We updated this article in January 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research and vetting done by the Good Housekeeping Institute .We also added three new retailers to our list after recent testing.
When it comes to prescription glasses these days, it’s no longer slim pickings.Instead, you can choose from a plethora of stylish frames, thanks to online optical retailers offering free at-home try-ons and virtual fittings .Plus, depending on your eye care needs and frame preferences, you can opt for features like blue-light filtering and transition lenses without expensive markups.To make things even better, if you have a current prescription, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to buy a new pair of specs.
Shopping for prescription glasses online can mean a broader selection of frames to choose from.”Since every face is different, it is important to choose a frame that not only complements a person’s features but also fits comfortably,” says Andrea P.Thau, O.D ., an associate clinical professor emerita at SUNY College of Optometry.Some online retailers like Warby Parker send you free pairs to try before you buy, which allows you to see how the frame fits your face and also helps you get a sense of its overall quality before committing.
Ahead, the pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute researched the best places you can purchase glasses online based on offerings, prices, quality, shipping and more.
Our top picks:
1 Best Overall Online Prescription Glasses Warby Parker Warby Parker SHOP AT WARBY PARKER Read More SHOP AT WARBY PARKER 2 Best Value Online Prescription Glasses EyeBuyDirect SHOP AT EYEBUYDIRECT Read More SHOP AT EYEBUYDIRECT 3 Best Designer Online Prescription Glasses GlassesUSA.com SHOP AT GLASSES USA Read More SHOP AT GLASSES USA 4 Best Online Prescription Glasses Lenses Liingo SHOP AT LIINGOEYEWEAR.COM Read More SHOP AT LIINGOEYEWEAR.COM 5 Most Online Prescription Glasses Options Zenni Optical SHOP AT ZENNI OPTICAL Read More SHOP AT ZENNI OPTICAL 6 Best Online Prescription Glasses Sales LensDirect SHOP AT LENSDIRECT.COM Read More SHOP AT LENSDIRECT.COM 7 Best Customizable Online Glasses Pair Eyewear SHOP AT PAIREYEWEAR.COM Read More SHOP AT PAIREYEWEAR.COM 8 Best Online Glasses With In-Person Stores Lenscrafters SHOP AT LENSCRAFTERS.COM Read More SHOP AT LENSCRAFTERS.COM 9 Most Unique Online Prescription Glasses Eyebobs SHOP AT EYEBOBS.COM Read More SHOP AT EYEBOBS.COM 10 Most Trendy Online Prescription Glasses Bailey Nelson SHOP AT BAILEYNELSON.COM Read More SHOP AT BAILEYNELSON.COM Load More Show Less To help lessen the daunting task of shopping for eyeglasses online, we spoke with eye care experts to answer all your pressing questions on what to look for, at the end of this guide.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below 1 Best Overall Online Prescription Glasses Warby Parker
Warby Parker SHOP AT WARBY PARKER Customizable frame width Try before you buy Warby Parker , a hallmark seller of online glasses, offer sharp-looking glasses running the gamut from $95 to up to $200.Find the style that suits you by selecting five frames to try on at home — for free .
Our experts found that there are about 205 women’s frames and 187 men’s frames, with some overlap, to choose from.
The online glasses brand also has various storefronts across the country, so you can get them fitted in person if you live near one.It’s a painless process that only requires an appointment ahead of time.Although your receipt can grow in expense with the more add-ons you choose (like blue light filtering), Warby Parker still offers prices competitive with traditional eyeglasses stores.Even still, the brand takes in-network insurance for some plans.
Price Starting at $95 (lenses included) Shipping Info Free, takes 7–10 business days Return Policy 30 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, readers, polycarbonate, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Yes, in-network for some plans 2 Best Value Online Prescription Glasses EyeBuyDirect
EyeBuyDirect SHOP AT EYEBUYDIRECT Good prices Variety of frame styles May require additional fees EyeBuyDirect’s selection of online glasses is much more affordable than other options out there, starting at just $12, great for a backup pair or to grab multiple pairs for different occasions .
All you need is your most recent lens prescription from an optometrist.
Once a frame catches your eye, simply click “try me on” under the photo of the frames to snap a photo and see what it looks like on your face.With about 1,434 frame options, EyeBuyDirect offers the second most number of frames of the online prescription glasses stores we researched.Our surveys found that testers got their orders as early as seven days.
You can opt for lens upgrades like anti-reflective coating and water-repellent coating, which are about $10 each.While the frames are low priced, just keep in mind that you may need to pay additional fees for thinner lenses if you have a higher prescription.
Price Starting at $12 (some lenses included) Shipping Info $6 and up or free for orders over $99, takes 7–14 business days Return Policy 14 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, high-index, bifocal, readers, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 3 Best Designer Online Prescription Glasses GlassesUSA.com
GlassesUSA SHOP AT GLASSES USA Designer frames Easy-to-upload prescription Frequent discounts May have trouble contacting customer service If you’re looking for stylish glasses from familiar brands, then GlassesUSA.com is your best bet.You can find hundreds of discounted glasses (1,325!) from designers like Ray-Ban, Coach, Oakley and more , in addition to basic, no-frills frames.
(Hilary Duff even has an exclusive collection of online glasses on the site).Shipping took one tester six days to receive their pair, while another got theirs in 11 days.
Its virtual try-on feature lets you upload a photo directly to the website and see each frame on your face, while some frames let you see with a live virtual try-on.After finding a pair you like, fill in or upload your prescription using the Prescription Scanner App .You’ll need to know your pupillary distance in addition to that — which you can measure yourself or with the help of a friend, but an optometrist is the most precise route.
Plus, some in-network insurance plans are taken.It’s worth noting that one GH reader had trouble contacting the brand’s customer service for assistance.
Price Starting at $39 (lenses included) Shipping Info Free, takes 7–10 business days plus 3–6 days to process Return Policy 14 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, bifocal, polycarbonate, blue light filtering, light-responsive Discount 60% off frames with code GHK60.Insurance Applicable Yes, in-network for some plans 4 Best Online Prescription Glasses Lenses Liingo
SHOP AT LIINGOEYEWEAR.COM Free at-home try-on Adjustment reimbursements Speedy shipping Liingo narrows down its impressive stock of original prescription glasses online by sorting frames by face shape, frame shape, size, color and material.Every style includes free premium RX polycarbonate lenses , meaning glasses are thinner, lighter and claim to be up to 12 times more impact resistant than traditional lenses.
Similar to Warby Parker, this online glasses store will also send five styles for a free at-home try-on, giving you five days to mull it over.Offering the speediest shipping time, Liingo delivered pairs to our testers in 6 and 7 days, respectively.
If you’re unsure what lens type works best for your prescription, Liingo has trained opticians at the ready who will make specific recommendations just for you.
Conflicted about what size to order? Try the Find My Fit tool, enter the size of your current glasses and find Liingo styles that match up.Its face-scanning tool also accesses your device’s camera to measure your face and recommend styles that fit.
In the likelihood of a frame adjustment, Liingo reimburses you up to $25 at any optical shop you choose.
Price Starting at $49 (lenses included) Shipping Info Free shipping, takes about 2 weeks depending on your prescription Return Policy 60 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, polycarbonate, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 5 Most Online Prescription Glasses Options Zenni Optical
Zenni Optical SHOP AT ZENNI OPTICAL Great frame variety Super affordable Store credit return policy First and foremost, Zenni Optical has a TON of options for online glasses in its collection — the most out of all the e-tailers on this list.(We’re talking 1,676 frames! ) Prices range from under $10 to about $46 for the basics, but if you need to upgrade the lenses or choose add-ons, plan to spend a bit more.Plus, add a personal touch by engraving your name inside the arm for an additional $2.
GH testers had their pairs arrive within 10 and 12 days, respectively.
It’s important to note the return policy: the only way to get a full refund is by opting for store credit, and that’s without getting the shipping fees back.So, nail down your frames by filtering size, shape, prescription and more.You can also try Zenni’s virtual try-on (a 180-degree face measurement) for a more accurate fit.
Price Starting at $7 (lenses included) Shipping Info $5 and up, takes up to 14–21 days Return Policy 30 days for 100% store credit or a 50% refund – both excludes shipping cost Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, bifocal, readers, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 6 Best Online Prescription Glasses Sales LensDirect
LensDirect SHOP AT LENSDIRECT.COM Frequent discount codes Helpful frame dimensions Longer ship time, according to survey results Frequently running sales and deals , LensDirect lets you save on high-quality frames.The New York-based company has 97 eyeglass frames, with many offering virtual try-on features, plus thorough dimensions that help you understand how it will fit your face shape.Or, rather than calling in new frames altogether when your prescription changes, LensDirect offers lens replacements starting at $59.The brand’s site says its orders typically take about 10 to 12 business days to ship, and our testers each received their pairs at the 13- and 20-day mark.
Price Starting at $74 Shipping Info Free shipping on orders $49+, about 10-12 business days Return Policy No returns — only remakes, often with a 50% fee Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, readers, high-index, blue-light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 7 Best Customizable Online Glasses Pair Eyewear
Pair Eyewear SHOP AT PAIREYEWEAR.COM Customizable Super affordable Smaller frame selection Ditch the plain black Clark Kent frames for ones with a bit of personality — tagged with cute, clever names like The Wanda and The Twain .From astrology prints to Valentine-themed frames , Pair Eyewear has a vast collection of fun, youthful “tops,” or interchangeable design pieces for the top of your eyeglasses, that compensate for the smaller frame selection.
“These glasses are truly amazing! The frames fit my face perfectly, and I’ve already amassed a decent collection of tops,” said one Pair reviewer.”I get so many compliments on my glasses and people are amazed when I tell them I can exchange the tops any time I want to change up my look.” Our testers received their respective glasses pairs within the 10- to 14-day shipping projection: one got their readers in seven days, while the other got their prescription glasses on the tail end of the window.
Price Starting at $60 (lenses included), tops start at $25 Shipping Info Free shipping, about 10-14 business days for single vision lenses, extra time with add-ons Return Policy 30 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, readers, blue light filtering, high-index, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 8 Best Online Glasses With In-Person Stores Lenscrafters
Ray-Ban SHOP AT LENSCRAFTERS.COM Designer brands Free in-store adjustments Pricey If you’re still wary about ordering glasses online, you can always play it safe with a classic retailer like Lenscrafters.You’ll find the same types and brands of glasses that you would normally see at the brick-and-mortar , only from the comfort of your home instead! Its brands span the likes of Ray-Ban and Oakley to Giorgio Armani and Burberry, with about 1,352 total frames.
As far as lenses go, the process is pretty similar to the other options on this list.You can choose from a variety of lenses and add-ons — blue light filtering and thickness — that’ll add up depending on your needs.Plus, it’s one of the few optical e-tailers on this list that takes select in-network insurance.Buying from Lencrafters online is a bit expensive, but if your frames ever need to be adjusted, you can easily pop into the nearest store anytime for adjustments.
Another con: Shipping took 11 days for prescription pairs, which is about four days longer than the brand’s projected window.
Price Starting at $91 (lenses not included) Shipping Info Free, takes 5–7 business days plus 7 days to process Return Policy 30 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Yes, in-network for some plans 9 Most Unique Online Prescription Glasses Eyebobs
Eyebobs SHOP AT EYEBOBS.COM Longest return policy Helpful style quiz Priciest When glasses serve more of a purpose to you than stellar eyesight, Eyebobs offers 69 funky, fashionable frames, including geometric shapes.Fine-tune your search with a personalized style quiz that records your face width to shape preference to color palette , then recommends three pairs of glasses, plus a compatibility percentage based on your answers.Though the brand offers free, two-day shipping on orders $75+, know that made-to-order items take about seven to 10 business days to create.Our tester received their pair of reading glasses after eight days.
Price Starting at $209 Shipping Info Free on orders $75+, about 7-10 business days Return Policy 90 days Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive, readers Insurance Available Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 10 Most Trendy Online Prescription Glasses Bailey Nelson
Bailey Nelson SHOP AT BAILEYNELSON.COM Curated, trendy options Offers an ongoing two frames for $249 deal Returns and shipping policy isn’t as ideal for U.S.customers Want to refresh your typical look? Founded in Bondi Beach, Australia, in 2012, Bailey Nelson offers a breadth of cool eyewear styles — about 124, to be exact.According to their site, each frame is unique, designed in-house to keep up with current trends .
That doesn’t mean quality isn’t top of mind, though.They offer a range of lenses for different eye preferences and needs, such as scratch resistance, anti-reflection coating, smudge resistance, UV protection and tinted/polarized options.
As for when you can expect your prescription, the brand claims that you’ll get your glasses within 10 to 15 business days, depending on your order.However, it took about 19 days for one our testers.
Price Starting at $149 Shipping Info Shipping to the United States is subject to a $10 fee and longer arrival times, about 10-15 business days Return Policy 30 days free for all online orders over $99 Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, progressive, high-index, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable Not in-network for any plans but can be purchased with HSA or FSA funds 11 Best Athletic Online Glasses Roka
Roka SHOP AT ROKA.COM Free at-home try-on Suitable for active lifestyles Restocking fee on prescription eyewear Touted as designed by athletes for athletes, these lightweight performancewear eyeglasses rest comfortably without slipping or bouncing.The prescription glasses are bendable at the ends, and the frames come with grippy nose pads to ensure a better, more secure fit .It’s got a slimmer selection of 17 frames, however.
Prices start relatively high but are a worthy investment if you’re an active person or spend much of your time outdoors.Just note that the brand offers a 30-day return window but at the cost of a $20 restocking fee.
Price Starting at $185 (lenses included) Shipping Info Free shipping, about 2-7 business days Return Policy 30 days with $20 restocking fee Lens Types & Add-Ons Single vision, polycarbonate, Trivex, high-index, readers, blue light filtering, light-responsive Insurance Applicable No, HSA/FSA/Submit reimbursement How we picked the best online prescription glasses stores
Our experts ran extensive research to find the prime optical e-tailers, starting by putting together a panel of consumer testers with a range of eye care and prescription needs — from readers to blue-light filters to high-index lenses.
Each tester was assigned an eyewear brand to order from online, then asked to record their shopping experience.That included rating each service based on features like virtual try-ons, style options and more.Our experts took a detailed look at the different store’s return policies, insurance options, prescription upload process, shipping time and price range to inform our top picks.Though testing is still underway, we included our results so far on shipping time, while real-life testers currently try out their own pairs.
What to consider when buying prescription glasses online
✔️ Cost and frequency of wear.About a $70 to $150 budget should generally buy you a solid pair of eyeglasses from direct-to-consumer brands.
“If you are someone who rarely wears glasses but needs something for occasional driving, you may not want to spend as much money on this as someone who wears progressives full time,” explains Melissa Sherman, O.D ., the Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Eye Center of New York.”Patients should also consider the remake policy for online purchases; sometimes errors occur, and in this case, the patient should know if redoing the lens will be covered by the online retailer.” Don’t forget to check if your vision insurance will cover anything — you can even pay with an HSA or FSA card on some of these websites.
✔️ Your current prescription .Get your eyes checked once a year by an eye care professional who will look for changes in your eyesight as well as check for cataracts and diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.” Eye health is the most important part of achieving sharp vision for your entire lifetime,” says Dr.
Sherman.Keep in mind that not all prescription glasses are able to be filled online.
“Patients with high astigmatism or patients needing progressives should buy their glasses in-person to ensure that the lenses are centered in front of their eyes; this is important for achieving optimal vision,” says Dr.Sherman.
✔️ Fit .”The frame must sit appropriately on the face, the lenses must be fabricated perfectly and the lenses centered appropriately, all factors that are very challenging to do online,” says Dr.Thau.You’ll need to know your pupillary distance, a.k.a.the space between your eyes.There are some systems for measuring this online, but your eye doctor will be able to get a more accurate number.People who already have an idea of what kind of glasses they like can look at the measurements of their current frames (often printed on the inside of an arm) to find a similar-fitting pair.
✔️ Lens types, coatings and add-ons.
From blue-light-filtering add-ons to high-index lenses, you can customize your glasses to suit your specific needs.Dr.Sherman recommends anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings to “ensure the longevity” through many wears and cleaning your glasses , and also to “optimize the quality of the vision” in the lenses.If your prescription skews high, you can benefit from high-index lenses, which makes the lens lighter and more comfortable, according to Dr.
Sherman.
Progressive lenses simplify the lives of people who need both distance and near correction, cutting down on the pairs you carry.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Beauty and Health Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler led testing for this story.She regularly conducts hands-on testing and analysis of products for the GH Institute, including running the latest Lab tests and surveys on online prescription glasses.In addition to her experience at GH, her background as a cosmetic chemist includes scrutinizing product claims.
GH Institute Associate Editor Jacqueline Saguin wrote this story.She regularly collaborates with Lab experts to translate their testing and data analysis into comprehensive product guides.She also consulted eye care professionals Dr.
Melissa Sherman, O.D .and Dr.
Andrea P.Thau to answer the most frequently asked questions about online prescription glasses.
Jacqueline Saguin Associate Product & Reviews Editor Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute ..