Don’t get me wrong–I love throwing on a pair of trendy glasses to put the finishing touch on my OOTD. They’re a big part of my personal style (I’m super into ‘70s fashion), but more and more, I’d rather just pop in a pair of contacts and leave the frames at home!
When it comes to buying contacts I need the process to be seamless. I’m personally going to choose the company that has the easiest, cleanest, and most organized shopping experience, especially since I’ll be buying my pair over and over again.
With this in mind, I got to work comparing two popular contacts companies: Warby Parker and 1-800-Contacts. In my eyes, there’s definitely a clear winner…
If you’re looking for a great customer experience at a great price point… Warby Parker
When you factor in new customer discounts for both Warby Parker and 1-800-Contacts, Warby’s prices are comparable to 1-800-Contacts’ prices. If you’re comparing actual prices (without discounts), Warby’s prices are $3-5 lower than 1-800’s. And the cherry on top is that Warby Parker offers a total breeze of a customer experience, too!
Warby Parker’s experience was everything I wanted it to be. The website is easy to navigate, you can contact their customer service in different ways (including text!). Also, you can easily book an eye exam at a store near you for a prescription, or renew your current prescription virtually, if eligible, in just 10 minutes.
Plus, you’ll get all these good things:
- 15% off your first order
- Free, expedited shipping + no hidden fees
- $50 eyewear credit with an annual contacts supply purchase
- FSA, HSA, and insurance accepted
- Free returns & exchanges
If you want to find your contacts brand in the easiest way possible…Warby Parker
You will be surprised by just how quickly you can find your brand of contacts on Warby's site. Their main contacts page displays a variety of popular brands for a seamless “add to cart” experience, and users can also easily filter by lens type, brand, and manufacturer, or search by name.
If you thought it couldn’t get any easier, my favorite feature of Warby Parker’s is their “Scan Box” button. All you have to do is scan your box to find your brand, meaning you don’t even have to type in your prescription information! This is something 1-800-Contacts doesn’t have, and I love how this thoughtful feature makes ordering my contacts so much faster.
If you want to shop for fashionable frames in addition to contacts… it’s a tie
I need to have both glasses and contacts on hand so I can switch things up depending on my mood. I knew Warby Parker was known for their on-trend glasses frames, and during my research I found out that 1-800-Contacts also has a frames brand called Liingo.
Both Warby Parker and Liingo offer a wide variety of frame types at accessible price points, so you’re sure to find the right pair to “add to cart” along with your contacts order. However, I personally found Warby Parker’s frames to be higher-quality and fit seamlessly with my fashion sense. Plus, when you buy an annual contacts supply with Warby, you’ll get a $50 credit to use on any glasses or sunglasses.
If you love the in-person experience… Warby Parker
Sometimes you just want to go to a store and talk to a human who can help you with your questions. Should I get dailies? Should I get monthlies? I also wasn’t all the way sold on the idea of sticking my finger in my eye! Having someone to walk me through the process really calmed my nerves, and that’s something you just can’t get virtually.
1-800-Contacts is a fully online service, which is convenient. But for me, I like knowing that I can go to a physical Warby Parker location if I need help with anything, or I just want some opinions as I try on 5, 6, or even 10 frames!
And the winner is… Warby Parker
After comparing them side-by-side, Warby Parker is the better choice. Shopping for contacts with Warby Parker is simple & affordable, and personally, I love being able to shop online and in-person. You can’t beat having options. Don’t just take my word for it–shop with Warby Parker and get 15% off your first contacts order!
