The 8 Best Places to Buy Glasses Online in 2024

Nov 06, 2024

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The perfect pair of glasses is just a click away.

Verywell Health / David Hattan

Whether you’re looking for reading glasses, sunglasses, everyday frames, or trendy blue light glasses, online retailers have hundreds of styles to best suit your personal needs. Saya Nagori, MD, an ophthalmologist, says the internet opens up new possibilities for finding the perfect pair of glasses—as long as you know what to look for. She adds that because there are many variables in choosing the right lenses (like materials, specialty coatings, and types of correction), you may want to consult with your eye doctor first to make sure you choose the right product for your needs.

We researched dozens of online glasses retailers and evaluated them for frame selection, lens customization, cost and insurance coverage, website user-friendliness, and return policies to bring you the best online glasses retailers today.

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. 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.

Warby Parker

In-home try on available

Accepts insurance

In-person locations for eye exams

No designer brands

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

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.

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.

Zenni Optical

Low price point

Wide variety of styles

Seasonal and celebrity collaborations

No designer frames

Does not accept insurance

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

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.

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.

Frames Direct

Wide selection of designer frames

Certified opticians available by phone or email

30-day return policy

No virtual try on

Fewer budget-friendly glasses

Does not accept insurance

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

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.

Another great alternative for a stylish pair of glasses (designer or otherwise) is LensCrafters. They're a well-known brick-and-mortar brand with over 1000 locations, and the website opens up even more possibilities for sizes, colors, and styles. One of their biggest perks is that they accept insurance and HSA/FSA spending, so you can get the styles you want while saving money using your benefits. Just be aware that they don't have a virtual try-on service.

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.

Glasses USA

Wide selection of frames for kids of all ages

Budget-friendly picks

Virtual try-on

Return policy only applies to the first pair you return

Only accepts insurance from 2–3 carriers

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

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.

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.

Smart Buy Glasses

Offers a best-price guarantee

Single-vision, basic lenses are free

100-day return policy

Buyer is responsible for the return shipping fee

Does not accept insurance

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

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.

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.

Gunnar Glasses

Lenses specialized to reduce digital eye strain

Tints block 35–90% of blue light

Anti-glare and smudge coatings included on all lenses

Prescription orders are not eligible for returns

Only meant for computer use or gaming

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

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.

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.

Foster Grant

Several types of reading lenses available

90-day return policy

Virtual try on

Does not offer unique prescription lenses

No designer brands

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

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.

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

Hip Optical

Prescription lenses made fast

Free lens upgrades

Multiple lens colors to choose from

No designer brands

Polarized lenses are not available

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

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.

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.

We researched over 20 online retailers to find the best places to buy your next pair of glasses. Here are some of the qualities we considered:

To choose the best places to buy glasses online, we researched the selection, reviews, customer service, costs, and policies at over 20 online retailers and spoke with the following eye health experts:

Kelsey Kunik Lorencz is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, and nutrition consultant. Prior to her career in nutrition and freelance writing, she worked as an optician for 3 years and has had a life-long fascination with ocular health, wearing contact lenses for over a decade, undergoing LASIK, and dealing with her own dry eye journey along the way. She writes to educate and inspire on eating behavior, programs, supplements, foods, and products that help women step into their power and feel their best each and every day.

By Kelsey Kunik, RDKelsey has been a registered dietitian for 7 years, writing and creating content for brands and top tier outlets, inspiring people to embrace a healthy relationship with food, nutrition, and wellness.