The Best Places To Buy Prescription Glasses Online 2022: A Complete Guide (2024)

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as FSA and HSA | Virtual try-on: Yes

GlassesUSA is one of the largest online prescription glasses retailers, offering hundreds of designer frames, like Ray-Ban, Gucci and Oakley, along with less expensive house brands in every frame style and color you could imagine. Prices run the gamut from $39 all the way up to $700, depending on which brand you choose. With its virtual try-on feature, you can upload a photo directly to the website and see what each frame would look like on your face before you commit. GlassesUSA also has an app you can use to scan your prescription through your current lenses

All lenses are made to order in-house and then put through a series of inspections to check for quality, clarity and proper alignment. The prices you see on the website’s landing pages reflect basic, single-focus lenses, but you also have the option for upgrades like progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings and transition lenses for up to $169 more.

If you’re unhappy with your new glasses for any reason, GlassesUSA has a 14-day, no questions asked return policy—but you can only take advantage of this for your first pair. There are no returns on orders placed with store credit.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Offering variety across styles, price points and brands, including designer
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses and sports glasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

• The variety may be overwhelming for some
• Only your first pair is eligible for the return policy

Turnaround time: About 14 days, depending on order | Return policy: 60 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try on for some styles

Liingo Eyewear, a 1-800 Contacts company, aims to make prescription eyewear more accessible. And with hundreds of original frames, all falling between $79 and $129, that mission is accomplished. You can find everything from classic low-profile styles to bold, standout picks that make a fashion statement while improving your vision. In addition to a virtual try-on feature, you can also choose up to five different frames to try at home, absolutely free.

All frames, including the best-selling Adele frame pictured here, come with free standard prescription lenses; alternatively, you can add optional upgrades like progressives, high-index and DuraSeal HD (to prevent scratching and smudging and help reduce glare) that tack on anywhere from $39 to $149, depending on which ones you choose. If you’re not sure what kind of lenses work best for your prescription, you can connect with trained opticians who will evaluate your needs and make specific recommendations just for you.

Liingo offers a 60-day money back guarantee, so if you don’t love your new specs, you can return them for free—no questions asked. The retailer also backs up any adjustments you need: If you need the ear pieces tweaked, you can take them into any optical shop and Liingo will reimburse you up to $25 for the service. Right now, you can save an extra 15% sitewide and enjoy free shipping with code FORBES15.

Best for

• Men and women
• Wary purchasers, thanks to a generous return policy and adjustment reimbursem*nt
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

• There are no kids-specific frames but you can shop by size from extra small to large
• Liingo only offers its house brand frames

Turnaround time: 7 to 14 business days | Return policy: 14 days for a one-time replacement or refund | Insurance accepted: No, but you can use FSA and HSA affiliated with major credit cards | Virtual try-on: Yes

EyeBuyDirect was founded with one priority in mind: to make clear vision affordable and accessible to everyone. To keep prices down on EyeBuyDirect’s own styles, everything from concept to design to manufacturing is done in-house. You can also choose from designer frames from Oakley, Ray-Ban and RFLKT. Frames start at $6 and go up to $300-plus, but that price doesn’t include prescription lenses.

Once you’ve chosen your frame, you add standard lenses for $7 or opt for upgrades like advanced lenses and premium lenses, which go for $49 and $80, respectively. These upgraded lenses include things like anti-scratch, anti-reflective and water-repellant coatings.

To help you narrow things down, you can take EyeBuyDirect’s style quiz, which asks about your style, frame material and color preferences, as well as your face shape and head size. When you find a frame you like, you can click “try on” to upload a photo and see what it looks like on your face. The photo stays uploaded as you navigate the site, so you can quickly see what other options look like.

EyeBuyDirect offers a 14-day “no questions asked” return policy for a one-time replacement or refund, but its 365-Day Product Guarantee covers defects for a full year.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Offering lots of brands across all price points
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

• As per the return policy, you can only receive a refund or replacement one time; any replacement pairs cannot be refunded or returned

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a one-time store credit or 50% refund | Insurance accepted: No, but you can use FSA and HSA | Virtual try-on: Yes

Zenni Optical is all about making prescription glasses affordable, with frames starting at just $7 and capping at $50—and that price includes standard prescription lenses. While you won’t find any designer names among the selections, there are hundreds of designer-inspired frames in different shapes, sizes and colors. Zenni also offers low-bridge options and ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses with prescription single vision and progressive lenses.

Instead of using a still photo, the virtual try-on feature allows you to upload a video, so you can get an accurate 180-degree assessment of how each frame—you can virtually try on up to 50—would look on your face. As you checkout, you can add upgrades, like polarization, transition lenses or anti-reflective and anti-fog coatings. These upgrades start at $5 and go up to $69, depending on which ones you choose.

One negative worth noting: Zenni’s return policy is a bit limited, allowing you to receive 100% store credit or a 50% refund one time; successive purchases made with store credit and returned are only eligible for a 50% refund. However, if your glasses were made incorrectly, the company will remake them at no cost to you.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Budget shoppers
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses and kids’ sports glasses

Keep in mind

• Zenni only offers its house brand frames
• Limited return policy

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as FSA and HSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try-on

Warby Parker was born from a mission to offer designer-style frames at affordable prices. All frames start at just $95, an impressive price that includes basic prescription lenses. With hundreds of frames available, things can feel a little overwhelming at first. Download Warby Parker’s app to access a virtual try-on feature that allows you to quickly swipe through all the options while they display on your face.

The brand also offers a home try-on where you can pick up to five frames that Warby Parker will send to you, for free, to physically try on before you buy. You can sort through the entire collection of frames, or you can take a short online quiz that asks you questions about your preferences, like frame material, shape and color, and then narrows down your options to only the frames that fit those specifications.

Once you have your frames picked out, you can add basic prescription lenses or choose from various upgrade options, like progressive lenses, blue-light filtering or light-responsive lenses that add up to $200 to the total price.

If you don’t like your new glasses, you can return them for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of receipt. Warby Parker also offers a six-month, no-scratch guarantee. If your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free.

Best for

• Men and women
• Peace of mind, thanks to a six-month scratch-free guarantee
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

• Kids glasses are not available
• Warby Parker only offers its house brand frames and contact lenses

Turnaround time: 4 to 9 business days | Return policy: 14 days | Insurance accepted: No, but you can use FSA and HSA affiliated with major credit cards | Virtual try-on: No

DIFF Eyewear delivers luxury frames at more budget-friendly prices. While DIFF doesn’t carry any name brand specs, the frames are designer-inspired and the price you see includes premium prescription lenses. If you want to upgrade, you have that option, too. You can opt for thinner lenses or blue light blocking technology for an additional fee of $35, or swap out your lenses for photochromic glasses that darken when exposed to sunlight.

To make you feel even better about your purchase: DIFF Eyewear prioritizes giving back and has partnered with Sightsavers, an international organization that helps provide vision to billions of people throughout the world. For every pair of glasses sold, DIFF offers eye exams, surgeries, glasses, medicine and more to someone who wouldn’t be able to get the proper eye care otherwise.

You can make a prescription eyewear return within 14 days for prescription eyewear, 30 days for non-prescription eyewear, and you will be charged a $9 restocking fee. Exchanges are free, and you can make up to two swaps of equal or lesser value; after that, you’ll be refunded.

Best for

• Men and women
• Affordable, designer-inspired frames
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

• No kids’ styles
• For returns, you’ll be charged a $9 restocking fee
• DIFF Eyewear only offers its house brand frames

Turnaround time: 5 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a refund | Insurance accepted: No, but you can use FSA and HSA affiliated with major credit cards | Virtual try-on: Yes

Felix Gray is known for its vast selection of blue light blocking glasses, but you can add prescription lenses to any pair for an extra fee. Frames start around $95 and adding clear prescription lenses will bring the cost to around $160 or more, depending on whether you opt for any upgrades, like thinner high-index lenses. If you’d rather amber lenses, which block out more blue light and may help improve your sleep, the cost starts at around $195 total with the prescription lenses included.

Each frame has fit information, like narrow, medium and/or wide, that helps you make your choice, plus a virtual try-on feature that accesses your camera and shows what the glasses will look like on your face, so you can make a more educated decision on each style.

If you don’t like your new specs for any reason, you can return them to Felix Gray within 30 days, and you can use FSA or HSA dollars to make the purchase.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Stylish blue light glasses to wear during your workday
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses and amber glasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

• Single-vision prescription lenses aren’t included in the frame price
• Felix Gray only offers its house brand frames and contact lenses

Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but you can use FSA and HSA dollars | Virtual try-on: No

Frames Direct claims to have the largest selection of designer eyewear online. While we can’t confirm whether that’s true or not, we can say there are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like Gucci, Prada, Versace and Kate Spade, as well as big names in the glasses industry, like Oakley and Ray-Ban—in a wide variety of colors, too. And you won’t have to pay full price for them. Most brands sell for 20% to 80% off the retail price, and you can often score prescription lenses at a discount, too (check for promo codes before you submit your order).

As far as lenses go, choose single vision, no-line progressives or non-prescription readers. You can also select different lens materials, from thin polycarbonate to lower-cost plastic, as well as optional upgrades like digital light protection or scratch-resistant coating. And before your order goes through, an optician will review everything to make sure you picked the best selections for your prescription.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• High-end designer styles
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses (lenses with “digital light protection”); contact lenses

Keep in mind

• Lenses are an extra charge, including non-prescription
• For refunded returns, you’ll have to pay shipping

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 90 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but FSA and HSA accepted, or you can submit an out-of-network claim | Virtual try-on: Yes

Eyebobs makes unique frames for people who are looking for something a little less traditional. The frames come in bright colors, one-of-a-kind shapes and eye-catching patterns that look like an intentional part of your personal style, rather than just an afterthought. Frames start at $95 and adding a prescription brings that cost up to $245 to $345, depending on whether you need single vision or progressive frames. You can also opt for upgrades, like thinner lenses, blue light blocking and/or transition or polarized lenses for $40 to $90 more.

Most frames are available in average or wide versions so you can find the perfect fit for your face. If you’re not sure which style is right for you, take Eyebobs’ 10-question quiz, which asks about your personal preferences, style and which colors you’re drawn to in order to narrow it down. There’s also a virtual try-on feature, so once you’ve decided on a few pairs, you can see how they’ll look. Still unsure? You can book a personal stylist appointment (via Zoom) for one-on-one help.

Eyebobs accepts FSA and HSA dollars, and while the retailer won’t bill your insurance directly, you can request an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursem*nt. Use code FORBES15 to snag 15% off your purchase.

Best for

• Men and women
• Unique styles
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses

Keep in mind

• No kids’ styles
• Eyebobs only offers its house brand frames
• Single-vision prescription lenses are not included in the cost of frames (as with some other retailers)

Turnaround time: 9 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or one-time exchange| Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as FSA and HSA | Virtual try-on: Yes

Eyeconic was founded by the non-profit organization VSP, as part of a mission to make eye health a priority by offering prescription glasses online. There are more than 1,500 frame styles, and prices start at $49 and go up to $739, which includes basic prescription lenses.

To make things more streamlined, you can filter the frames by face shape or speciality sizing, like “glasses for big heads,” “glasses for small faces” or “glasses for a low bridge.” When you get to the checkout process, you’ll see several optional lens package upgrades and individual lens enhancements, like anti-reflective and blue light coatings, that add up to $135 to the final price.

If you want to try before you buy, you can use Eyeconic’s virtual try-on feature, which combines a five-second video with a photo to get the most accurate assessment of your face. If you’re not satisfied with the frame’s fit when you receive your glasses, you can schedule an in-person visit at one of Eyeconic’s 38,000 in-network eye doctors for a free frame adjustment.

Eyeconic also has a generous return policy, giving you up to 60 days to return your glasses for a full refund. If your prescription changes within six months of getting your new specs, you can swap the lenses for new ones.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Browsing by face shape
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

• Exchanges are one time only

Turnaround time: 10 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but FSA and HSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No

Pair was created with kids in mind. The founders—Nathan and Sophia—teamed up with the former head of product from Warby Parker to come up with an affordable and fun line of eyewear that kids will actually want to wear. From there, things took off and an equally eye-catching adult line of frames was born.

There are only a handful of frame styles, but there are hundreds of colors and patterns of “tops,” pieces that go on top of the frame base to change the color, from solid pink to rainbow tie-dye to NBA logos. Pair also creates limited edition tops and collabs with big names like Marvel and Harry Potter to design themed styles that allow you—and your kids—to showcase your personality.

Each frame starts at $60, including the standard prescription lenses, and the tops go for $25 to $30 each—creating an affordable and easy way to regularly change your look. During checkout, you can choose optional add-ons, like light-responsive lenses or blue light filtering, that add $49 to $199 to the final cost. For peace of mind, Pair offers a 30-day, no questions asked return policy on frames and tops.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Anyone who likes to switch up their style
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses

Keep in mind

• Pair Eyewear only offers its house brand frames

Turnaround time: 3 to 14 business days, depending on order | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA and FSA | Virtual try-on: No

LensCrafters has been handling prescription glasses since the 1980s. While it started as a brick-and-mortar, it has now expanded to offering its nearly 1,000 frame styles online. You can choose specs from high-end designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Burberry, or go with more-recognizable names in the glasses game, like Ray-Ban and Oakley.

The frames start around $125, but the retailer also regularly runs promotions, like 40% off frames with the purchase of prescription lenses or 50% designer frames with lenses, that drop the total price considerably. As far as lenses go, the process is pretty similar to the other options on this list. You can choose from single vision or progressive and three lens thicknesses that will add up to $369 to your total, depending on your final choices. You can also add anti-reflective treatments, advanced scratch coatings and blue light treatment for varying additional fees.

While the final cost of your prescription eyeglasses may be a little higher than online-only optical shops, the perk is that you can visit any LensCrafters store—there are 935 across the country—for free adjustments or troubleshooting. LensCrafters also takes most vision insurance so that can drop the price considerably.

Best for

• Men, women, kids
• Browsing reputable brands online and trying on in-store at one of 935 locations
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

• Single-vision prescription lenses are not included in the cost of frames (as with some other retailers)