Quick comparison
To try and keep things organized, I’ve moved this from the main page. Note that it is only updated periodically, so between that and any mistakes I may have made, it might not be 100% accurate!
Note: It is important to keep in mind that the table below is not a good apples-to-apples comparison. It’s been added due to requests, but here are a few reasons why you should not rely on it:
- The total price is a little “ballpark”. It uses a price point where a healthy number of frames exist. But you might find frames for less money, or might have to spend more to find something you like.
- Retailers all carry multiple lens “indexes” (thicknesses) at various price points. I have only listed the “bottom end” (thickest, and cheapest) indexes that each offers.
- Shipping is based on the US-shipping. Some retailers charge the same for international shipping, and some charge more.
- These do not take into account the ease-of-use of the site, retailer’s reputation, the quality of the lenses/coatings, etc. You’ll have to read reviews for those, though I have provided links to the reviews on the site on the right-hand columns to make it a little easier.
- The table doesn’t list varifocal/progressives. Or total frame offerings. Or a number of other lens options. I didn’t want the table to get too massive just yet, and just wanted to provide ballpark at-a-glance figures.
Again, I urge you not to rely solely on the chart to make your purchase decisions! Read up on the retailers, check a few out, and make a well-informed decision!
If people are finding the chart helpful, I may eventually expand on it. If not, it might disappear at some point in the future, as some retailers change their offerings/prices frequently and it’s really tough for me to keep on top of things. Send me a message if you have strong feelings one way or the other.
| retailer | BBB rating | Total (incl shipping) for cheapest single-vision glasses | Total (incl shipping) for cheapest bi-focal glasses | UV & AR coatings | Notes: | Information Page | Reviews |
| 39 Dollar Glasses | A+ | $44 (1.59 index) | $94 (1.59 index) | free / $25 | Base lenses are polycarbonate (virtually shatterproof). Most new-user friendly eyeglass retailer on the web. | info page | reviews |
| Zenni Optical | A+ | $12 (1.57 index) | $29 (1.50 index) | free / $5 | Most popular discount eyeglass retailer on the web. | info page | reviews |
| Goggles4u | A+ | $17 (1.57 index) | $35 (1.56 index) | free / $5 | Carries over 3000 frames. A few designer brands available. Historically known for interesting “cloth bag” envelopes which were always a conversation starter. | info page | reviews |
| Frames Direct | A- | approx $195 | approx $225 | $15 / $45 | Only carries high end name brand designer frames (largest selection of any retailer). Most popular name-brand retailer on the web. Since all designer frames vary in price, the listed total is based upon $150 frames. | info page | |
| EyeBuyDirect | F | $13 (1.50 index) | $32 (1.50 index) | $5 / $7 | Runs frequent 2-for-1 sales (appears to have pioneered the concept). | info page | reviews |
| GlassesShop | unavailable | $20 (1.50 index) | $40 (1.50 index) | $5 / $5 | Runs frequent 2-for-1 sales. | info page | reviews |
| Coastal | B+ | $62 (1.59 index) | $113 (1.58 index) | free / free | Price includes 7% handling fee. Carries a selection of name-brand designer wear as well. Has ongoing “first pair free” promotion (appears to have pionnered the concept). | info page | reviews |
| GlassesUSA | F | $48 (1.50 index) | $137 (1.50 index) | $29 (UV + AR) | Carries medium selection of designer brands | info page | |
| Global Eyeglasses | F | $25 (1.50 index) | $44 (1.50 index) | $5 / $10 | Growing somewhat in popularity over time. | info page | reviews |
| Great Eyeglasses | A | $18 (1.56 index) | $39 (1.56 index) | free / $10 | Site has a retro “60′s” theme (bit of a must-see in my opinion). | info page | reviews |
| Eyeglass Direct | B+ | $33 (1.50 index) | $74 (1.50 index) | free / $28 | Has local storefront in Brooklyn NY and offers “pickup” as shipping option. | info page | reviews |
| Optical4less | unavailable | $37 (1.56 index) | $100 (1.56 index) | free / free | Carries indexes up to 1.9. Was previously known for excellent lens craftsmanship especially with complex prescriptions, though there are rumours that may have changed. | info page | reviews |
| SelectSpecs | F | $24 (1.56 index) | $51 (1.50 index) | free / free | Based in UK, has US/Can/Germany offices. Quite popular. | info page | reviews |
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | F | $40 (1.50 index) | $55 (1.50 index) | free / $40 | Used to run an eBay storefront as well. | info page | reviews |
| Choice Eyewear | F | $20 (1.56 index) | $40 (1.56 index) | free / $5 | Formerly known as LBW Eyewear. | info page | |
| MyGlasses | unavailable | $34 (1.50 index) | $46 (1.50 index) | free / $22 | info page | ||
| SpecsOnTheNet | unavailable | $41 (1.50 index) | $79 (1.50 index) | free / $16 | Based in UK, only 17 frames available. | info page | reviews |
If you notice errors, please send me a quick email via the Contact Me! page.
Curious as to how things have changed
since 2006?
Here is the original comparison page from many years ago. The
emphasis was different back then, and the info is outdated so take
it for what it’s worth…
Eyeglass Retailer Comparisons
Introduction
Now that you’ve seen information on each and every glasses retailer, it’s time to cram it all in one place. So what’s the purpose of this page? Simple, it’s designed to give you information at a quick glance, and to help you make comparisons between the retailers as well.
So without further ado… here are the comparison charts!
Location
| United States | United Kingdom | Pakistan | Hong Kong | |
| Zenni Optical1 | X | |||
| 39DollarGlasses | X | |||
| Goggles4u | X2 | X3 | ||
| Optical4less | X | |||
| EyeGlassesWorld | X | |||
| MyOptics | X | |||
| SelectSpecs | X | |||
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | X | |||
| SpecsOnTheNet | X | |||
| VALUEglasses | X | |||
| Eyeglass Direct | X | |||
| EyeBuyDirect.com | X |
| 1 Zenni Optical only
ships to the US and Canada 2 Goggles4u has an office located in US 3 the Goggles4u production facility is located in Pakistan |
Accepted Methods of Payment
| Paypal | Visa | M/C | AmEx | Discover | Delta | Diner’s Club | JCB | Maestro | Carte Blanche | Switch | Solo | enRoute | Australian BankCard | NoChex | |
| Zenni Optical | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 39DollarGlasses | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Goggles4u | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Optical4less | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| EyeGlassesWorld | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| MyOptics1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| SelectSpecs2 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| SpecsOnTheNet | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
| VALUEglasses | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Eyeglass Direct | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| EyeBuyDirect.com | X | X | X | X | X |
| 1 MyOptics accepts Paypal, Cheque,
and Postal order, but you must visit the Help/PaymentOptions
section of their website for more details 2 UK residents may pay SelectSpecs by cheque |
Single Vision Lenses Offered
| Polycarbonate | Lenses available with Index of 1.60 or higher | AR | Tint | Polarized | Photochromic | |
| Zenni Optical | X | X | X | X | ||
| 39DollarGlasses | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Goggles4u | X | X | X | |||
| Optical4less | X | X | X1 | X | ||
| EyeGlassesWorld | X | X | X | X | ||
| MyOptics | X | X | X | X | ||
| SelectSpecs | X | X | X | X | ||
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | X | ? | X | X | X | X |
| SpecsOnTheNet | X | X | X | X | X | |
| VALUEglasses | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Eyeglass Direct | X | X | X | X | X | |
| EyeBuyDirect.com | X | X | X | X |
| 1 Optical4less also has a mirror-tint available. |
Bifocal Lenses Offered
| Progressive Lenses Available | Lenses available with Index of 1.60 or higher | Polycarbonate | AR | Tint | Polarized | Photochromic | |
| Zenni Optical | X | X | X | X | |||
| 39DollarGlasses | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Goggles4u | X | X | X | X | |||
| Optical4less | X | X | X | X1 | X | ||
| EyeGlassesWorld | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| MyOptics | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SelectSpecs | X | X | |||||
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | X | ? | X | X | X | X | X |
| SpecsOnTheNet | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VALUEglasses | X | X | X | X | |||
| Eyeglass Direct | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| EyeBuyDirect.com | X | X | X | X | X2 |
| 1 Optical4less also
has a mirror-tint available. 2 Based on what EyeBuyDirect.com’s site allows and doesn’t allow you to select, it seems that the Photochromic option is only offered on Progressives (not regular bi-focals). It would be prudent to double check with EyeBuyDirect.com before ordering though. |
Price after shipping to the US (cheapest pair of
glasses)
(prices
subject to error, change, and varying exchange rates)
| Single Vision | Bifocal | Progressive | Notes | |
| Zenni Optical | $23.95 | $42.95 | $62.95 | |
| 39DollarGlasses | $44.95 | $84.95 | $143.95 | |
| Goggles4u | $25.99 | $47.99 | $61.99 | free AR coating |
| Optical4less | $37.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | free AR coating |
| EyeGlassesWorld | $25.00 | $39.00 | $74.95 | |
| MyOptics1 | $36.00 | — | — | |
| SelectSpecs2 | $28.98 | $65.79 | — | free AR coating |
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | $39.50 | $54.50 | $124.50 | |
| SpecsOnTheNet | $25.00 | — | — | |
| VALUEglasses | $30.93 | $55.93 | $95.93 | |
| Eyeglass Direct | $42.95 | $83.95 | $89.95 | |
| EyeBuyDirect.com | $19.90 | $38.90 | $58.90 |
| 1 price is
approximate, based on £20.00 base price 2 price is approximate, based on £15.75, £35.75 base prices |
Price after shipping Internationally (cheapest
pair of glasses)
(prices subject to error, change, and varying exchange rates)
| Single Vision | Bifocal | Progressive | Notes | |
| Zenni Optical | $28.00 | $47.00 | $67.00 | US/Canada only? |
| 39DollarGlasses | $46.95 | $86.95 | $145.95 | |
| Goggles4u | $25.99 | $47.99 | $61.99 | free AR coating |
| Optical4less | $37.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | free AR coating |
| EyeGlassesWorld | $25.00 | $39.00 | $74.95 | international shipping price may be incorrect |
| MyOptics1 | $36.00 | — | — | |
| SelectSpecs2 | $28.98 | $65.79 | — | free AR coating |
| Eyeglass Factory Outlet | $44.45 | $59.45 | $124.50 | |
| SpecsOnTheNet | $25.00 | — | — | |
| VALUEglasses | $32.93 | $57.93 | $97.93 | |
| Eyeglass Direct | $45.95 | $86.95 | $92.95 | |
| EyeBuyDirect.com3 | $29.90 | $48.90 | $68.90 |
| 1 price is approximate, based on
£20.00 base price. MyOptics has free shipping to the UK, bringing
the price down to £15.00 shipped in the UK. 2 price is approximate, based on £15.75, £35.75 base prices. SelectSpecs has cheaper shipping to the UK, brining the price down to £13.95, £33.95 shipped in the UK. 3 price approximate, based on shipping to France. |