The Best Places to Buy Glasses Online of 2023

Glasses are a necessary part of daily life for millions of people across the world. Prescription lenses allow us to see clearly and overcome vision challenges such as astigmatism, far- and near-sightedness, and other ocular complaints. Wearing eyeglasses is also a fantastic way to express personal style.

If you’ve been on the fence about buying your prescription eyeglasses online rather than purchasing directly from your eye doctor, look no further. We tested eight of the top Internet eyeglass retailers to determine the best online glasses.

Using specific criteria to evaluate both the purchasing experience and the products over several weeks, we found EyeBuyDirect is the best place to buy glasses online. They offered everything the other retailers had, but at a wider price point. Their website, policies, and try-on services ranked consistently high. Their glasses met the expectations that the virtual try-on set, and performed well overall when we tested them.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The wide selection of glasses helped make EyeBuysDirect our choice for the best place to buy online eyeglasses.

Best Overall

Eyebuydirect

EyeBuyDirect has all the benefits of all the glasses retailers we tested but at a huge range of prices. From recognizable luxury brands to their own brands at lower price tiers, users can find a frame they love. We also love that they carry their own sustainable line, called 5 to See, which are made from ocean plastics.

The glasses arrived extremely quickly, and their packaging, while being barebones, displays a commitment to sustainability and works well with their new product lines.

One of the best aspects of EyeBuyDirect is the sizing information provided with the product descriptions. Rather than guessing sizes by looking at pictures online, EyeBuyDirect ensures that you know exactly which sizes and dimensions a pair of frames is available in. In particular, they carry extra-large frames and custom frames that can be made to size, which is a level of size inclusivity few of the other retailers matched.

The virtual try-on feature with EyeBuyDirect was one of the best we used, even compared to the Warby Parker app and other similar services. You can use a camera in real-time to examine how glasses frames will appear on your face, and you can even move around to see your image from different angles. It was shockingly compatible with my basic camera on my computer, with no lag.

EyeBuyDirect knocked the ordering process out of the park. The glasses arrived early, they looked and fit exactly as expected based on the virtual try-on, and inputting my prescription was extremely easy.

Pros

Huge selection of frames
Includes many popular designers
Fast Delivery

Cons

Short return window

Buy now at Eyebuydirect

Credit: Warby Parker

The Warby Parker glasses are both durable and stylish.

Best Try-On Features

Warby Parker

If you’re willing to pay a little extra for your glasses and you’re looking for all the bells and whistles you can possibly get from ordering online, Warby Parker is the way to go.

Warby Parker’s actual glasses tested best out of all the brands we tried, ranking highest in terms of resemblance to the original photo, overall durability, and quality. However, it’s the online amenities like the app and the preference quizzes which make the service worth checking out.

Warby Parker offers at-home try-on for up to five pairs of glasses, and their stellar app also allows you to virtually try on glasses through your phone. This feature also lets you quickly swipe through similar frame options to compare multiple pairs. This is a huge advantage over most try-on features that only show you one frame at a time.

You can order your glasses directly from the app, but Warby Parker also has brick and mortar locations, if you want the in-person customer service experience or need small adjustments made.

If you’re at all daunted by Warby Parker’s prices, you can also take advantage of a payment plan through their ordering process, or pursue reimbursement through your vision insurance plan.

Pros

Great at-home try-on program
Excellent mobile app
User-friendly web interface

Cons

Small selection of brands and sizes

Buy now at Warby Parker

Other Online Glasses We Tested

Firmoo

Firmoo carries prescription glass frames, prescription sunglasses, progressive lenses, and blue-light glasses at low price points. The glasses I received from Firmoo were my favorites, style-wise, but their try-on options and interface were middle of the road. That said, they had a wide assortment of glasses and plenty of ways to refine your search. Ultimately, we were pretty pleased with Firmoo, and would recommend checking them out if you want a similar ordering experience and web matrix to EyeBuyDirect.

Pros

Home try-on program
Specific sizing
High-quality glasses

Cons

Less-than-pleasing packaging

Buy now at Firmoo

GlassesUSA

GlassesUSA carries prescription glasses, frames, sunglasses, and contacts. They carry designer brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, and similar to many of the retailers listed, they offer tools and filters to narrow your search.

GlassesUSA offers an app with a Prescription Scanner intended to help you assess your prescription, but corrective lens prescriptions can be tricky and specific, so we recommend using the prescription given by your doctor, instead. When I tried the Prescription Scanner, it did not accurately reflect my actual prescription, and if you have a prescription in only one eye (as I do) it fails to produce a prescription that you can actually use to purchase your glasses.

While we enjoyed GlassesUSA when we first tested them (I wear GlassesUSA frames every day), the glasses we received for test had slightly discolored lenses. They might have ranked a bit higher if the lens wasn’t so distinctly different than expected.

Pros

Fast shipping
Many frame options

Cons

Virtual Mirror isn’t helpful
Possible discoloration on glasses

Buy now at GlassesUSA

Liingo

Liingo, much like many of the other retailers on this list, offers fixed prices for prescription glasses with various frames, add-ons, and more. They have great packaging for their frames and, like Warby Parker, offer a program that lets users pick out five frames to try on at home.

Liingo scored right in the middle of the lineup. Their selection of sizes and styles is lacking compared to our top picks, but they have moderate price points, and performed well throughout both rounds of testing.

Pros

Gorgeous packaging
Consistent prices

Cons

Moderate selection

Buy now at Liingo

Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical offers low prices for frames, prescription glasses, sunglasses, children’s glasses and sunglasses, and more. They have celebrity collections, including a large collection by Rashida Jones, and a fairly easy ordering process.

The retailer was my college glasses go-to, but after more formally reviewing Zenni Optical we determined that the quality of the glasses reflects their low prices. Their virtual try-on feature is skippable and their website is fairly negligible compared to other retailers we tested.

Zenni is great if you’re in a pinch, or if you’re looking to buy trendy glasses that you can swap out on a day-to-day basis. They’re also a good choice if you have kids who are looking for trendy frame styles.

Pros

Fast shipping
Trendy styles

Cons

Low quality
Few online amenities

Buy now at Zenni Optical

Yesglasses

Yesglasses carries prescription glasses, sunglasses, and children’s glasses. They have a generous number of trendy frames to choose from, but unfortunately the glasses we received weren’t standouts.

When we first reviewed Yesglasses, we discovered the frames didn’t reflect the image on the website when they arrived, and this was still the case this time around, although to a lesser extent.

Yesglasses claims that they offer “free” 1.61 lenses with your purchase, indicating that lenses are included in the price of the frames up to a certain lens index. My prescription is high enough that it was recommended I upgrade to more high index lenses, taking me out of the “free” bracket. If you have a heavy-duty prescription or prefer a high-quality lens, this feature of Yesglasses product won’t necessarily be helpful.

While Yesglasses does carry eyewear for kids, they don’t really have enough styles to make it a go-to stop for children’s eyewear.

Pros

Wide selection

Cons

Short return window
Try-on feature not helpful

Buy now at Yesglasses

Bonlook

Bonlook has a more boutique feel than any retailer on this list, which made it slightly difficult to compare with the other services. Bonlook offers its own brand of eyeglass frames at moderate to high price points. They have several celebrity collections and collaborations in addition to their own lines.

Bonlook is a great choice if you enjoy luxurious products and glasses, but their online features were lacking. The glasses we received were well-made and durable, but we wished more attention had been paid to the challenges inherent with online shopping.

Most notably, I received several emails from Bonlook requesting I submit my prescription information again, and was eventually forced to get my prescription verified by Bonlook before they would begin creating my lenses.

I also found the method for inputting and measuring your pupillary distance, or P.D., slightly clunky. If you have time to spare, they’re worth checking out, but if you’re looking for fast delivery then they wouldn’t be our first pick. It took almost a month for the glasses to arrive after we placed our order.

Pros

Fantastic packaging
Luxurious products

Cons

Small selection
Too many hurdles while ordering

Buy now at Bonlook

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Choosing the right pair of eyeglasses when you’re shopping online takes a few extra steps than picking one up at your eye doctor’s office.

What to Consider Before Buying Prescription Glasses Online

It’s important to have some criteria in mind before you start shopping for glasses. Knowing the length of your nose bridge, your prescription, your pupillary distance (the measurement in millimeters between the center of one pupil to the center of the other), and your general face shape will prevent you from being disappointed when the glasses arrive.

If you haven’t had an eye exam in a while, some stores will be able to verify aspects of your prescription. However, we recommend going to an eye doctor and ensuring that your prescription is up-to-date before you start shopping. Some online glasses retailers won’t produce your lenses until they have a prescription printout from a doctor or they verify with your doctor that your prescription information is correct.

In addition, knowing your own shopping habits will make the process much easier. If you’re willing to wait for a home try-on program and prefer to have a tactile experience before purchasing, keep that in mind as you’re checking out the sites we reviewed in this guide.

If you’re looking for trendier pieces at low price points, having realistic expectations for what you’ll receive will make narrowing down your buying options easier. Likewise, if you know that you want a more durable product that lasts, spending more money on glasses from brands like Warby Parker might suit you better.

While Ordering Your Eyeglasses

Have your prescription ready to go, and ensure that if you need glasses quickly you keep an eye on shipping rates and timelines before purchasing. We found that most retailers take about two weeks for your order to arrive.

When Your Glasses Arrive

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckaar

Wearing your new eyeglasses for a day will help you decide if it’s the right pair for you.

Ensure that wearing your glasses throughout the day doesn’t trouble you, and be sure that the lenses aren’t discolored or over-magnify your eyes to the point that it’s noticeable (if you prefer).

If you find that you’re unsatisfied with your purchase, be sure to ship your glasses back to the retailer within their preferred return window so that you can access a full refund, store credit, or a replacement pair.

How We Tested Online Eyeglasses

The Tester

Hi, I’m Madison Durham. I’ve been testing glasses for Reviewed for about a year now, and I’m very familiar with the ins and outs of glasses testing (and wearing). It should also be noted that I love glasses. I love looking vaguely academic and nerdy in my day-to-day (read: in my home, in front of my computer), and glasses play a large role in my personal style, while also allowing me to actually see.

I use glasses in my personal and professional life on a daily basis, and over the years I’ve developed my own particular set of criteria, especially when it comes to tiny details like lens discoloration, materials, etc.

The Tests

After researching online, I chose eight retailers based on their breadth of selection, how easy it was to order from their websites, and what other features they offered including apps, accessories, internal try-on features, and more. Before we began testing, I spent a lot of time researching the frame options available at each retailer, combing through their selection, and seeing what was available.

I worked with Reviewed’s senior scientist to develop a set of testing criteria and questions to ask. Things we looked for included: What are the available styles and brands of glasses? How easy is it to input your prescription? Did the frames that arrived look like the images on the website? Do the glasses fit based on your understanding of their description from the website? Would you wear them again, and could you wear them every day?

When buying online, it’s important that a company provides transparency and ease of access to information, so we weighed the online features heavily alongside the actual glasses when the packages arrived. We tested our glasses over several weeks, wearing them while working, while reading, and while out and about.