Buying contact lenses online comes with a few key benefits that you don’t get from in-person shopping: It’s often more convenient and faster, and the contacts are typically cheaper than buying at the optometrist’s office. There are plenty of lens suppliers out there, so we compared dozens of eyewear retailers to suss out the best places to buy contacts online. Our winners offer value pricing, excellent variety, a streamlined ordering process and helpful customer service, with 1-800 Contacts being our top pick overall.
We named 1-800 Contacts as the best place to buy contacts online thanks to its Best Price Guarantee … [+] and stellar customer service.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
To help you find the best place to buy contacts based on your particular needs, we highlighted whether each online retailer accepts insurance, FSA or HSA funds, offers virtual prescription renewals and accommodates returns within a reasonable timeframe. Below, you’ll find our top picks, as well as a helpful shopping guide to make the process as seamless as possible.
Best Place To Buy Contacts Online: 1-800 Contacts
Best For Using Insurance: ContactsDirect
Best For Returns: Discount Contacts
Best For Buying In Bulk: Contact Lens King
Best For Bifocal And Multifocal Contacts: GlassesUSA
Best For Colored Contact Lenses: Warby Parker
Best For Cheap Contact Lenses: Walgreens
Best For Automatic Subscriptions: Hubble
Best For Discounts On Popular Brands: WebEyeCare
(PAID PLACEMENT) You May Also Like: FramesDirect
MOST POPULAR
Shipping: Free standard shipping, plus expedited and one-day options | Return policy: Free exchanges and returns with no time limit | Insurance accepted: Yes, accepts FSA and HSA | At-home prescription renewal: Yes
Best for:
Those who prioritize convenienceGetting your contacts fastSwitching up your prescription frequently
Skip if:
You don’t have time to shop around for competitive pricing
One of the most well-known of the bunch, 1-800 Contacts makes ordering lenses online convenient and painless. First, you search for your brand on the easy-to-navigate site. Next, you digitally email or text your prescription, or someone will contact your doctor directly to sort out the details. If you have an expired prescription, for a $20 fee—and in just 10 minutes—you can take the virtual ExpressExam to update your prescription without having to go to the optometrist. (Note: This is only eligible for prescription renewals, not changes.) The company price matches, offers free shipping, has free exchanges and returns and also takes vision insurance. You can even return opened boxes of contacts or return ones that are a decade old or older, which is basically unheard of. If you subscribe, you save 5% on orders, and you don’t have to worry about running out.
What our editors say: “I’m a longtime 1-800 Contacts user because it’s easy to submit a prescription, and the website saves my info so I can easily reorder when I need new lenses,” says author of this story Molly Calhoun. “I also like that the site sends me a polite nudge when I’m due to order, offers discounts when ordering multiple boxes and ships really quickly.”
Senior updates editor Karen Tietjen says, “I’ve ordered from this site for years because of its Best Price Guarantee: If you find the same product from a legitimate retailer at a lower price, 1-800 Contacts will beat that price by a dollar. The site has a live chat feature that I always use when I want to request a price match. I’ve also used the ExpressExam feature to renew my prescription, and yes, it was as straightforward as advertised.” (Check out Tietjen’s in-depth 1-800 Contacts review here.)
forbes.com1800 Contacts Coupons | 25% Off In April 2024
Shipping: Free standard shipping and store pickup, plus priority and express options | Return policy: Unopened boxes accepted for up to six months with shipping fee | Insurance accepted: Yes, accepts HSA and FSA | At-home prescription renewal: No
Best for:
Discounted rates for military members, first responders, nurses and teachersThose who want to use their insurance
Skip if:
You’re looking for the lowest prices possibleYou want to renew your prescription with an at-home exam
If you’re someone with less-than-perfect vision, you’ll appreciate that ContactsDirect is about as consumer friendly as a retailer can be. It offers discounts and conveniently highlights its rebates process. Reviewers love that the site often sends out coupon codes, price matches and gives 15% off to military members, first responders, nurses and teachers. ContactsDirect also accepts most insurance, and the site makes it easy to understand your options for in- and out-of-network benefits.
If your order isn’t a simple nearsighted or farsighted prescription, ContactsDirect offers a wide variety of specialized lenses, including colored contacts, multifocal and bifocal contacts, monovision and toric lenses.
Discount Contacts
Bausch & Lomb SofLens (Daily)
Shipping: Free shipping on orders over $99 ($7 shipping if order is below $99), plus expedited and overnight options | Return policy: Free returns for up to 365 days from ship date | Insurance accepted: Out of network for some providers, accepts HSA and FSA | At-home prescription renewal: Yes
Best for:
Those who prefer a long return windowRenewing prescriptions from homeCoupon-savvy customers
Skip if:
Your insurance is out of network and you don’t want to fill out a reimbursement form
A major plus for this company is its willingness to accept returns for a whole year, which is convenient if you’re one of those people who takes ages to get your act together and return things. It’s also helpful if your prescription changes mid-year and you’ve got boxes of expensive, unopened contacts you can’t use filling your bathroom shelves.
Discounts, promos and coupon codes are another hallmark of this site. New customers receive 15% off with a promo code, and Discount Contacts will price match up to seven days after the purchase date. It also offers a totally free online vision test to renew your prescription from home (with some exceptions), which is a big plus.
Shipping: $10-$13 for USPS first class mail | Return policy: 30-day return policy on original, unopened boxes | Insurance accepted: Doesn’t accept insurance (Contact Lens King recommends submitting an invoice to your insurance company) | At-home prescription renewal: No
Best for:
Buying contacts in bulk for larger savingsFinding premium brands at low prices
Skip if:
You want free shipping
With a 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, this company features a wide variety of premium brands, including Acuvue, Biomedics, Biofinity and Dailies all at affordable prices. Options include daily, weekly and monthly disposables along with colored and astigmatism lenses.
Through its referral program, Contact Lens King offers existing customers a $10 credit towards their next purchase. More importantly, the site encourages you to make bulk purchases to really maximize savings. It looks like every product listing suggests buying more boxes to get a greater discount. The only caveat: Shipping costs at least $10, which will set you back, especially if you aren’t purchasing lenses in bulk.
GlassesUSA
Biofinity Toric (Monthly)
Shipping: Free standard shipping, plus expedited and express options, no overnight shipping | Return policy: Within 60 days if in original packaging | Insurance accepted: Yes, from several major providers, accepts FSA and HSA | At-home prescription renewal: No
Best for:
Getting discounts as a new customerContacts wearers who also need glasses
Skip if:
You need overnight shipping
There’s nothing quite like that panicked feeling realizing you’re down to just a couple contact lenses and haven’t remembered to order new boxes. It always seems to happen just before a big trip or work presentation. But you’ll be back in business quickly with GlassesUSA’s wide variety of name brands and price match guarantee. And of course, if you need frames too, this site is a great option; we named it the best overall retailer on our list of the best places to buy prescription glasses online.
Warby Parker
Air Optix Colors (Monthly)
Shipping: Free standard shipping | Return policy: Free 30-day returns if in original, unopened box | Insurance accepted: Yes, but insurance orders are not available for discounts or promotions, accepts HSA and FSA | At-home prescription renewal: Yes
Best for:
Those who want colored contactsNew customers who want to take advantage of the discount
Skip if:
Active customer service is a priority
Warby Parker has specialized contact lenses that intensify your eye color with or without vision correction. The retailer offers a wider variety of colored contact lens options than many other sites, from brands such as FreshLook, Air Optix, Dailies, Acuvue, and ToriColors for people with astigmatism.
Warby Parker has competitive pricing with no hidden fees, and as a new customer you can save 20% off your first order. To note: Even if you just want to alter the color of your eyes and don’t need vision correction, you still need a prescription for colored contact lenses. You can renew your prescription online with its at-home eye exam, which costs $15.
Shipping: Free standard shipping, $20 overnight shipping | Return policy: Returns accepted within 30 days if order was incorrect or damaged, with some exceptions | Insurance accepted: Accepts HSA and FSA | At-home prescription renewal: No
Best for:
Fast home delivery and overnight shippingNew customers who want to take advantage of the discountA quick and easy shopping experience
Skip if:
You value a long, flexible return window
Walgreens offers easy ordering, fast home delivery and plenty of options for savings. As a new customer, you can save 30% off your first order, and you’ll often find promotional codes and coupons for 20% off or more. Another tip: Check out the rebates center for additional discounts. As with other online retailers, once you select your lens type and preferred shipping method, the customer service team will contact your eye doctor to verify your prescription.
Hubble
Hubble Classic Contact Lenses (Daily)
Shipping: Free standard, plus $3 on shipping and handling (and sales tax) after the first box | Return policy: 14-day return policy on original, unopened boxes | Insurance accepted: Out-of-network (Hubble recommends saving your receipt to apply for reimbursement from your provider) | At-home prescription renewal: No
Best for:
Setting up an automatic subscriptionThose ordering contacts online for the first timeThose who need a prescription and don’t know where to start
Skip if:
You want to use your insuranceYou want to renew your prescription from home
Hubble is making contact lens ordering cool and accessible with its direct-to-consumer model. The first shipment of 15 pairs of classic Hubble lenses costs only $1, and thereafter they’re $20.
If you don’t have a prescription, the company helps you locate a list of doctors in your area to schedule an eye exam. Hubble’s own contacts are disposable and made from methafilcon A hydrogel, which keeps your eyes feeling fresh and hydrated. The company also stocks eye care brands like Biotrue, Lumify and Alaway to complement your order. For other astigmatism, multifocal, color and bi-weekly contact lenses, Hubble suggests visiting its sister site ContactsCart.
Shipping: Free 5-10 business day ground shipping on all orders | Return policy: Can return most unopened items within 30 days for a full refund | Insurance: Out-of-network provider; submit invoice to insurance company for reimbursement | At-home prescription renewal: Yes
Best for:
Discounts on every orderAn affordable online vision testFree shipping
Skip if:
You’re loyal to a brand that’s not available
WebEyeCare stocks over 14 brands, including popular ones like Acuvue, Biotrue and Dailies. Each product is deeply discounted compared to the retail cost, and their various promo codes and deals allow you to save up to 70% off.
If you don’t have a prescription, WebEyeCare charges $35 for an online vision test, which is comparatively less expensive than other routes. And unlike other subscription services on other sites, WebEyeCare conveniently offers 10% off every order. Bottom line: It’s hard to beat this site’s affordable pricing and free ground shipping.
Current Deals On Contacts And Eyewear Online:
1-800 Contacts: Take $10 off any order of $100 or more with code DEAL10.
ContactsDirect: Get 15% off all orders with code HAPPYCONTACTS.
Discount Contacts: Take $20 off orders of $150 or more with code DC20OFF150, or 10% off any order with code DC10.
GlassesUSA: New customers receive 30% off their first order with code CONTACTSNEW30.
Walgreens: First-time orders are eligible for a 30% discount with code DEAL30; you can also take 20% off future orders with code DEAL20.
WebEyeCare: Save 20% on all glasses orders with code SEE20.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written a wide catalog of eyewear stories and roundups of the top personal care products on the market.
Author of this article Molly Calhoun is a longtime Forbes Vetted contributor and current freelance fashion editor with dozens of shopping guides to her name; she’s also a seasoned contact lens wearer with firsthand experience purchasing contacts online. Calhoun also reported on the best contact lenses, which gives shopping advice on ideal brands for various vision needs.
Our top pick, 1-800 Contacts, is also backed by senior updates editor Karen Tietjen, who’s purchased contact lenses through the site for years. She’s also written a full-length review on the retailer.
In addition, every iteration of this article has been overseen by deputy editor Jane Sung, also a longtime wearer of contact lenses, who has extensively covered beauty and wellness topics for over a decade.
We regularly refresh this story to confirm that our selections are still the best in their respective categories. This piece was last updated in May 2024 by lifestyle writer Claire Epting, who added firsthand quotes from Forbes Vetted editors and a section on current deals offered by contact lens retailers. She also ensured that all prices, specs and information are current and accurate.
How We Chose the Best Places To Buy Contacts Online
As we compared popular retailers, we took a deep dive into specs such as shipping prices, return policies and variety of inventory before making our selections.
1-800 Contacts, our top pick overall, comes personally recommended by both Calhoun and Tietjen.
We also considered standout websites from our list of the best places to buy prescription glasses online; both GlassesUSA and Warby Parker, which are both backed by Forbes Vetted editors, offer high-quality contacts in addition to eyeglasses.
Whether or not a retailer accepts insurance can be a large deciding factor when looking at places to buy contacts online, so we included several websites that are in network for major insurance providers (plus most are HSA- and FSA-eligible).
We also highlighted whether online contact lens retailers offer virtual eye exams for easy (and low-cost) prescription renewals.
What Is The Best Place To Order Contacts From?
While it depends on your vision needs and whether you want a site that accepts insurance or not, there are number of top sites for ordering contacts online. Our best overal pick is 1-800 Contacts because of how convenient and hassle-free it makes ordering lenses online. Besides having an easy-to-navigate site, the brand offers price matching, free shipping, and free exchanges and returns. Plus, you can return old (by a decade or longer) or even opened boxes of contacts, which is rare and incredibly helpful.
Is It Safe To Buy Contact Lenses Online?
Buying your contacts online is just as safe as buying them in person, as long as you purchase from a reputable seller. All of our recommended websites feature the same brands of contacts that you’d find at an optical shop, including Acuvue and Bausch & Lomb. The main difference is that contacts purchased online are often less expensive than ones bought in-store.
Why Are Contacts So Much Cheaper Online?
While your eye doctor’s office can offer rebate options, online contacts suppliers get lenses directly from manufacturers, skipping steps that add extra costs for you. Plus, they have access to massive warehouses, which allows them to give steep discounts. Further, several eyewear e-tailers offer price matching, meaning if you find your preferred contacts cheaper elsewhere, they’ll match (or beat) that price. This is the reason many people prefer buying contacts online—in addition to the convenience factor.
The price of your lenses depends, in large part, on the type you’re buying. In general, daily disposable contacts are the more expensive option, as are lenses that do more than just address general nearsightedness or farsightedness, such as toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses or colored contacts. Contact lenses typically run between $200 and $1,500 per year, so it makes sense to find a reliable, safe, budget-friendly buying option online.
A Step-By-Step Guide: How To Shop For Contacts Online
Whether you’re a new contact lens wearer or a veteran, it can sometimes feel like your prescription is written in a different language. Below, find our step-by-step guide to safely ordering contacts online—and being sure you’re getting the best ones for you.
1. Get A Valid Contact Lens Prescription
Before ordering contacts online, you need an up-to-date prescription from your eye doctor. In general, a prescription is valid if it’s less than one year old. A contact lens prescription is different from an eyeglasses prescription because contacts sit directly on the eye and glasses sit approximately 12 millimeters away from the eye.
2. Search For Your Contact Lens Brand On The Retailer’s Website
As part of your prescription, your eye doctor will specify a lens brand based on factors such as breathability, fit and your lifestyle. You’ll want to shop for contacts on a site that carries your brand.
3. Choose How Many Boxes You Want
Usually sites will allow you to order a one-month, three-month or six-month supply, and sometimes more. You’ll receive a greater discount when you order more lenses, but you run the risk of your prescription changing before you can use them all. The best time to order in bulk is when you have a brand new prescription, although some sites also offer returns on unused, unopened boxes.
4. Input Your Prescription Information And Any Vision Details
Each contact lens prescription includes the lens brand, lens diameter and base curve for each eye. There are also abbreviations that indicate things such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism and pupillary distance. Most sites offer tutorials on how to correctly read your prescription, and you can always call customer service if you have questions. Depending on the site you’re using, you have the option to email, text or fax your prescription, and the site will reach out to your doctor directly to confirm it. If your prescription is expired, many sites offer the ability to take an online vision exam from home through your computer or smartphone.
5. Determine Your Shipping Preference
Although several sites offer free standard shipping, take note that your order can’t be shipped until your prescription has been approved by your eye doctor, and this can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. Expedited shipping fees are steep, which should incentivize you to place your contact lens order well before you need it.
6. Look For Any Available Coupons, Promo Codes Or Rebates
Deals are often highlighted at the top of the retailer’s main page, and some sites have specific rebate pages. Also, beware of things like hidden fees or additional pricing for shipping. Often, you’ll click through your order thinking you’re getting an amazingly low price, only to get to check out and see that the cost has doubled. If this is the case, call customer service and have them explain the situation to be sure there’s not another way to find a cheaper price. Sometimes you won’t see savings until you receive a rebate a few weeks after placing your order.
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