In the Market for New Glasses? We Found the Best, Most Affordable Places to Buy Them Online (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Selected the Best Places to Buy Glasses Online

• What to Look for When Shopping for Glasses Online

• Our Experts

• FAQ

• Why Trust Verywell Health

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 7–10 business days | Return Policy: 30-day hassle-free returns | Insurance Accepted: Yes, and HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Warby Parker is our top pick for the best place to buy glasses online. They offer in-home try-ons, virtual try-ons, eye exams in-store, and glasses in a wide variety of colors and styles.

To help you make a confident frame selection, they’ll send you up to five pairs to try before you commit to purchasing one, all free of charge. You then have five days to decide whether you want to send them back or keep them for yourself. Need an eye exam and an updated prescription? They currently have 251 in-person locations in the United States and five locations in Canada to see an eye doctor and optician in person.

In addition to their 30-day hassle-free return policy, they also offer a six-month scratch warranty for free replacement of any scratched lenses. The store also provides hundreds of affordable and trendy styles, with some prescription glasses packages starting as low as $95.

Keep In Mind

All the frames on Warby Parker are house brand, and they don’t carry designer brands. For people who like a particular brand or type of frame, this could be a deal breaker.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: Standard shipping is 7–14 business days | Return Policy: 14 days for refund, 30 days for store credit | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Zenni offers an incredibly affordable line of prescription eyewear, as well as a wide selection of options for frames and lenses. Prices for frames start as low as $6.95, with styles for men, women, and kids, as well as sunglasses, safety glasses, and protective sports eyewear. They also feature fun collaborations with sports teams and celebrities if you like seasonal and fun frames to pair with outfits or switch up your look.

You can choose from single-vision, bifocals, progressives, and computer lenses. They also offer readers and blue light lenses to help protect your eyes against strain from screen use.

Keep In Mind

Zenni has a wide selection of frames, but they’re all on the budget end, with no name-brand options available. Also, Zenni does not accept insurance, although you can use your HSA and FSA for purchases.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 10–12 business days | Return Policy: 30-day return and exchange | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: No

Why We Recommend It

If you’re looking for a specific brand of frames, Frames Direct most likely has it. You’ll find a wide range of brands, from high-end designers like Burberry and Versace to the ever-popular Ray-Ban and Oakley, as well as everything in between.

They also offer a price-match guarantee on many of their top brands of sunglasses and eyeglass frames, meaning you’re guaranteed to get the best possible price. You can even request a reimbursement if you find a lower price elsewhere after purchase, as long as it’s within 14 days.

Keep In Mind

Frames Direct is a great place to buy frames you know you like. But with no virtual try-on option or “try before you buy” option, you may find yourself buying and returning frames several times. There’s also a $9 return fee for glasses that don’t have a defect.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 7 business days | Return Policy: 30-day return policy | Insurance Accepted: Yes, also accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: No

Why We Recommend It

You can find several popular brands at LensCrafters, including the most current styles from Ray-Ban, Michael Kors, Tiffany, and Brooks Brothers. LensCrafters is a well-known brick-and-mortar brand, and the website opens up even more possibilities for sizes, colors, and styles.

One of the biggest perks of LensCrafters is that they accept insurance and HSA/FSA spending, so you can get the styles you want while saving money using your benefits. If you prefer an in-person experience or need to make any adjustments to your glasses, there are over 1,000 locations nationwide where you can try on frames, get an eye exam, and consult with an optician,

Keep In Mind

LensCrafters website has infinitely more options than you could find at a physical location, but without a virtual try-on feature, you may have a difficult time finding the perfect pair.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 7–10 business days | Return Policy: 14-day return or exchange, no questions asked | Insurance Accepted: Accepts a few vision insurance policies, also accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Kid's eyewear can be expensive and time-consuming. Whether they lose their glasses, step on them, or just outgrow them at lightning speed, kids are notorious for burning through glasses. We love the selection of kid’s frames at GlassesUSA.com, which includes everything from $24 complete pairs with house frames to designer frames, sports goggles, and sunglasses.

You can find frames for children of any age (from toddler years to pre-teens) with their extensive selection. Plus, they offer a virtual try-on feature to see what your little one will look like with their new specs, as well as a 14-day return policy.

Keep In Mind

Only the first pair of glasses you return is eligible for the 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy. You’ll receive store credit for any subsequent returns.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 5–12 days | Return Policy: 100-day return policy | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

The only thing that beats the range of styles and prices offered at SmartBuyGlasses is their 100-day return policy. Within 100 days of purchase, you can return any pair of sunglasses, prescription glasses, or contact lenses for a refund or an exchange.

Whether you choose their budget $7 frames or designer brands like Carerra, Nike, Prada, and Guess, all single-vision basic lenses are free, with plenty of upgrades available. Use the virtual try-on feature to select the perfect frame and their virtual prescription scanner to find the prescription of your current lenses.

SmartBuyGlasses also offers a Best-Price Guarantee, which beats the price of any competitor by $2, so you know you’re getting the most savings possible on your favorite brands.

Keep In Mind

You have 100 days to return your glasses for any reason for either a full refund or store credit, but you’ll have to pay the return shipping fee.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 14 days | Return Policy: 60-day return policy | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Similar to Warby Parker, Liingo Eyewear also offers a try-on program that allows you to order and try multiple styles at home before making a purchase. Not only that, but they also offer a free, 60-day return policy so you can try your glasses for two months before committing.

Although Liingo lacks the larger selection offered by other retailers, its flexible return policy makes it easy to try glasses without any worries about returning them. Their customer service also goes above and beyond. For example, they’ll provide a $25 reimbursement if you need to have your frames adjusted at a local optician.

Keep In Mind

While the customer service is amazing, you won’t find any name-brand or kid’s frames to choose from.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 10–14 business days | Return Policy: 30-day return for non-prescription orders, 30-day exchange for prescription orders | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: No

Why We Recommend It

Gunnar has been around since 2006 and specializes in lenses that reduce digital eye strain and protect your eyes from blue light. With several popular frame styles to choose from, you can select lenses in a clear tint (which blocks 35% of blue light), amber tint (which blocks 65% of blue light), or sun lenses that block up to 90% of blue light.

Choose from frames for men, women, and youth, as well as ones specialized for gaming and made in collaboration with Blizzard, Marvel, Call of Duty, and more.

Keep In Mind

If you want to make a return, you’ll be responsible for the shipping and handling fees. Prescription lenses are not eligible for refunds or returns, although you can exchange them.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 7–10 business days | Return Policy: 90 days return or exchange | Insurance Accepted: No | Virtual Try-On: Yes

Why We Recommend It

If you’re in the market for reading glasses, Foster Grant has every type of reader you could want and then some. While you can’t order unique prescriptions, you’ll find reader lenses ranging from +1.00 to +3.50, including single-vision, multi-focal, made for computer use, bifocal-style, blue-light blockers, and sun readers.

If you’re uncertain what frame you’ll like best, take the frame finder quiz, then use the virtual try-on feature to confidently order a frame you know you’ll love. If you’re not satisfied, just return them for a refund or exchange within the 90-day return window. Foster Grant also offers a wide selection of sunglasses clip-ons to add solar protection to your readers when you need it.

Keep In Mind

While we love the selection of readers at Foster Grant, you can’t order them in your prescription.

Key Specs

Shipping Speed: 2–7 business days | Return Policy: 30-day return policy | Insurance Accepted: No, but accepts HSA/FSA | Virtual Try-On: No

Why We Recommend It

When it comes to sunglasses, especially prescription sunglasses, Hip Optical is one of the best. All their lenses are made in just one day in their robotic lens lab with thin, 1.67 high-index and include anti-reflective, anti-scratch, and UV coating at no extra charge.

While they only offer house brand frames, there are plenty of men's, women's, and kid’s frames to choose from in a wide variety of styles. You can also add gray or brown tint to any lens. In fact, you can choose from six lens tints and solid or gradient style lenses for the perfect color and darkness combination to suit your needs.

Keep In Mind

Hip Optical does not offer polarized lenses, which reduce the glare from the sun and are especially useful for activities like golf, tennis, and fishing where the sun’s glare can get in the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it safe to buy prescription glasses online?

  Buying glasses online is safe, but you’ll want to consult with your eye doctor to make sure you order glasses that will meet your individual needs, explains Nagori.

• Do you need a prescription to buy glasses online?

  Yes, a prescription is necessary to buy eyeglasses online if you have vision concerns. Glasses are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not one-size-fits-all, says Robert C. Layman, OD, owner of Pinnacle Eye Group in Lambertville, Michigan, and Great Lakes Vision Care in Monroe, Michigan, and a past president of the American Optometric Association.

• How often should you replace your glasses?

  How often you should replace your glasses depends on how the frames and lenses hold up to everyday use. You may also need to replace them as your vision needs change with a different prescription or different type of lens, such as single vision to progressive lenses.