'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
The best places to buy glasses online: Get your specs at home
While online shopping is great for buying tech devices, home decor, clothing, and more, one thing many people are still hesitant about buying online are glasses.
You might be used to buying a pair of glasses in a brick-and-mortar shop after obtaining a new prescription, but many manufacturers now offer the option to make these purchases online. There's a wider selection of frame and lens options available online, plus many places also offer try-on tools and programs so you can still see how the glasses will look on your face. Buying glasses online is as simple as picking out your new pair of glasses and waiting for the retailer to confirm your glasses prescription while you check out.
Also: The best blue light blocking glasses
We love the new normal for buying, trying, and enjoying glasses through online retail, and you've got many options at your fingertips. Our top pick for the best online store to buy glasses is Warby Parker, thanks to its virtual and home try-on options and tons of styles and colors, but we also included other stores that carry brand names, offer try-ons and different lens options, and more.
The best online store to buy glasses in 2024
- Virtual and home try-on options
- For every pair purchased, a pair is donated to someone in need
- Countless styles, colors, and sizes to choose from
- Add-on lens options can be expensive
- App is only available for iOS
Warby Parker features: Try-on options: Virtual and at-home | Return window: 5 days for home try-on, 30 days for regular orders | Types of lenses: Classic, blue light, light responsive, contacts
Warby Parker has become a household name in online glasses shopping. Offering styles for men and women, you'll find sleek modern frames and quality lenses breaking the bank. Warby Parker also offers prescription glasses, sunglasses, and even contact lenses.
Upon signing up, Warby Parker will send you five different pairs to try on at home for five days. The five-day trial period comes with non-prescription lenses so the buyer can focus on the fit, feel, and style. You can also download a free Virtual Try-on app that uses augmented reality to see how the glasses would look on you.
Warby Parker's prices on prescription glasses are highly competitive, with prices starting at $95. With add-ons like blue light blocking and tinted lenses, Warby Parker's prescription prices can jump to $400+, so make sure those extras are worth it and keep an eye on the total cost before checking out.
- Carries glasses for kids
- Competitive pricing
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Full refund only applies to first pair returned
Glasses USA features: Try-on options: Virtual | Return window: 14 days | Types of lenses: Classic, blue light glasses, readers, transition, sunglasses, contacts, kids
Glasses USA is a great online storefront for all things eyewear. From glasses, sunglasses, bifocals to contact lenses, Glasses USA is a one-stop shop. Plus, unlike a lot of the other options on this list, it offers kids' frames.
Prescription eyeglasses will range from about $53 to $200+ depending on what features you select. Glasses USA has over 10,000 total combinations from you to choose from, so there's no shortage of variety. Just be aware that Glasses USA will not ship sizing samples (no try-on period). However, your new eyeglasses come with a 100% money-back guarantee and a 365-day warranty, plus, there's a virtual try-on option.
Unlike other online glasses storefronts, Glasses USA boasts popular brands on their home page such as Ray-Ban, Prada, Persol, Versace, Gucci, Michael Kors, Muse, Oakley, and Mui Mui.
Compared to an online glasses storefront such as Eye Buy Direct, Glasses USA is focused on providing the consumer high fashion options in place of a universal in-house brand.
- Budget-friendly price range
- Virtual try-on tool
- Cannot buy contact lenses
- Limited amount of designer names
EyeBuyDirect features: Try-on options: Virtual | Return window: 14 days | Types of lenses: Classic, progressive, blue light, reading, transition, sunglasses, bifocal
Eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect start at an amazingly affordable price point of $13 and peak around the $200-$300 range. They have a 14-day, no-questions-asked full refund policy if anything does not suit your needs.
EyeBuyDirect emphasizes that it uses high-quality material for frames and lenses and includes stylish brands in its collections. Their virtual try-on tool provides an accurate representation of how the glasses form to the face and what they will look like on you.
The website is fast, simple, making it easy to get in touch with customer service. You can also find sun protectant and blue-light blocker lenses for nearly all frames.
If you're brand new to online glasses shopping, EyeBuyDirect is a great entry point.
- Offers a vision plan to switch up your lenses more frequently
- Can choose what type of lens and lens material
- Online eye exams
- No try-on option
Lensabl features: Try-on options: None | Return window: 30 days | Types of lenses: Classic, blue light, contacts, transitions, reading
Lensabl is another great online pick for prescription glasses, contacts, and blue-light options.
Unlike other online retailers, Lensabl offers an annual vision plan, which boasts savings of up to 70%. Plans can include glasses and contacts or glasses alone. If you opt not to enroll in the annual vision plan offered by Lensabl, they have a broad selection for one-time purchases.
With your purchase comes free standard shipping, 30-day risk-free returns, and a 12-month warranty. If you opt to include lenses with your frames, expect premium blue-light protection, anti-reflective coating, anti-scratch coating, and 100% UV protection.
Prices will range from $97-$300, depending on what options are selected. Lensabl ranks quite high in customer service according to various consumer feedback. While Lensabl does not offer a try-on period for frames, you can count on receiving great support from the team at Lensabl.
- Sign-up bonus for new customers
- Long return window
- At-home try-on
- No contacts
- Limited lens options to choose from
Liingo Eyewear features: Try-on options: Virtual and at-home | Return window: 5 days for at-home try-ons, 2 months for regular purchases | Types of lenses: Classic, blue light, sunglasses, contacts
Liingo Eyewear is a relatively new online company that offers a tremendous one-time signup bonus for new customers. Like others on this list, Liingo has a virtual try-on tool, along with a 60-day guarantee on whatever glasses you choose. And, like Warby Parker, there is also an option to choose five frames that you can try on at home over five days. Plus, there is a frame fit tool that will give you accurate frame recommendations based on your face measurements.
Liingo's frames are on the more expensive side, with prices ranging from $79 to $139. Once you lock in your favorite pair of glasses during the trial period and after your current prescription is confirmed, Liingo will ship your new glasses quickly and professionally.
Unlike most companies with this business model, Liingo gives you two months to send the glasses back with a full refund. This is not common compared to the other online glasses retailers and is undoubtedly a notable advantage.
What is the best online store to buy glasses at?
We think Warby Parker is the best place to buy glasses online because of its various try-on methods, price range, and lenses offered. You can even get an eye exam with Warby Parker.
However, if you're looking for kids' glasses, it would be better to choose Glasses USA. Alternatively, if you want to spend less on your frames, EyeBuyDirect is an excellent option.
We've broken down the important factors to consider for each online glasses store so you can make the right decision.
Store | Price Range | Try-On Options | Styles Offered |
Warby Parker | Starting at $95 | Virtual app and home try-on | Classic, sunglasses, blue light blockers, light responsive, and contact lenses |
Glasses USA | $53-$200 | Virtual | Classic, sunglasses, readers, blue light blockers, kids' glasses, transition, and contact lenses |
EyeBuyDirect | $13-$300 | Virtual try-on tool | Classic, progressive, reading, transition, sunglasses, blue light blockers, and bifocals |
Lensabl | $97-$300 | None | Classic, blue light, contacts, transitions, reading |
Liingo Eyewear | $79-$139 | Virtual and at home | Glasses, sunglasses, contacts, and blue light blockers |
Which online store to buy glasses is right for you?
While we recommend any of these online stores to buy glasses from, the right store for you will depend on what you're looking for, what you're willing to spend, and what kind of (if any) try-on options are important to you.
Choose this online store to buy glasses... | If you want... |
Warby Parker | The best overall option. You can try on glasses through the app or at home, and glasses are fairly priced starting at $95. |
Glasses USA | To buy glasses for your kid. You can expect a return window of 14 days and a 100% money-back guarantee. |
EyeBuyDirect | A budget-friendly online glasses store with affordable options. There is also a virtual try-on tool. |
Lensabl | A vision plan built into your glasses store. The vision plan boasts savings of up to 70%. |
Liingo Eyewear | Different options for trying on glasses. Along with virtual and at-home try-on, it also has a frame fit tool. |
How did we choose these stores?
We chose these stores based on customer reviews, price range, styles offered, and ease of use. We also considered these choices based on our own experience with some of these online glasses stores.
Ultimately, these were the factors most important to us:
- Try-on options: Buying glasses online is hard, since seeing the glasses on you will be the determining factor if you like a pair or not. That's why we stuck with choices that offer different try-on options, like virtual or an at-home program.
- Styles and lenses: You may have different lens needs depending on your vision and lifestyle. We chose stores that offered lenses like transition, blue light, readers, and more so you can find the right fit for you. We also considered stores that offered plenty of different frame styles, since everyone has different face shapes.
- Price points: Glasses can be expensive, so we tried to included stores that had competitive price points as well as a decent return window so you can make sure you're investing in the right pair.
Why should I buy glasses online?
Buying glasses should be a seamless and user-friendly experience, and online stores make it easy.
It may sound a bit risky to purchase a pair of prescription glasses online without trying them on first. This risk is offset by the different types of try-on periods that many businesses offer and flexible no-questions-asked return policies.
Buying a pair of glasses online can be even easier than purchasing in person. Most online glasses businesses will send you multiple pairs to try on for style and fit.
Do online glasses stores take insurance?
Most online stores will take insurance if you have it--just be sure to check. For reference, out of the stores on our list, Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect, and Lensabl accept insurance payments.
In addition, places like Glasses USA and Liingo take FSA/HSA money as well.
You can also call your insurance company to see what is covered for vision and purchasing a pair of glasses.
Are there alternative online stores to buy glasses?
The five above stores aren't the only retailers where you can buy glasses online. Here are a few other options to look into: