Best online places to buy glasses Get specs at home.
Best online places to buy glasses Get specs at home.
The Best Online Stores to Buy Glasses in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide
While online shopping has become a popular choice for buying a wide range of products, ranging from tech devices to clothing, one category that people still hesitate to purchase online is glasses. However, times have changed, and many manufacturers now offer the option to buy glasses online, complete with try-on tools and programs that allow you to see how the glasses will look on your face. In this article, we will explore the best online stores to buy glasses in 2023, providing you with a comprehensive guide to make the right decision.
The Best Online Store to Buy Glasses: Warby Parker
Our top pick for the best online store to buy glasses is Warby Parker. This online retailer stands out for its virtual and home try-on options, extensive range of styles and colors, and commitment to social responsibility. For every pair purchased, Warby Parker donates a pair to someone in need. They offer classic, sunglasses, blue light blockers, light responsive, and even contact lenses.
Upon signing up, Warby Parker will send you five different pairs to try on at home for five days. This trial period comes with non-prescription lenses, allowing you to focus on the fit, feel, and style. Additionally, Warby Parker has a free Virtual Try-on app that uses augmented reality to show you how the glasses would look on your face. Their prices for prescription glasses are highly competitive, starting at $95.
Glasses USA: Best Online Store for Kids’ Glasses
For those looking to buy glasses for kids, Glasses USA is the ideal online store. Along with a wide range of options for adults, Glasses USA offers glasses specifically designed for children. They have a return window of 14 days and a 100% money-back guarantee. Their selection includes classic, sunglasses, readers, blue light blockers, transition lenses, and even contacts.
Glasses USA features over 10,000 total combinations to choose from and offers popular brands such as Ray-Ban, Prada, Versace, and Gucci. However, it’s important to note that Glasses USA does not provide sizing samples for try-on purposes. But with their virtual try-on option, you can still get a good idea of how the glasses will look on you.
EyeBuyDirect: Best Budget-Friendly Online Store
If you’re looking for budget-friendly options, EyeBuyDirect is the perfect online store to buy glasses. Their prices start at an incredibly affordable $13 and peak around the $200-$300 range. EyeBuyDirect emphasizes high-quality frames and lenses and offers a 14-day, no-questions-asked full refund policy. They provide a virtual try-on tool that accurately represents how the glasses will look on your face.
The website is fast, simple, and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and find the perfect pair of glasses. EyeBuyDirect also offers sun protectant and blue light blocker lenses for nearly all frames. For those new to online glasses shopping, EyeBuyDirect is an excellent entry point.
Lensabl: Best Online Store with a Vision Plan
Lensabl is a great online store for prescription glasses, contacts, and blue-light options. What sets Lensabl apart is its annual vision plan, which offers savings of up to 70%. The plans can include glasses and contacts or glasses alone. If you prefer not to enroll in the annual vision plan, Lensabl still offers a broad selection for one-time purchases.
With Lensabl, you can choose the type of lens and lens material that suits your needs. They provide free standard shipping, a 30-day risk-free return policy, and a 12-month warranty. While Lensabl does not offer a try-on option for frames, they excel in customer service, according to various consumer feedback.
Liingo Eyewear: Best Online Store for Trying On
Liingo Eyewear is a relatively new online company that offers a unique one-time sign-up bonus for new customers. Like other online stores, Liingo has a virtual try-on tool to help you find the perfect fit. Additionally, they offer a 60-day guarantee on the glasses you choose. Liingo also provides an option to select five frames to try on at home for five days, allowing you to find the perfect pair.
Liingo Eyewear offers a range of glasses, sunglasses, contacts, and blue light blockers. Their frames are on the more expensive side, with prices ranging from $79 to $139. However, Liingo’s notable advantage is their two-month return window, which is longer compared to other online glasses retailers.
Choosing the Right Online Store
With so many options to choose from, selecting the right online store to buy glasses can be overwhelming. Here is a breakdown of the important factors to consider for each online glasses store:
| 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 contacts |
| Glasses USA | $53-$200 | Virtual | Classic, sunglasses, readers, blue light blockers, kids’ glasses, and more |
| EyeBuyDirect | $13-$300 | Virtual try-on tool | Classic, progressive, reading, transition, sunglasses, and more |
| 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 |
Why Buy Glasses Online?
Buying glasses online offers a seamless and user-friendly experience. Although it may seem risky to purchase prescription glasses online without trying them on, many online stores offer try-on periods and flexible return policies. With the convenience of home try-ons and virtual tools, buying glasses online can be even easier than purchasing in person.
Insurance and Alternative Online Stores
Most online stores accept insurance payments, so you can still take advantage of your vision benefits. Stores like Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect, and Lensabl accept insurance, while Glasses USA and Liingo Eyewear accept FSA/HSA money.
While we have covered the top online stores to buy glasses in this article, there are other alternatives to explore as well. Some additional online stores you can consider include Zenni Optical, Coastal, and FramesDirect.
In conclusion, buying glasses online no longer needs to be a daunting task. With the options provided by these online retailers, you can choose the best store based on your preferences, budget, and try-on requirements. Whether it’s Warby Parker’s wide range of styles, Glasses USA’s options for kids’ glasses, EyeBuyDirect’s budget-friendly prices, Lensabl’s vision plan, or Liingo Eyewear’s variety of try-on options, these online stores have you covered. Happy shopping!
How We Selected These Stores
We chose these online stores based on customer reviews, price range, styles offered, and ease of use. Our selection was also influenced by our own experience with some of these online glasses stores. The factors most important to us were:
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Try-On Options: We focused on stores that offered different try-on options such as virtual try-ons or at-home programs. Trying on glasses is essential to find the perfect fit.
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Styles and Lenses: We considered stores that offered a wide variety of frames styles and lens options, including transition, blue light blockers, readers, and more.
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Price Points: We included stores with competitive price points, ensuring there is something for every budget. Additionally, we considered return windows to give you enough time to make the right decision.
