Best Places To Buy Prescription Glasses Online 2023: A Comprehensive Guide (2023)

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: 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 that scans your prescription through your current lenses, and those with expired prescriptions can get a renewal via the company’s virtual vision test.

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.

What the editors say: Alexis Caldwell, our executive director of commerce business development and partnerships, is a fan of this retailer. “It's very easy to upload your prescription information and save it for future purchases,” she says. “The prices are all so reasonable, I don't feel guilty when I accidentally leave them on the plane. In particular there’s an in-house line, Muse, that has really cute styles.”

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: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: 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 14 business days | Return policy: 14 days for a one-time replacement or refund | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

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 name brand 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.

Special savings: Take 30% off orders of $65 or more with code FORBES30.

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 HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

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.

What the editors say: “Zenni was awesome for last-minute backup pairs to wear on a beach vacation,” says our branded content editor, Dana Holmes. “I ordered at 11 p.m. on a Sunday night and received them at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.”

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: 10 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No, but expired prescriptions accepted

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: 4 to 9 business days | Return policy: 14 days | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No

While DIFF doesn’t carry any name brand specs, the frames are designer-inspired—you’ll also find fun collabs à la Marilyn Monroe, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more. The price you see includes premium prescription lenses, adding to their affordability. You can also add upgrades like 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 is 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: Within a week but up to 3 weeks for special order lenses | Return policy: 30 days | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on:Yes |Virtual Rx renewal: No

For glasses-wearers who are always frustrated with frames slipping down their noses, this Tokyo-based offers low-bridge and adjustable fits (as well as standard fits) to suit all nose shapes.

"Traditionally, the eyewear industry has catered to faces with higher and narrower nose bridges,” explains a Jins Eyewear representative. “Our low bridge fit frames are designed for the spectrum of nose bridges that are lower, wider or flatter than this standard. They're made to fit more securely without slipping down your nose or resting on your cheekbones."

Frames with non-prescription lenses are $50 while the rest range from $90 to $290 with single-vision (or reader or non-prescriptive) lenses included. Progressives tack on an extra $120 and special tints and transitional lenses are also an extra $120. For those wanting blue light blocking lenses, they cost either $30 or $60, depending on the type: Screen Daily Use lenses block 25% of blue light and Screen Heavy Use block 40%. And a final heads up for ordering: Unlike some other online glasses retailers, the field to add your prescription pops up after you place your order.

Best for:

• Men and women
• People with low-bridge or hard-to-fit noses
• Heavy screen users, thanks to a lens option that blocks 40% of blue light

Keep in mind:

• Kids glasses are not available
• You have to add your prescription after placing your order

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

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.

Special savings: Save an extra 15% plus free shipping with code FORBES15.

Best for

• Men and women
• Wary purchasers, thanks to a generous return policy and adjustment reimbursement
• 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 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try-on | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

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. You can download Warby Parker’s app to access a virtual try-on feature, but one of its biggest claims to fame is its at home try-on program. 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 to help you zero in on favorite styles.

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.

What the editors say: Shares Dana Holmes, our branded content editor, “Warby Parker consistently has a not-overwhelming selection of stylish (but not too trendy) frames that work with a lot of different facial structures. But the real reason I love Warby Parker is that they allow at-home try-ons. Nothing compares to trying glasses on my actual face without needing to make an appointment.”

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