These Are the Best Places to Buy Glasses Online and Try Them at Home (2023)

Reviewed & Approved

Warby Parker offers eye exams in-store, at-home try-on, and glasses in a variety of colors and styles. For budget-friendly glasses, we'd recommend EyeBuyDirect.

We chose Warby Parker as our top pick because the brand offers at-home try-on, eye exams in store, and glasses in a wide variety of colors and styles. Before even asking you to commit to purchasing a pair, the retailer will send up to five pairs to your front door free of cost. You then have five days to try out the selected glasses before either sending them back or keeping them for yourself.

The business model, which started at the company’s inception in 2010, works and customers rave about how seamless it is for them to try on glasses from the comfort of their own home. Still not convinced? Warby Parker provides hundreds of affordable styles that are updated frequently as trends evolve. The site even offers a quiz you can take to assist in picking a style.

With hundreds of name brand and designer options to choose from, GlassesUSA makes it hard for you not to walk away with frames in your shopping cart. Top designers from on the site include Ray-Ban, Prada, Gucci, Michael Kors, and Versace–all of which are often sold at a discounted price.

If designer frames aren’t for you or your budget, don’t worry. GlassesUSA also offers hundreds of affordable styles to choose from that will fit your personal needs. Glasses with lenses included start as low as $38, making it one of the more affordable places to shop.

Shopping online for eyeglasses can be a nerve-wracking experience because you’re unable to try styles on right then and there to best know what works for you. LensCrafters is a safe bet as an online shop because many of its styles are similar to what you would find in stores.

The retailer also carries a range of designer brands–such as Oakley, Giorgio Armani, Bulgari, and Ray-Ban–at discounted prices that follow current trends, so you know you’ll get the top styles. Best part is that LensCrafters offers a free, 30-day return policy, making it easy for you to send a pair back if they don’t suit your specific needs.

Selecting affordable glasses is not always easy, as the frames alone can have a hefty price tag even before your add in your prescription lens. EyeBuyDirect makes shopping online for glasses easy and most importantly, inexpensive.

Frames start as low as $6 for the retailer depending on what style you select. But be aware, this does not include the prescription lens you will need to go with your frames. EyeBuyDirect says their glasses end up costing a customer an average $70 for both the frames and prescription lens. So whether you’re on a budget or looking for an inexpensive back-up pair, EyeBuyDirect offers a variety of options.

DIFF Eyewear has become known for its statement sunglasses that are guaranteed to earn you compliments when out and about. Also, the designer brand is more affordable than others, with sunglasses starting as low as $89.

As a fashion-forward brand, DIFF Eyewear offers frames in all sorts of shapes–from cat eye to aviator to oversized–that will best suit your face. If you’re looking for other ways to protect your eyes, the brand also offers a wide range of blue light glasses for those who stare at a computer or phone screen for a majority of their work or school day.

Buying glasses online can be a risk with an inability to determine exactly how they will fit on your face prior to purchasing. Luckily, Liingo Eyewear makes it easy for you to try on and return glasses at your leisure. Similar to Warby Parker, the company also offers a try-on program where it will send multiple styles directly to your door. A helpful quiz can also assist in style selection if you’re unsure which pair to choose.

Once the glasses arrive, the company offers a 60-Day Delight Guarantee Policy, meaning you have two months to test and return the product with no extra cost. Although Liingo lacks the larger selection offered by other retailers, its flexible return policy makes it easy to try glasses without any worries about returning them.

Coastal’s global mission is to provide glasses to not only those who can afford them, but those who cannot or are without access to vision care. The company runs a Buy One, Give One program in collaboration with Essilor Vision Foundation. For every pair of glasses someone purchases, the company donates a pair globally to someone in need.

That’s only one plus to shopping through Coastal. The retailer also offers hundreds of styles for men and women–including name-brand designers like Ray-Ban, Tory Burch, and the Brooks Brothers. Besides all these benefits, pricing is also incredibly affordable.The company’s more basic frames, without the prescription lens, can cost you as low as $9.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a retailer with hundreds of options and a seamless system to try out the frames, we recommend Warby Parker (view at Warby Parker). If you want more trendsetting frames that are still affordable, we recommend GlassesUSA (view at GlassesUSA).

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you need a prescription to buy glasses online?

  Yes, a prescription is necessary to buy eyeglasses online if you’re looking to assist with any vision problems you might have. Glasses are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not one size fits all,” Dr. Layman says. “Every pair of eyeglasses must be custom fitted to not only comfortably suit your face, but also to meet your particular prescriptive needs.” Eye exams are an important tool for people to utilize so they can know the prescription that will address vision problems. Otherwise, side effects from wearing glasses with the wrong prescription could happen. “Headaches, eye strain, and nausea can result from wearing reading glasses that are not a correct prescription. That’s why doctors of optometry work with patients to not only pinpoint the correct prescription, but also identify the right type and fit,” Dr. Layman says.

• How often should you replace your glasses?

  How often you should replace your glasses can oftentimes depend on how the frames hold up through constant use. “Sometimes a pair of glasses can last five, six years if they are a good frame, they clean them properly,” Dr. Armandi says. “But people should have regular eye exams regardless of if their eyeglasses are in good shape.” The American Optometric Association recommends for adults ages 18 to 64 to receive an eye exam at least once every two years if they are asymptomatic or low risk. High risk individuals in that age group should get an eye exam annually. Adults ages 65 years and older should get an eye exam at least once every year. “Typically, most people will need new glasses when their prescription changes,” Dr. Layman says.

  Other reasons why glasses should be replaced include if they have any scratches or dents. “They could be affecting your vision in ways you aren't consciously aware of and potentially lead to eye strain,” Dr. Layman says. Trouble cleaning the glasses could also indicate that you should purchase a new pair. “The coatings on glasses can break down over time, leaving a film that makes glasses difficult to clean or even blurry,” he adds.
  

What the Experts Say

“Regardless of where a patient chooses to purchase, the foundation for having glasses that work well for them is really to ensure that they receive a comprehensive eye examination to assess their eye health before making a purchase. The consequences of making an incorrect or uninformed purchase could cost patients more time and money and have health implications in the long run.” — Dr. Layman