8 Best Places to Buy Affordable Prescription Glasses Online

Like with most things, shopping online for prescription eyeglasses has become the new norm thanks to the convenience of being able to try on frames virtually or at home. Now that there are so many options, finding the right pair of cheap prescription glasses online may feel overwhelming. 

Because you should expect to replace your glasses every one to three years, it’s worthwhile to find affordable online eyeglasses. The good news is that “affordable” doesn’t have to mean “cheaply made” – sites like GlassesUSA offer a wide variety of brand-name frames at affordable prices. And you especially want to avoid overspending if you like to change up your style every so often. 

But with the price of everything going up, can you still find a deal on prescription eyeglasses? Lucky for you, we’ve got a list of the best affordable prescription eyeglasses online.

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Why Buy Prescription Glasses Online?

Buying prescription eyeglasses online is convenient and often cheaper than buying in-store because there’s less overhead costs, although some online retailers also have in-person stores.

In a 2022 survey conducted by Consumer Reports, people buying glasses online paid a median of $111, while those shopping in-store spent $215.

And if you’re afraid buying cheap glasses online might imply that you’ll be wearing tacky, cheap frames, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised. The beauty of affordable glasses is you can buy multiple pairs when you shop online.

Once you decide to find that stylish set of frames, get ready for a lot of options from a lot of different websites. Most offer a virtual try-on so you can see what the lens will look like on your face before you buy. You can submit a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor, but some sites even offer tele-optometry appointments so you can get your prescription where you order your frames.

If you’re new to online shopping for eyeglasses, keep in mind most prices you’ll see are for both frames and lenses (assuming you have a relatively low prescription that doesn’t require thicker lenses). But you might be charged extra for special coatings, progressive lenses (those that function as both reading and distance glasses) or other add-ons, so keep that in mind.

How We Chose the Best Affordable Eyeglasses Sites

We evaluated lenses based on the prices, style options and return policy. All of the options that made our list accepted some health insurance plans or Health Saving Accounts/Flexible Spending Accounts — or both. Some also let you use Buy Now Pay Later plans like Klarna, but be sure to check which types of payments the site accepts before you start shopping.

We’ve updated this list for 2025 with information from the companies’ websites as well as online reviews. In our analysis of reviews, we focused on the value and reliability of the glasses and providers, not just the lowest sticker price.

Best Affordable Online Eyeglasses Retailers 

We tested and researched dozens of popular sites. These eight offer the best mix of affordability, quality, and customer satisfaction.

GlassesUSA: Best for Designer Frames at Discount Prices

• Starting price for single vision: $40
• Starting price for progressive lens: $94
• Pros: Large selection of designer brands, frequent sales, excellent warranty
• Cons: Some upsells on coatings.
• Best for: Brand-name shoppers seeking savings.

GlassesUSA offers a huge selection (as in thousands of frames) of cheap glasses. Unlike some of the competition, GlassesUSA also offers free shipping and returns, as well as a 365-day warranty.

While many of the glasses here start at around $40 (including lenses), clearance pairs are available for as low as $19.

GlassesUSA often runs promotions, including buy one get one free for eyeglasses and sunglasses. 

Zenni Optical: Best Overall Value for Prescription Glasses

• Starting price for single vision: $7.
• Starting price for progressive lens: $38.
• Pros: Huge selection, low prices.
• Cons: Limited support for complex prescriptions.
• Best for: Price-first shoppers or backup pairs.

Probably one of the cheapest online eyewear stores out there, Zenni sells single-prescription glasses starting at $6.95.

Looking for more options? It also sells affordable prescription sunglasses (starting at $15) and blue light blocking glasses (starting at $24).

You can even buy your frames using your HSA or FSA account, and some of its lenses (under “Rush Delivery”) qualify for three- to five-day shipping.

Despite the crazy-low affordable prices, Zenni lenses are actually still good quality according to customer reviews, and all come with UV protection and an initial 30-day protection plan that replaces broken frames for free.

EyeBuyDirect: Best for Stylish Frames on a Budget

• Starting price for single vision: $6.
• Starting price for progressive lens: $55
• Pros: Trendy designs, frequent BOGO promotions, fast shipping.
• Cons: Shorter return window.
• Best for: Younger, style-conscious buyers.

When you need more than one new pair of glasses, EyeBuyDirect is a great option. This online vendor offers a little bit of everything when it comes to buying glasses online, including its own ultra-affordable, in-house-designed prescription lenses and some of your favorite brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley.

With virtual try-ons, a huge selection, and frames starting at $6, EyeBuyDirect makes it easy to find stylish cheap eyeglasses online.

The company also offers a one-year warranty, which will replace your lenses for free if they break due to defects, and you can return your glasses within the first two weeks for a replacement pair or a full refund. 

Warby Parker: Best Try-Before-You-Buy Experience

• Starting price for single vision: $95
• Starting price for progressive lens: $325
• Pros: At-home try-on kit, physical stores, strong warranty.
• Cons: Not the cheapest, limited discounts.
• Best for: Shoppers who value convenience and brand trust.

If you’re looking for a lot of choices (and the modern convenience of trying on frames at home), you’ll want to check out Warby Parker, a pioneer in buying cheap eyeglasses online. With prescription eyeglasses starting at $95, and a variety of insurance providers accepted (including UnitedHealthcare, BCBS and Spectera among others), Warby makes it easy to find great frames at any budget.

Basic Warby lenses include a scratch-resistant treatment, a moisture-repelling coating and UV protection. Progressive lenses (those that function as both reading and distance glasses) start at $325, while transition lenses (light responsive lenses) cost an additional $125 from the base model.

Warby usually takes five to 10 business days to ship your order, with home try-ons arriving in about five days.

39DollarGlasses: Best Fixed-Price Option

• Starting price for single vision: $39.
• Starting price for progressive lens: $128.
• Pros: Clear pricing, solid quality, free anti-scratch coating.
• Cons: Sewer high-end frames.
• Best for: Simple prescriptions, transparency.

As the name suggests, 39DollarGlasses offers cheap eyeglasses online starting at just $39. But that price isn’t just for frames—it also includes custom prescription lenses with UV protection. Like most online eyewear stores on this list, the company offers a wide variety of specialized lenses from progressive lenses to blue light lenses and transitional lenses.

Besides these basic options, the company also sells sunglasses and provides a re-lens program that allows you to put new lenses in old frames. 39DollarGlasses also offers a variety of ongoing discounts for teachers, first responders and members of the military.

SmartBuyGlasses: Best Mix of Budget and Designer Options

• Starting price for single vision: $7
• Starting price for progressive lens: $119
• Pros: Wide range, frequent global discounts, designer labels.
• Cons: Some premium brands cost more.
• Best for: Bargain hunters wanting flexibility.

SmartBuyGlasses sells a bit of everything, including prescription lenses, sunglasses and even contact lenses. It also offers a steady stream of savings promotions.

With super affordable frames starting at just $7 and a collection of luxury frames starting in the $200 range, there’s something for every budget at SmartBuyGlasses. Besides all the great deals you can score on eyewear, the company also offers a 100-day return policy.

Goggles4u: Best for Kids and Backup Pairs

• Starting price for single vision: $7
• Starting price for progressive lens: $47
• Pros: Fast shipping, frequent deals, kid-friendly frames.
• Cons: Fewer luxury styles and limited features to assist with fitting.
• Best for: Families and quick replacements.

Goggles4u calls itself an “eyewear superstore,” and for good reason. The company offers thousands of cheap eyeglasses online, from reading and progressive lenses to sunglasses and our personal favorite, a huge collection of frames for kids and toddlers (but it doesn’t sell goggles, which seems like a missed opportunity).

The kids’ frames range from toddler pairs for as low as $6.95 to more sophisticated designer frames in the $50 range. The company also has an entire category of glasses called two-day rush, which contains over 700 frames to choose from. 

Pair Eyewear: Best for Interchangeable Frames

• Starting price for single vision: $60 for base, $25 for tops.
• Starting price for progressive lens: $199
• Pros: The magnetic top-frames allow for flexible design without shelling out for additional pairs of glasses.
• Cons: The base cost is slightly higher.
• Best for: Personalization and self-expression.

For those who can’t seem to decide which frames they like best, Pair Eyewear might be the answer to your fashion prayers. The company specializes in ultra-affordable frames (starting at $60, prescription included) that can be used as a base for a variety of “tops,” swappable plastic frames that magnetically attach to the base frame so you can change the overall color and aesthetic of your glasses.

Tops start at $25 and come in over 400 different colors and designs. You can shop tops by color, holiday or even for a special event (like a wedding).

How to Choose the Right Online Eyeglasses

While ordering prescription eyeglasses online is relatively easy, it’s important to understand how to do it correctly to ensure you get glasses that fit your face and lenses that match your prescription.

How to Read Your Prescription

Some online retailers also have brick-and-mortar locations where you can get an eye exam and order your frames. If you’re purchasing online, you’ll need a prescription from your eye doctor to order your lenses. All the numbers can get a little overwhelming, but all of the sites on our list include an explanation of how to read your prescription. Here are a few abbreviations to help you start deciphering:

• OD: Right eye (It’s technically an abbreviation for “oculus dexter,” which is Latin for “right eye.”)
• OS: Left eye (Another abbreviation of a Latin word: “oculus sinister.”)
• SPH: This is the “sphere,” which indicates the strength of your prescription. The plus sign next to the number means you’re farsighted while a minus sign means you’re nearsighted.
• CYL: The “cylinder” indicates the lens power you need to correct an astigmatism. If it’s blank, you don’t have astigmatism. If you do have a number here, you’ll also have a number under the Axis, which indicates the orientation of your astigmatism.
• ADD: If you see a number next to this, it indicates you need both distance and reading corrections — which typically means you’ll need progressive or multifocal lenses. 
• PRISM and BASE: If you need a prescription for correcting eye alignment issues, you’ll see values next to these.
• PD: The “pupillary distance” is the distance between the center of your pupils, which is measured in millimeters. Many sites have a tool to help you measure your PD at home when you order your frames; they usually recommend using a credit card as your reference point for measuring. However, if you need to measure your PD yourself, you can use a ruler with millimeter marking. You’ll need to look straight into a mirror while holding the ruler and marking the distance between your eyes — it’s best to measure multiple times (and maybe ask someone to help) to make sure you get an accurate measurement. And if you’re ordering bifocals or progressive lenses, it’s best to get your PD from your eye doctor. 

Lens Types

If you browse any of the sites on our list, in addition to all the frames, you’ll notice there’s a wide variety of lenses available — sometimes a dozen or more. Many of these are features that cost extra, so be sure to check how much they could add to the price of your specs. Here’s some of the more popular types you’ll want to consider.:

Progressive lenses: These lenses are designed to correct for both distance and reading. Expect to pay significantly more if you need progressive lenses than if you order single-vision lenses. Progressive lenses themselves come in different versions. Bifocals are often included in this grouping. 

KODAK Lenses: In addition to progressive lenses, some sites offer KODAK lenses, which are progressive lenses that incorporate advanced technology for sharper vision, a wider viewing aread and reduced distortion. Expect to pay $100 or more for KODAK Lenses compared to standard progressives lenses.

Blue Light: These may also go by blue blockers, blue light filter lenses or a variety of similarly “blue” names. The lenses filter blue light, which may help reduce eye strain from looking at screens and digital devices.

Transitions: Transition lenses turn from clear to shaded in the sunlight, which is convenient if you don’t want to swap out your glasses when you go outside. If you prefer a separate pair of sunglasses, all of the sites on our list also sell prescription sunglasses.

When to Avoid Online Orders 

While they’re convenient, affordable online eyeglasses aren’t for everyone. If your prescription is unusual — you have a complex prism or you have a very high prescription — you’ll likely be better off getting your prescription at your eye doctor so you can get an in-person fitting. 

More from The Penny Hoarder: How to Save on Health Care Costs

Tips to Save More on Eyeglasses Online

You can save even more on cheap prescription glasses online by following these tips:

• Watch for BOGO and flash sales. Some of these sites have Black Friday sales, too. And most sites will let you sign up for emails so you can receive notifications of sales and events.
• Use FSA/HSA funds if the site allows it.
• Consider buying multiple pairs (everyday and backup) to avoid multiple shipments.
• Check for promo codes and refer-a-friend discounts.
• Read the return policy and fine print carefully before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Buying Eyeglasses Online

We’ve found the answers to the mostly commonly asked questions about buying eyeglasses online to help you make your decision.

Contributor Larissa Runkle specializes in finance, real estate and lifestyle topics. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.