a unique product named the Cascade Free & Clear Gel Dishwasher Detergent Liquid Gel. It has no dyes or fragrances. On the other hand, Finish has biodegradable and plant-based product options. Both brands use SmartLabel for ingredient transparency. A study in the UK shows that switching from regular to eco-label dishwasher detergent can have huge benefits. You may reduce phosphorus discharge from 0.414 kg to 0.021 kg per year. Eco-level dishwasher detergent cuts water pollution by 95%. Regular detergents are a major cause of water pollution.
Scent Options
Since I have used Cascade, I find the product fresh, lemon, citrus breeze, and unscented. But I find the platinum version of the product’s scent overpowering. On the other hand, Finish has milder, mostly lemon or fresh scents. I have found the brand has very few lingering fragrances. Overall, Finish is much safer if you are thinking a lot about smells
Water Hardness Compatibility
If you have hard water, you should choose the Finish brand. They have Jet-Dry rinse aid and boosters. It is specially made to combat mineral buildup. Finish Jet-Dry Rise can achieve up to 98% spot-free. On the other hand, Cascade also works with grease. The brand rinse aid formulas can achieve up to 95 %+ spot-free. But the brand can leave residue in the hard water areas. It can cause some problems for us. Especially the powder formulas have this kind of residue issue. Overall, I find Finish is better than Cascade in terms of sparkling look.
Specialized Needs
I love Finish Quantum and Powerball tablets for all kinds of cleaning solutions. They have combined detergent, rinse aid, and salt for hard water. But if you need heavy cleaning performance, I would suggest you Cascade Plantinum. For gentle sensitivities cleaning, you may use CasCade Free & Clear gels. If you are the person who loves to use pods, you can pick the Finish brand