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It's no longer slim pickings when it comes to buying prescription eyeglasses online these days. Dozens of online optical retailers digitally shelve stylish frames aplenty, with tons of features to filter through, like blue light lenses to progressive specs. Many brands even offer the added convenience of free at-home try-ons and virtual fittings, so you can find the right fit from your own time.
Based on our own testing and advice from optometrists, these are the best places to buy prescription glasses online based on variety, prices, quality, shipping and more.
To provide a comprehensive evaluation of online prescription glasses, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute convened a panel of testers with diverse eyecare requirements, spanning from readers to progressives. This panel collectively purchased 20 pairs from various online sites. Additionally, two licensed opticians and clinical professors at SUNY College of Optometry — Andrea P. Thau, O.D. and Nancy Kirsch — meticulously assessed the glasses for prescription accuracy. Furthermore, we consulted eye care specialist Melissa Sherman, O.D., to address any lingering inquiries regarding what factors to consider, available at the end of this guide.
For more options, check out our guides to the best smart glasses and the best sunglasses, and read our review of the best eye drops if you're experiencing dryness.
GlassesUSA stands out among optical e-tailers for its vast selection of affordable no-frills frames to familiar name brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, Prada and more. Despite the sheer number of options (1,438!), we found it easy to wade through thanks to filters that narrowed the search to preferred specs.
"I especially like that you can like a bunch of different options then go back to compare them," says one GH tester. Its virtual try-on lets you upload a photo directly to the website and see each frame, while some frames let you see with a live video. Our testers cited it as "more realistic than other sites."
Then, fill in or upload your prescription. You'll also need to know your pupillary distance — which you can measure yourself or with the help of a friend, but an optometrist is the most precise route. Note that you cannot measure PD through the GlassesUSA website, though other optical e-tailers give the option. Shipping took our testers roughly six to 11 days to receive their pair.
With exclusive promo code "HEARST50," you can shop 50% off select frames.
Starting at just $6, EyeBuyDirect's online glasses collection is much more affordable than other options out there. It's great for a backup pair or for grabbing multiple pairs that suit different occasions. With about 1,589 frame options, EyeBuyDirect offers the second most number of frames among the online prescription glasses stores we researched. Opt for lens upgrades like anti-reflective coating and water-repellent coating, which are about $10 each. All you need is your most recent lens prescription from an optometrist.
Once a frame catches your eye, simply click "try me on" under the photo of the frames to snap a photo to view it on your face. Testers called it "intuitive" thanks to its big text and images and enjoyed the video recording feature that allowed people who can't see without their glasses a closer look at their try-on. Our surveys found that testers got their orders as early as seven days.
The frames earned mixed reviews: "I like the shape, they feel sturdy for the price and the lenses look good." Another GH tester adds: "They are tight above my ears, and they give a different vibe on my face than I imagined.” While the frames are low-priced, just keep in mind that you may need to pay additional fees for thinner lenses if you have a higher prescription.
Warby Parker, a coveted seller in the online glasses space, offers sharp-looking glasses running the gamut from $95 to up to $195. Find the style that suits you by selecting five frames to try on at home — for free. Our experts found that there are about 211 women's frames and 191 men's frames, with some overlap, to choose from. "It was easy to navigate and see different styles of frames," according to one tester.
In addition to the at-home trial, testers raved about the "impressive and realistic" virtual try-on. One enjoyed that it makes a size recommendation for your face (narrow, medium, etc.) and highlighted that it gave a better idea of whether the frame's color and design suited them. A pain point for testers was the lack of frame individuality, with some noting that the pairs didn't feel as high quality as designer frames.
When one tester had a hiccup with their pair, "Warby replaced them for free, and their customer service is quite responsive so that's a huge bonus!" The online glasses brand also has various storefronts across the country, so you can get them fitted in person if you live near one. It's a simple process that only requires an appointment ahead of time. Although your receipt can grow in expense with the more add-ons you choose (like blue light filtering), Warby Parker still offers prices competitive with traditional eyeglasses stores and is an in-network provider for some insurance plans.
First and foremost, Zenni Optical has a TON of options for online glasses in its collection — the most out of all the e-tailers on this list. (We're talking 1,676 frames.) No need to feel overwhelmed, though. Testers found the frame-picking process painless, with one saying it was easy to "figure out the correct size based on the dimensions." Meanwhile, its virtual try-on earned claps for its ease of use. "[It] made me feel like I could make my decision without regret. I liked how easy it was to put in all of your lens information and prescription info.”
Prices range from under $10 to about $40 for the basics, but if you need to upgrade the lenses or choose add-ons, plan to spend a bit more. Plus, add a personal touch by engraving your name inside the arm for an additional $2. GH testers had their pairs arrive within 10 and 12 days, respectively.
For prescriptions that require stronger prisms, keep in mind that one tester with 5.5 prisms added that they needed better strength. Another tester needed a tighter fit adjustment while also noting that the frames felt flimsier than other frames they've tried.
Liingo narrows down its impressive stock of original prescription eyeglasses online by sorting frames by face shape, frame shape, size, color and material. Every style includes free premium RX polycarbonate lenses, meaning glasses are thinner, lighter and claim to be up to 12 times more impact-resistant than traditional lenses. Similar to Warby Parker, this online glasses store can send five styles for a free at-home try-on, giving you five days to mull it over. Offering the speediest shipping time, Liingo delivered pairs to our testers in six and seven days, respectively.
If you're unsure what lens type works best for your prescription, Liingo has trained opticians at the ready who will make specific recommendations just for you. Conflicted about what size to order? Try the Find My Fit tool, enter the size of your current glasses and find Liingo styles that match up. Its face-scanning tool also accesses your device's camera to measure your face and recommend styles that fit. Keep in mind that the try-on isn't foolproof. "They don't 100% look like/fit the way they did in the virtual try-on, which is a bit disappointing," writes one tester. "I was hoping that they'd be a bit smaller like the preview showed, but the lenses are huge."
On the other hand, a tester raved about its sturdiness and mentioned that the prescription lenses matched up well with their vision. In the likelihood of a frame adjustment, Liingo reimburses you up to $25 at any optical shop you choose. One tester found their pair had a seamless fit, not requiring a readjustment: "They rest comfortably and snugly on my ears and nose.”
If you're still wary about ordering glasses online, you can always play it safe with a classic retailer like Lenscrafters. You'll find the same types and brands of glasses that you would normally see at the brick-and-mortar, only from the comfort of your home instead. Its brands span the likes of Ray-Ban and Oakley to Prada and Burberry. While one tester had mishaps with the virtual try-on — they couldn't retake their photo and it didn't fit proportionally — another tester reported that their pair looked and fit exactly like their digital try-on. "I have worn them nonstop since I got them! The quality is extremely high," says a tester.
As far as lenses go, the process is pretty similar to the other options on this list. You can choose from a variety of lenses and add-ons — blue light filtering and thickness — that'll add up depending on your needs. For example, the anti-reflective coating add-on costs a nearly $60 surcharge. On the bright side, it's one of the few optical e-tailers on this list that is in-network for select insurance plans.
Another con: Shipping took 11 days for prescription pairs, which is about four days longer than the brand's projected window. Buying from LensCrafters online is a bit expensive, but if your frames ever need to be adjusted, you can easily pop into the nearest store anytime for adjustments.
Ditch the plain black Clark Kent frames for ones with a bit of personality — tagged with cute, clever names like The Wanda and The Twain. From astrology prints to St. Patrick's Day-themed frames, Pair Eyewear has a vast collection of fun, youthful "tops," or interchangeable design pieces for the top of your eyeglasses, that compensate for the smaller frame selection. "The additional magnetic frame covers offer many different looks. The most versatile specs ever!" says one tester.
Some found the site less easy to navigate and wanted more instruction. "It was all on one page and should have changed screens for each step," they write. "It needed to describe what a topper is. That made it confusing and hard to navigate. I easily put a few of the same frame in the cart unintentionally." Otherwise, testers found "the glasses are excellent quality and [I] feel great wearing them."
Another person rated the virtual try-on highly because it rendered the potential frames on top of their old ones for a more accurate fit. Our testers received their respective glasses pairs within the 10- to 14-day shipping projection: One got their readers in seven days, while the other got their prescription glasses on the tail end of the window.
Want to refresh your go-to look? Founded in Bondi Beach, Australia, in 2012, Bailey Nelson offers a breadth of cool eyewear styles — about 116, to be exact. According to their site, each frame is unique and designed in-house to keep up with current trends. That doesn't mean quality isn't top of mind, though. They offer a range of lenses for different eye preferences and needs, such as scratch resistance, anti-reflection coating, smudge resistance, UV protection and tinted/polarized options.
Bailey Nelson impressed testers with its top-notch quality, from the metal material to the nosepieces to the actual lenses. "I'm honestly shocked by how well they fit, especially after choosing them online with no real try-on," writes one tester. "Typically, it takes a bit of adjusting to get glasses to fit my face correctly, but thanks to the sturdy nosepieces on this pair, they stay in place and fit nicely without adjustment! The style is super fun, and the glasses are just beautiful overall."
The virtual try-on wasn't seamless for everyone, however: One tester reports that it took a few refreshes to locate their face. As for when you can expect your prescription, the brand claims that you'll get your glasses within 10 to 15 business days, depending on your order. However, it took about 19 days for one of our testers who lives in the U.S. Another tester noted issues with their prescription. "It's as though my point of sight is off a bit, and my eyes want to wander from the center. I want to continue to wear them to see if my eyes can break into them. If not, I still will use these frames and get my doctor to switch out the lenses.”
Touted as designed by athletes for athletes, these lightweight performancewear eyeglasses rest comfortably without slipping or bouncing. The prescription glasses have rubber grips at the ends, and the frames come with grippy nose pads to ensure a better, more secure fit. It's got a slimmer selection of 17 frames, however.
A few testers who ordered progressive online prescription glasses found their pairs to be lightweight and needed no adjustment — they added that the prescription was correct and made it clearer to see both near and far. Prices start relatively high but are a worthy investment if you're an active person or spend much of your time outdoors. Just note that one tester critiqued the lack of a virtual try-on, so they ended up with a pair that wasn't as complementary to their facial attributes.
When glasses serve more of a purpose to you than stellar eyesight, Eyebobs offers roughly 70+ funky, fashionable frames, including geometric shapes. Fine-tune your search with a personalized style quiz that records your face width to shape preference to color palette, then recommends three pairs of glasses, plus a compatibility percentage based on your answers. Frame sizing spans from narrow, average and wide, with a size guide that points you to a more accurate fit.
Its virtual try-on feature (offered on both mobile and desktop) worked well for testers, but Eyebobs only offers the option for select frames. Though the brand offers free two-day shipping on orders $75+, know that made-to-order items take about seven to 10 business days to create. Our tester received a pair of reading glasses after eight days and reported back satisfaction with their quality, while also enjoying the vibrant case options.
Frequently running sales and deals, LensDirect lets you save on high-quality frames. The New York-based company is even offering buy one, get one free single-vision glasses with code "BOGOFUN." Choose from their selection of about 97 eyeglass frames, with many offering virtual try-on features, plus thorough dimensions that help you understand how it will fit your face shape.
Frames can be adjusted in-store at no additional cost. And rather than calling in new frames altogether when your prescription changes, LensDirect offers lens replacements starting at $59. The brand's site says its orders typically take about 10 to 12 business days to ship, and our testers each received their pairs at the 13- and 20-day mark.
Our pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute = did extensive research to find the prime optical e-tailers, starting by putting together a panel of consumer testers with a range of eye care and prescription needs — from readers to blue-light filters to high-index lenses. We also sent some of the glasses we ordered to eye experts Kirsch and Dr. Thau, who checked the accuracy of the prescriptions and the conditions of the frames.
Each tester was assigned one eyewear brand out of 11 retailers to order from online. A total of 20 pairs were ordered, ranging from readers to progressives. We then asked testers to record their shopping experience. That included rating each service based on features like virtual try-ons, style options and more. Our experts took a detailed look at the different store's return policies, insurance options, prescription upload process, shipping time and price range to inform our top picks.
Trying out the glasses in real life, testers wore their pairs for a minimum of one full day before giving their final thoughts. Each recorded their impressions of the quality of the glasses and whether they perceived the prescription to be accurate. In determining the overall score, our analysts broke down the surveys by ease of use, performance and satisfaction.
About a $70 to $150 budget should generally buy you a solid pair of eyeglasses from direct-to-consumer brands. "If you are someone who rarely wears glasses but needs something for occasional driving, you may not want to spend as much money on this as someone who wears progressives full time," explains Dr. Sherman, the Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Eye Center of New York.
✔️ Keep a current prescription on hand. Get your eyes checked once a year by an eye care professional who will look for changes in your eyesight as well as check for cataracts and diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. "Eye health is the most important part of achieving sharp vision for your entire lifetime," says Dr. Sherman. Keep in mind that not all prescription glasses can be filled online. "Patients with high astigmatism or patients needing progressives should buy their glasses in person to ensure that the lenses are centered in front of their eyes; this is important for achieving optimal vision," says Dr. Sherman.
✔️ Measure your pupillary distance. "The frame must sit appropriately on the face, the lenses must be fabricated perfectly and the lenses centered appropriately, all factors that are very challenging to do online," says Dr. Thau. You'll need to know your pupillary distance, a.k.a. the space between your eyes. There are some systems for measuring this online, but your eye doctor will be able to get a more accurate number. People who already have an idea of what kind of glasses they like can look at the measurements of their current frames (often printed on the inside of an arm) to find a similar-fitting pair.
✔️ Select your preferred lens type and add-ons. From blue-light-filtering add-ons to high-index lenses, you can customize your glasses to suit your specific needs.
✔️ Read the fine print. "Patients should also consider the remake policy for online purchases; sometimes errors occur, and in this case, the patient should know if redoing the lens will be covered by the online retailer," says Dr. Sherman. Don't forget to check if your vision insurance will cover anything — you can even pay with an HSA or FSA card on some of these websites.
Our pros recommend that those who need progressive prescriptions avoid ordering their glasses from an online retailer without physical storefronts or in-person adjustment options. Luckily, some retailers listed above, like Lenscrafters and Warby Parker, include free adjustments and others such as Liingo offer reimbursements, while Roka scored high among testers with progressive prescriptions.
Three out of five of our testers who ordered progressive prescriptions were not able to wear their glasses because the fitting heights of the lenses were incorrect — a crucial measurement usually determined by in-office opticians or doctors of optometry who measure and fit glasses to the face, according to Dr. Thau. "The height determines where the distance, intermediate and reading zones will be situated," says licensed optician Divya Sood. "If measured incorrectly, the glasses will result in poor vision. It is also possible that the wearer experiences headaches, malaise and nausea."
Single prescriptions are not guaranteed to be made correctly, either. Two testers with single-vision prescriptions had issues seeing comfortably through their lenses. Some also complained about their frames fitting too tight, the arms being too long and the frames sitting crooked.
Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler led testing for this story. She regularly conducts hands-on testing and analysis of products for the GH Institute, including running the latest Lab tests and surveys on online prescription glasses. Chiara recruited Dr. Andrea P. Thau, Assistant Clinical Professor Nancy Kirsch and licensed optician Divya Sood to review the prescription lenses in our tests. In addition to her experience at GH, her background as a cosmetic chemist includes scrutinizing product claims.
Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin wrote this story. She regularly collaborates with Lab experts to translate their testing and data analysis into comprehensive product guides. She also consulted eye care professionals Dr. Thau and Dr. Melissa Sherman to answer the most frequently asked questions about online prescription glasses.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
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