The 9 Best Places To Buy Contacts Online In 2024 (2024)

Table of Contents
Best Place To Buy Contacts Online 1-800 Contacts: Convenience, Online Support And A Best Price Guarantee 1-Day Acuvue Moist Best For Bifocal And Multifocal Lenses GlassesUSA: Specialized Lenses At Competitive Prices Biofinity Toric (Monthly) Best For Using Insurance ContactsDirect: Helpful Insurance Benefits And Excellent Customer Service Dailies AquaComfort Plus Best For Returns Discount Contacts: A Forgiving Timeline For Returning Lenses You No Longer Need Proclear 1 Day Best For Buying In Bulk Contact Lens King: High Customer Satisfaction And Plenty Of Deals Acuvue Oasys (Weekly) Best For Colored Contacts Warby Parker: Affordable Contacts To Enhance Your Eye Color Air Optix Colors (Monthly) Best For Cheap Contacts Walgreens: Economical Pricing And Discounts On Corrective Lenses Clariti 1-Day Multifocal Best For Automatic Subscriptions Hubble: Disposable Lens Options That Start At Just $1/Month Hubble Classic Contact Lenses (Daily) Best For Discounts On Popular Brands WebEyeCare: Affordable Pricing On Premium Contact Lenses Alcon Precision1 Current Deals On Contacts And Eyewear Online: Why Trust Forbes Vetted How We Chose the Best Places To Buy Contacts Online What To Consider When Buying Contacts Online Variety Shipping And Returns Price A Step-By-Step Guide: How To Shop For Contacts Online 1. Get A Valid Contact Lens Prescription 2. Search For Your Contact Lens Brand On The Retailer’s Website 3. Choose How Many Boxes You Want 4. Input Your Prescription Information And Any Vision Details 5. Determine Your Shipping Preference 6. Look For Any Available Coupons, Promo Codes Or Rebates Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What Is The Best Online Store For Contacts? Is It Safe To Buy Contacts Online? Is It Cheaper To Buy Contacts Online Or From An Eye Doctor? Can You Buy Contacts With An Expired Prescription?

Buying contact lenses online comes with a few key benefits that you don’t get from in-person shopping: It’s 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 overall winner is 1-800 Contacts, due to its excellent variety, streamlined ordering process and helpful customer service. For bifocal and multifocal contacts, we recommend GlassesUSA, which carries a wide range of popular brands.

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 nine 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: Convenience, Online Support And A Best Price Guarantee

1-Day Acuvue Moist

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 convenience
  • Getting your contacts fast
  • Switching 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. 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. You can digitally email or text your prescription, or you can arrange for someone to contact your doctor directly. 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 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.

Senior updates editor Karen Tietjen has been a loyal 1-800 Contacts customer for years, namely because of itsBest 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,” she says. “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.)

Best For Bifocal And Multifocal Lenses

GlassesUSA: Specialized Lenses At Competitive Prices

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 customer
  • Contacts 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.

Best For Using Insurance

ContactsDirect: Helpful Insurance Benefits And Excellent Customer Service

Dailies AquaComfort Plus

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 teachers
  • Those who want to use their insurance

Skip if:

  • You’re looking for the lowest prices possible
  • You 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.

Best For Returns

Discount Contacts: A Forgiving Timeline For Returning Lenses You No Longer Need

Proclear 1 Day

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 window
  • Renewing prescriptions from home
  • Coupon-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.

Best For Buying In Bulk

Contact Lens King: High Customer Satisfaction And Plenty Of Deals

Acuvue Oasys (Weekly)

Shipping: $10 to $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 savings
  • Finding 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.

Best For Colored Contacts

Warby Parker: Affordable Contacts To Enhance Your Eye Color

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 contacts
  • New 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.

Best For Cheap Contacts

Walgreens: Economical Pricing And Discounts On Corrective Lenses

Clariti 1-Day Multifocal

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 shipping
  • New customers who want to take advantage of the discount
  • A 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.

Best For Automatic Subscriptions

Hubble: Disposable Lens Options That Start At Just $1/Month

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 subscription
  • Those ordering contacts online for the first time
  • Those who need a prescription and don’t know where to start

Skip if:

  • You want to use your insurance
  • You 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.

Best For Discounts On Popular Brands

WebEyeCare: Affordable Pricing On Premium Contact Lenses

Alcon Precision1

Shipping: Free 5 to 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 order
  • An affordable online vision test
  • Free 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. New customers save 20% on their first order, no code needed.
  • ContactsDirect: Get 15% off all orders with code HAPPYCONTACTS
  • GlassesUSA: New customers receive 30% off their first order with code CONTACTNEW30.
  • Walgreens: All contact orders are 20% off with code DEAL20.
  • WebEyeCare: Save $5 on orders $75 or more with code AUTUMN5.

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 beauty and fashion contributor with dozens of shopping guides to her name; she’s also a seasoned contact lens wearer and longtime 1-800 Contacts customer. 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 has written a full-length review on the retailer as well.
  • 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 15 years.
  • We regularly refresh this story to confirm that our selections are still the best in their respective categories. This piece was last updated in August 2024 by lifestyle writer Claire Epting, who 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 each 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 To Consider When Buying Contacts Online

While shopping for contact lenses is a highly personal endeavor, there are a few specific factors you should keep in mind when comparing retailers. Here’s what to consider.

Variety

One of the main draws of buying contacts online is the increased variety: The best retailers offer a wide array of brands and lens types. If you have a go-to brand of contact lenses, it may not matter if a retailer has a large selection; but if you ever need to switch your prescription, it’s nice to know the options are there. On the other hand, if you’re new to wearing contacts, the ability to browse through dozens of choices can help you easily find the best ones for you.

Shipping And Returns

Many online retailers sell the same contact brands, so one of the biggest differentiators between websites is shipping policy. Since a box of contact lenses is a repeat purchase, picking a retailer that offers complimentary standard shipping can help you save money over time. Of course, if you’re in a rush, you can pay an extra fee for expedited or overnight orders. A generous return policy also adds peace of mind to the ordering process; Discount Contacts offers returns for up to 365 days following shipment, while 1-800 Contacts has no time limit for returning unused boxes of contact lenses.

Price

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is The Best Online Store For Contacts?

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 Contacts 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.

Is It Cheaper To Buy Contacts Online Or From An Eye Doctor?

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 steeper discounts than you’d find at the doctor’s office. 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.

Can You Buy Contacts With An Expired Prescription?

No, you need to have a valid, current prescription from an eye doctor to purchase contacts online. If your prescription has expired and setting up an optometrist appointment is too much of a hassle, certain retailers allow you to renew your prescription from home with a virtual vision test. For example, 1-800 Contacts offers an ExpressExam feature that costs $20 and takes just 10 minutes.

The 9 Best Places To Buy Contacts Online In 2024 (2024)
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