Best Places to Order Contacts Online in 2023

Before buying prescription contact lenses online, it’s essential to get an eye exam and a current prescription. With this in hand, you are ready to choose a reliable online supplier. 

Finding the place that works best for you starts by identifying your top priorities. You may be making decisions about your contacts based on brand selection, insurance, pricing, return policy, or customer service offerings. 

Consider these factors to make sure you’re picking the best place to buy contacts online:

• Product selection: Does the site carry the brand recommended by your doctor?
• Insurance: Is your insurance accepted at this retailer?
• Price: Are you happy with the discounts, pricing, loyalty, and subscription plans?
• Returns: Is the return policy up to your standards?
• Offerings: Does this retailer also offer contact solutions to care for your contacts, so you can fill all your needs in one place?
• Shipping: Is shipping fast and free of hidden charges?
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: Is the company reputable?
• Customer service: Do they offer robust customer services with solid customer reviews to back up their offerings?

Below, we’ve outlined some of the best places to buy contacts online in 2023:

Best Overall Place to Order Contacts: 1 800 Contacts

1 800 Contacts offers an exceptional brand selection on all types of contacts. Explore popular brands, such as Acuvue, Air Optix, Dailies, Biofinity, and more.

Cost

• New customers save 20 percent, and you can save 20 percent on annual supplies. 
• They offer discounts for students.
• They feature their gajillion percent promise. This includes price matching, free returns, free exchanges, and free replacements on ripped contacts.

Ease

• Navigating the site is easy. Ordering is easy. 
• It’s easy to apply for insurance benefits when checking out.

Benefits

• Shipping is fast and free.
• They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
• They offer a price guarantee on any competitor.
• You can text or email your contact lens prescription.
• They accept insurance, including Anthem Blue View Vision, Davis Vision, Spectera, Superior Vision, and United Healthcare Vision.

Returns

• Return shipping cost is covered on unopened boxes.

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Best Lowest Price to Order Contacts Online: Discount Contact Lenses

Discount Contact Lenses offers an array of contact lenses at competitive prices.

Cost

• They offer a lowest price guarantee.

Ease

• Reordering is easy and hassle-free

Benefits

• They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
• Though they do not accept insurance, they have insurance forms to submit to your provider.
• They offer a large selection of toric, bifocal, and multifocal lenses.
• They feature lenses from 34 brands.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free returns for 365 days.
• They offer free shipping for orders over $99.

Best for Use With Insurance: Contacts Direct

Contacts Direct accepts vision benefits and offers a large selection of lenses.

Cost

• They offer competitive pricing on a range of offerings.
• They regularly send out coupon codes to customers.

Ease

• It’s easy to navigate their site and order.

Benefits

• They accept most major insurance plans, including plans from Aetna Vision Preferred, Anthem Blue View Vision, EyeMed, Humana Vision, and Superior Vision.
• They have a wide selection of lens type options, including toric lenses, colored lenses, multifocal lenses, and hard and soft contact lenses.
• They also sell contact lens solution.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free standard shipping.
• You can return unopened products for six months, though the customer pays return postage.

Best for Environmentally Friendly Packaging: Warby Parker

Warby Parker is known for their glasses, but they also offer a good selection of contact lenses.

Cost

• You can get 15% off your first order.
• They feature competitive pricing.

Ease

• It’s easy to navigate the site, and the ordering process is straightforward.
• You can easily renew expired prescriptions with an online vision test.

Benefits

• They offer a wide selection of contact lenses, including Scout, an in-house brand of daily contacts.
• They feature affordable contact lenses.
• Their packaging is environmentally friendly and uses recycled materials.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free shipping and free returns for 30 days.

Best Place to Order Colored Contacts Online: WebEyeCare

WebEyeCare offers very competitive pricing, with a range of color contact options.

Cost

• They offer budget prices and discounts.

Ease

• They feature very easy site navigation and a simple ordering process.

Benefits

• They sell 18 different contact brands. 
• They offer some of the best prices on colored contacts.

Returns

• Customers have 60 days to return unopened products.
• Customers pay return shipping and handling.

Best Place to Order Discount Contacts Online: AC Lens

AC Lens is one of the best places to enjoy discount pricing on contacts.

Cost

• They feature discount prices on contact lenses.
• Customers can enjoy further discounts with subscription orders.
• They offer a new customer discount.

Ease

• They offer easy price matching features.

Benefits

• They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
• They offer a wide selection of contact lens brands.
• They are LegitScript approved.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free shipping with orders over $99.

Best Place to Order Cheap Contacts Online: Lens.com

Lens.com has a strong reputation for great prices on contact lenses.

Cost

• They are known for offering some of the lowest prices on prescription contact lenses.
• They feature up to 70 percent off popular brands.
• They do not accept insurance.

Ease

• It’s easy to order via their site.

Benefits

• They offer competitive pricing. 
• They sell 28 contact brands, making for an impressive brand selection.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free, hassle-free returns for 30 days.
• They cover the cost of shipping back unopened boxes.
• Standard shipping costs $9.95. 

Best Selection of Contacts & Glasses Online: Eyeconic

Eyeconic offers an impressive selection of both glasses and contact lenses.

Cost

• They offer discounts on an annual supply of contacts.

Ease

• They feature easy site navigation and a simple ordering process.

Benefits

• They offer a wide selection of brands, such as Acuvue, Air Optix, Biotrue by Bausch and Lomb, Dailies, and more.
• They accept insurance, including VSP, MetLife, and Cigna Vision.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free shipping and returns.

Best Place to Get Contacts With Price Matching: Glasses USA

Glasses USA offers a good selection of contact lenses with competitive pricing.

Cost

• They price match other sellers, ensuring you can get contacts for the best price available here.

Ease

• Their ordering process is simple.

Benefits

• They carry popular brands such as Acuvue, Biofinity, and more.
• They offer a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
• They accept insurance from select providers.

Shipping & Returns

• They offer free shipping and free returns.

Online vs. In-Person Retailers

Shopping for contact lenses online is about finding the retailer with the best prices, shipping and return policies, and customer service. Online ordering is easy, fast, and hassle-free when you choose a reputable provider. You can set up a subscription and get your contacts delivered on a regular schedule.

Some people prefer to order contacts from their eye doctor. This can be simple if you are already in the office for an eye exam since you can often leave the appointment with your contacts in hand. Some people get their initial contact lens order from their eye doctor and then transition to online retailers for ease of delivery.

Pros of Ordering Online

Most online sites offer first-time customer discounts, annual discounts, and seasonal sales. Whether you’re buying daily disposable contacts, monthly lenses, or multifocal contacts, shopping the sales and taking advantage of discounts can help you save money.

It’s easy to order a full-year supply online, so you always have a fresh supply of contacts on hand. If your prescription changes, many places offer free returns on unopened boxes.

Cons of Shopping Online

Depending on the brand your doctor recommends, you may need to shop around to find the best price. 

If your vision changes, you need to see an eye doctor to get an eye exam and a new prescription.

Pros of Buying Contacts in Person

If you buy contacts in person from your eye doctor following an eye exam, you’ll have the opportunity for them to show you how to put them in and take them out. This is particularly helpful if this is your first time wearing contacts. You’ll also be able to talk to your eye doctor about any concerns you have with fit.

Cons of Buying in Person

It’s more time-consuming to visit your eye doctor or another retailer in person every time you need new contacts. Even if they pre-order them for easy pickup, you still have to physically visit an office or store to get the contacts. When you order online, they are shipped to your home for added convenience.

You can also often find better deals online, so you may pay higher prices when you purchase contacts in person.

Buying Contacts Online FAQs

Is it safe to buy contacts online?

Plenty of reputable sites sell prescription contacts lenses online. Big-box retailers and specialized sites both sell contacts online. They all require a valid prescription from an eye doctor. If you are concerned that you may not be satisfied with your selection, choose an online retailer with a solid return policy.

What is the best place to buy contact lenses online?

The best place to buy contact lenses online depends on your preferences for a brand, pricing, and subscription options. Many people opt for 1 800 Contacts for convenience, insurance options, price, and brand selection.
Ultimately, the best place to buy contact lenses online will depend on your top priorities. There is no shortage of options.

How can you pay the best price for contacts online?

Look for special promos and discounts, such as new customer discounts. Some sites offer discounts if you sign up for their subscription service where they mail you contacts on a regular schedule. Other sites offer price matching where they will match any competitor’s price, ensuring you pay the lowest price possible for your contacts.

References

1. Glasses & Contacts. American Academy of Ophthalmology.

2. Eye Exam and Vision Testing. (March 2022). American Academy of Ophthalmology.

3. Contact Lenses for Vision Correction. (April 2022). American Academy of Ophthalmology.

4. How to Take Care of Contact Lenses. (April 2022). American Academy of Ophthalmology.

5. Customer Reviews. 1-800-Contacts, Inc. Better Business Bureau.

6. The Best Places to Buy Contacts Online. (November 2020). Rolling Stone.