Crest vs Colgate: Which Toothpaste Is Cheaper?

Which is the more affordable toothpaste, Crest vs Colgate? We all know the brands since everyone (or hopefully everyone) brushes their teeth. And while people have their personal preferences, I’m on a mission to uncover which brand is the most bang for your buck, in the most objective way possible.

Yes, that’s right, we’re going to be crunching some numbers. But don’t worry, I did the math so you don’t have to. So let’s settle this debate once and for all. In the battle of Crest vs Colgate, which toothpaste brand reigns supreme when it comes to affordability?

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Cheapest Doesn’t Always Mean Lowest Price

First, let’s establish some ground rules. It seems counterintuitive to go for a more expensive product because it’s cheaper, but there are other things to consider. You need to take into account the size of each tube, how long it’ll last, and the overall value of the product. So where do we begin when it comes to analyzing how cheap a product is?

I’ll tell you. For the purposes of our experiment, I found the least expensive product from each brand. I chose Target as the retailer for both products for the sake of consistency. And we’re not accounting for Target RedCard’s 5% discount since not everybody has one.

However, there’s also the matter of value packs, too. Of course, it’s a better value to buy packs of three rather than single tubes because then the price per ounce goes down. But the comparable products from the two brands don’t come in value packs of the same size. (Colgate has a 3-pack, whereas Crest has a 2-pack.) So for consistency, I’ll just be comparing single tubes.

Related: 9 Price Check Apps You Should Have

 

Crest vs Colgate: Calculating Cost per Ounce

Now down to the calculations. Please note that this pricing is based on what I found online shopping in Texas. I cross-checked pricing in five different states and chose numbers that were consistent. Note that prices in bigger cities, like Los Angeles or New York City, will vary. I chose these tubes for our purposes today:

 

Crest Cavity Toothpaste Gel in Cool Mint

 

Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride Toothpaste in Great Regular Flavor

Take note of the price per ounce. For Crest, it works out to $0.34 per ounce. Colgate costs $0.31 per ounce. It seems like a no-brainer that this is the better deal, but it’s a little more complicated than that. What do these prices work out to after coupons? Because let’s be real, you’re using coupons.

 

Crest vs Colgate: Coupons Make the Difference

Colgate Coupons: Frequency and Average Savings

At the time of writing this, there are 44 coupons for Colgate on our site. While there are a few repeats, there are at least 10 unique coupons that will save you $1, and even some that offer $3 off. However, the final price varies based on which product you go with. For example, the Colgate Optic White Renewal is $7.99 at Target but the $3 off coupon brings it to $4.99.

 

Crest Coupons: Frequency and Average Savings

At the time of writing this, you can find over 40 coupons for Crest on our site. In terms of the amount saved, there are several coupons that offer $1 off. There are also coupons for up to $5 off more expensive whitening products. On average, as of publication, there are coupons offering larger savings for Crest than for Colgate (since Colgate offers $3 off per tube maximum, while Crest offers $4 off). But that’s always subject to change as coupons expire and new ones come.

 

Final Results

Overall, whether you’re looking at it from price per ounce or price per tube, Colgate is the winner. When calculating the price per ounce, we found Colgate was $0.03 cheaper than Crest.

However, the whole game changes when you account for coupons. Crest coupons equate to more money saved, overall.

In the end, go with whatever is on sale or whichever brand you have a current coupon for. Just be sure you’re never paying full price!

And while it may seem silly to think about prices in such a granular way, every penny counts. There’s great value in saving money, even if it equates to saving fractions of a cent per use. Especially when it seems like prices for everyday essentials are rising faster than our budgets can keep up with.