Do You Actually Need Rinse Aid? An Honest Answer

Rinse aid is a surfactant, not a detergent, and on some dishwashers it is part of the design rather than an upsell. How to tell which machine you have.
White Film on Glasses After the Dishwasher: Which Kind

One cause washes off, the other is permanent damage to the glass. A five-minute vinegar test tells you which one you have before you buy anything.