There was a time in my life where I resented needing to wear glasses, but those days are long gone—right along with the nerdy frames of my youth! 🤓 There’s a wider variety of styles to choose from now more than ever, and changing up my look rarely involves leaving the house.
As much as I love treating myself to new frames whenever I’m in the mood, I don’t love breaking the bank to do it! Two websites I’ve ordered glasses from online are Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect—both fantastic choices when it comes to fashionable frames and affordability. But I will say, there’s one that’s won my heart more than the other. 👀
So let’s break it down, shall we?
If you want high quality frames at affordable prices… Zenni Optical
While both EyeBuyDirect and Zenni Optical have frames available for as low as $7, Zenni Optical is a serious value. In some cases, the price you see for frame listings even includes a basic prescription lens with anti-reflective and UV protective coating!
And for those customers who do need to upgrade their lens with an add-on or a more powerful prescription, the higher price point isn’t just a random markup: the higher price includes improved clarity and a thinner lens.
With EyeBuyDirect, on the other hand, the price listed only ever covers the frames—you have to pay additional money for even their most basic prescription lens that has anti-reflection and anti-scratch coating, let alone upgrading the lenses beyond that.
And if you’re worried about skimping on quality by choosing the more cost conscious Zenni Optical frames and lenses, don’t be—all Zenni glasses are high quality and super durable!
If you're looking for Transitions Gen S lenses...Zenni Optical
I'm really into these ultra-responsive lenses that darken and lighten in seconds and are 100% UVA & UVB protection and blue-violet light filtering. You can get them on both Zenni and EyeBuyDirect, however I compared the cost of Transition Gen S lenses across various indexes and color choices, and Zenni was consistently more affordable — to the tune of $10 to $59 less than EyeBuyDirect.
While EyeBuyDirect offers six colors for their Transition lenses, Zenni steps up the game with eight! With so many cool, vibrant colors to choose from and 745 (!!!) men’s frames to pair them with, Zenni’s combinations are endless. These are NOT your grandpa's transitions lenses. 😉
If you’re looking for designer frames… EyeBuyDirect
While EyeBuyDirect has a selection of their own frames available, their business model’s biggest selling point is offering discounts on designer brands you’ve probably heard of like Ray-Ban and Oakley. If you prefer to wear glasses from a designer collection, EyeBuyDirect is your winner!
Personally, I never saw a huge difference in quality between designer frames and the brandless options I’ve purchased from Zenni Optical, and I’m not totally convinced a major difference exists aside from the logo and significantly higher price point!
If you want thousands of styles to choose from… Zenni Optical
Both EyeBuyDirect and Zenni Optical offer a ton of different daily wear frames, making it almost impossible not to find a frame that fits your vibe. But Zenni takes it a step further with a seemingly endless selection of frames that are unique, current, and stylish.
And because these trendy glasses also happen to be affordable, you could easily walk away with 3-5 pairs for the price you might have paid for just one pair from your optician—without factoring in the price of lenses.
I ordered three pairs of Zenni glasses recently, including a classic oval shape for weekends, an easy rectangle shape to wear to work, and this pair of browline glasses for when I'm feeling funky.
If you need a wider variety of frame options… Zenni Optical
With Zenni Optical, there is truly a frame to suit every need!
If you suffer from migraines, they offer beautiful rose colored lenses at varying deepnesses to help with attack relief and prevention. If you’re looking for custom lenses for your VR set so you can play your games with crystal clear viewing, they’ve got you covered there, too! Zenni even offers goggles and other kinds of sportswear—none of which EyeBuyDirect offers.
My overall winner… Zenni Optical!
Can you tell how much I love ordering new glasses from Zenni? 🙋♀️
Zenni Optical is the clear winner for overall value, widest selection of fashionable frames, and all-around versatility. If you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses (or in my case, three 😅), you need to shop Zenni.
