Looking for cheap eyewear? Who isn’t? Instead of overpaying, head online to find the best discount retailers.
You can get HUGE deals on everything from cheap contact lenses to affordable designer sunglasses! The best part is that there are numerous retailers to choose from. So, let’s see what sets them apart.
Shopping With Discount Retailers Online vs In-Store
You might think it’s better to buy cheap eyewear in-store, but what if I told you that online shopping has its advantages?
Firstly, it’s more convenient. You don’t even have to leave your couch to shop! You won’t have to drive out to a store only to potentially be disappointed. After all, there’s no guarantee they have what you’re looking for.
There’s also the fact that online discount retailers can have much more stock. There are more styles, more brands, and cheaper prices.
Why are online discount retailers cheaper?
You’ve seen rent and bills going up, right? Well, the price hikes mean that running brick-and-mortar stores is more costly than ever. There are the costs of electricity, staff, cleaning, and various other overheads.
These costs are passed on to the customer. Online retailers can afford to keep their prices down because there’s less overhead. No fancy stores.
Some discount retailers have both online and physical stores. So, let’s see who the big players in eyewear are. We’ll begin with fully online retailers!
EyeBuyDirect: Cheap non-branded eyewear.
This online retailer has a wide variety of eyewear, from cheap sunglasses to a range of eyeglasses. They specialize in affordable frames from their own brand, and they have models starting at around $20.
They offer styles and shapes to suit everyone, including options for men, women, and kids. EyeBuyDirect also sells a few big eyewear brands, including:
- Ray-Ban
- Oakley
- Armani Exchange
- Coach
- Vogue Eyewear
This is a great discount retailer for those who appreciate classic styles and affordable prices. Although they don’t have a huge selection of big designer brands, they do offer up to 50% off on the brands they carry. So you could still get some cool Coach glasses or timeless Ray-Bans for less than in-store!
Pros:
- Lots of affordable eyewear
- A wide variety of brands and styles
- Discounts on name-brand eyewear
GlassesUSA: Ongoing sales & offers.
This discount retailer is ideal for fans of big brands! They have a wide range of designer brands and household names, from Versace to Carrera.
The website is easy and quick to navigate, making it perfect for online shopping enthusiasts. While there are retailers with even larger selections of branded eyewear, GlassesUSA stands out because of their big discounts.
They offer 10% and more off some popular branded eyewear, which is harder to find in stores. They also have that favorite section for bargain shoppers—the sale section! There, you can find the latest deals, such as “30% off safety frames” and “Buy one, get one free on kids’ glasses.”
One of the things that stands out about GlassesUSA is that they are transparent about their business model. They claim to have special deals straight from the manufacturers, so they cut out the middleman. No resellers or distributors. That’s how they pass up to 70% savings on to customers.
They also offer contact lenses, as well as eyeglasses and sunglasses, which sets them apart from some stores that only sell eyewear.
Pros:
- Constant sales and coupon codes
- Big savings on name brands
- Wide range of eyewear
EZContacts: Mega discounts on luxury brands.
EZContacts is an online eyewear superstore that specializes in contact lenses, eyeglasses, and sunglasses. There are thousands of styles at any one time, including designer brands. Plus, they have a points system where you can earn one EzPoint for every two dollars you spend.
One thing that sets EZContacts apart from other online retailers is their wide range of designer items for men, women, and even kids. I’m talking about some of the biggest names out there, both massive fashion brands and specialized eyewear brands, including:
- Oakley
- Maui Jim
- Ray-Ban
- CELINE
- Loewe
- Prada
- Miu Miu
EZContacts is also known for selling a wide variety of cheap contact lenses. They carry brands like:
- Air Optix
- Biofinity
- Acuvue
- Eiyan
The other thing that’s notable about EZContacts is that they are a discount retailer with major price cuts. There are discounts available on all the brands mentioned, as well as many others. And designer items come with authenticity cards, so they’re 100% legit.
EZContacts also has innovative features like their try-on feature, which allows customers to see how glasses would look on them. It’s a great solution for individuals who want to save money on eyewear and feel confident in their purchasing decisions.
Similar to GlassesUSA, the savings from not having physical stores are passed on to customers.
But something else that EZContacts does to ensure its customers are getting the best price is to price match with other retailers. So, the customer can send a screenshot of another discount retailer offering a lower price, and EZContacts will match it, subject to terms and conditions.
Pros:
- Massive discounts on branded eyewear
- Online try-on feature
- Price match service
- Wide collection with high and low-end options
Zenni Optical: Cheap own-brand eyewear.
Zenni has been creating some buzz around their super-affordable eyewear range. They currently sell sunglasses and eyeglasses for as low as $6.95, with the average being around $30 to $40.
They focus on creating useful, bargain eyewear that anyone can wear. There’s a broad range of designs and colors, including classic aviator shapes and timeless tortoiseshell frames.
Zenni offers a few name brands on its website, but the selection is not extensive. They do, however, offer significant discounts on the brands they carry, and they have savings of up to 60%. This includes:
- Kate Spade
- Nike
- Carrera
- Marc Jacobs
- Lacoste
While their branded eyewear collection isn’t that extensive, they do have a broad selection of glasses from their own brand. This includes running, cycling, and protective sports sunglasses. So, Zenni is a good pick for anyone who doesn’t want to splurge but still wants a pair of cool shades.
Although Zenni offers some prescription lenses, they’re not a specialist. Other online retailers offer more bespoke lenses and prescription solutions.
Pros:
- Super cheap non-branded options for budget shoppers
- Good kids’ glasses selection
- Cheap enough to buy multiple pairs
Frames Direct: Up-to-date designer collections.
This online eyewear retailer is a one-stop shop for all your eyewear needs. Frames Direct has more bespoke solutions than some of the other retailers on the list. They offer a range of products, including sunglasses, eyeglasses, and contacts.
They sell some big names, including these guys:
- Versace
- Tory Burch
- Maui Jim
- Gucci
- Costa
- Bottega Veneta
When it comes to contact lenses, they sell popular brands like Acuvue, Biofinity, and Air Optix. So it’s a good place to go for customers who want all their eyewear needs met in one place.
Frames Direct has a few key features that set it apart from other discount retailers. Firstly, they have some exclusive collections and buzzworthy products. I’m talking about the new Wayfarer Puffer by A$AP ROCKY and the Ray-Bans Meta AI collection.
Frames Direct offers exclusive deals, making it a go-to destination for lovers of designer eyewear. But they help customers navigate the best deals by breaking down which brands are in certain price brackets.
For example, they offer their suggestions for favorites starting at $40, which include Nike Eyewear and Ralph Lauren. On the higher end of the price range, they have luxury brands starting at $200, including Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.
They have a dedicated discounts and sales section with up to 50% off name brands. But compared to other eyewear retailers, Frames Direct isn’t so discount-focused. It seems their pull is the wide selection they carry.
Something also worth noting is that they accept insurance and carry a wide range of lenses, including BlueReflect™ and Transitions®. So it’s a good option for people who are in the market for quality lenses or prescription glasses.
Pros:
- Selection of the latest designer collections
- Selected big discounts on branded eyewear
- Offer contact lenses
Sunglass Hut: The big luxury brand collection.
Some discount retailers offer both online and physical stores, including Sunglass Hut.
Sunglass Hut is owned by the eyewear conglomerate EssilorLuxottica. They own huge brands like Oakley and Ray-Ban. They bought Sunglass Hut in 2001 to expand their physical presence and sell their brands directly to customers.
Although Sunglass Hut has some discounts and sales, it’s not known to be a go-to discount retailer. It’s surprising because they’re owned by the world’s largest eyewear manufacturer, and they could afford to lower their prices. But that’s just not how the luxury market works!
Pros:
- Big designer brands’ collection
- Big online and physical presence
LensCrafters: Lens-focused eyewear.
LensCrafter is another store that has both an online and physical presence. This brand has been around since the ‘80s, but like Sunglass Hut, it was also bought by the eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. The focus of LensCrafters is that customers can choose custom lenses, including prescription lenses.
Although not typically known for being a discount retailer, they do offer sales and discounts on eyewear. They have over 1,000 stores in the U.S and an easy-to-navigate online store.
Since LensCrafters is owned by the same company that owns brands like Ray-Ban, they have dibs on the latest collections. You can now find the new Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses available online.
They have a focus on innovation, new technologies, and staying up-to-date with the latest lenses. That’s why LensCrafters is a good option for customers who want to shop the latest trends and lens options.
Like a few other retailers on the list, they also accept insurance. But one of the benefits of LensCrafters stores is that some locations have on-site eye doctors. They aim to answer questions about everything from insurance to eye care.
Although LensCrafters may not offer as many big discounts as other retailers, they make the most of having physical stores.
Pros:
- Lens specialists
- In-store eye doctor consultations
Warby Parker: Affordable eyewear manufacturer.
You’ve probably heard of Warby Parker. They have stores around the U.S and a popular online store.
Although Warby Parker is newer than some of the other retailers on this list (it was founded in 2010), it has made waves in the eyewear industry.
The thing that makes them different from LensCrafters or Sunglass Hut is that they manufacture their own eyewear. They started with eyeglasses and sunglasses, but in the last few years, they have also started making their own contact lenses.
They’re still on the discount retailer list because even though they design and sell their own glasses, they focus on lower costs and high quality. Their entire ethos was founded on making eyeglasses more affordable.
Their sunglasses currently range from $95 to $195, with styles available at set prices. They are also easy to tailor, as they offer options to filter by size, material, and even ‘Made in Italy.’
The prescription options include lenses that are good for progressives, good for a strong Rx, and good for readers. These filters are great for bargain hunters who have a specific vision of what they need.
They don’t have an ongoing sale section or flashy discounts. But their main products are affordable compared to luxury designer brands.
Pros:
- Large selection of high-quality own-brand eyewear
- Affordable specialized eyewear
- Easy-to-use online filters
TL;DR Summary
The best deals are often available online at discount retailers! Whether you’re looking for contact lenses, glasses, or sunglasses, the big retailers have something for everyone. Here are some final reasons to shop online:
- Online retailers have lower overheads and bigger discounts.
- Some retailers have virtual try-on features.
- Many discount retailers have free shipping across the U.S.
- Some stores accept insurance, but it’s worth checking.
- Online brands have BIG sales and coupons.
So there you have it, go find your favorite!
