The 8 Best Places to Buy Contacts Online of 2023 (2023)

When it comes to buying contacts online there are a ton of options, but we like Discount Contacts the best because it’s easy to use, has massive brand selection, and flexible subscriptions with steep discounts. Our tester was a first-time Discount Contact Lens customer filling a new contact lens prescription. The first thing that struck her about ordering her contacts with this site was the product selection, which she called deep and extensive. “I was quickly able to find my specific contact lenses and along the way noticed that every single other brand I’ve ever worn over the last 20 years was also available,” she said.

As a new customer, she was eligible for a 20% discount (which may fluctuate, but at time of publication was still 20% off). The site also offers several different subscription plans. You can choose the interval—they have options ranging from every two weeks to every two years. All subscription plans offer 20% off and free shipping (regular orders are eligible for free shipping over $99).

One of the easiest and most seamless features of the site is how you add prescriptions. On every single listing, they will show a diagram of the box and highlight exactly which numbers correspond to the entry field so even if you don’t know what the numbers mean, you can add your prescription details. Our tester chose to have Discount Contact Lens confirm the prescription with her doctor (a nice option if you don’t have it in hand), but there is also an upload tool where you can add a photo or attachment.

The only downside our tester found to ordering with Discount Contact Lens is the app experience. The mobile app is just a dashboard for users with an account. To do anything beyond manage your account information, the app sends you to the website. Our tester said she wished the app could support the entire purchasing process beyond simple account management.

With more than 42 brands to choose from, you’ll find the best contact lenses for you—and all at an affordable price. New members also get 20 percent off on all contact lenses, so you save a little money with your first-time order.

Because the company has been around since 1995, they’ve got the system down, with easy navigation to order contacts online. If you do have a question, you can give them a call as well. Keep in mind, you do have to spend $99 to get free shipping with an online order at this site.

If you want to make sure you get a fresh set of lenses every month, then the1800contacts.compage should get a spot on your bookmark list. You can easily input your prescription information—and update it at any time—and you'll automatically get your contacts when you need them, without even thinking about it.

If you decide not to do the subscription and realize you're out of lenses, you can also order a set for next-day delivery. Better yet, if your Rx changes and you still have some lenses left, you can send back the remaining unopened boxes for money toward your nextorder.

Get your eye exam and prescription and order contacts (and glasses, if you want them, too), all at Lenscrafters locations across the country. The vision care center offers a few different brands, and your eye doctor can easily suggest which would be best for you. Choose from different pack sizes, from a few dailies to a three-month supply of monthlies. You can also find contacts for different conditions like astigmatism or multifocal lenses.

Besides the option to buy in-person, you can also easily order contacts online from Lenscrafters—a good idea if you’re just looking for a renewal and want to get it done quickly.

Known for their buy-one, give-one glasses, you can find more than just a pair of spectacles at Coastal. They also offer contact lenses, which you can easily order (and re-order) when you need them. If you aren’t sure how, they have an online chat option so a rep can help you out. They offer a price match guarantee, too, so you can get them inexpensively.

Coastal also offers colored contact lenses and “enhancers” that simply magnify the natural color of your eyes.

Order popular brands like Dailies, Acuvue, or Bausch & Lomb (among others) for your everyday contact wearing. The Walgreens website often offers discounts on lenses—in fact, right now you can snag a 20 percent off deal on all contact lenses that the retailer sells.

Besides keeping contacts budget-friendly, Walgreens also offers tons of options for you to choose the right set. You can get daily disposables or pairs you toss after a month or a week—opt for colored lenses to change your pupil hue or focus on multifocal if you need better sight near and far.

Web Eye Care has a great selection of popular contact lenses at incredibly affordable prices, and their subscription service makes the contact-buying experience hassle-free—you can even reorder with Alexa.

If you're someone who waits by the window to watch for your package delivery, sign up for SMS notifications so you know exactly what's going on with your order (and shipping is free!). Life happens, and if you need to postpone or change your subscription, logging into your account to change the timing is a breeze. Want to cancel? Just text, email, or calland they take care of you right away.

Filled the wrong prescription? Don’t like the way your lenses feel? No matter why you have to return your contacts, you can do so at any time—and for free. They’ll cover the cost of shipping them back, all you have to do is make sure to call the customer service center first (or email them) before packing them up. The rep will tell you what to do to get your order back, including the paperwork to fill out. It’ll take just two to three business days after you submit everything to get the cash back on your card.

In addition to the great return policy, you have lots of brands to choose from and that customer service team can help you out with any questions you have before your order.

Final Verdict

Discount Contact Lenses is a great place to look for your next pair of contacts. They offer a wide range of prices and prescriptions, and have subscription options that make getting your prescription easy. If you're not looking for a subscription service, and would rather have a one-stop-shop purchase, LensCrafters is your best bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How often should you replace your contacts?

  That depends on the style of contacts you and your doctor agree on. With the exception of gas permeable or scleral lenses, which can last for years with proper care, most contacts have a shelf life of three months at the most. That doesn’t apply to all lenses, however: if you’re opting for daily disposables, weekly, or monthly lenses, you’ll need to follow the replacement schedule outlined by the manufacturer of your contacts.

• Do you need a prescription to order contacts?

  You should have a prescription from your doctor. If a website claims you can order contacts without a prescription, you should steer clear—it’s not a legitimate retailer. The FDA has mandated that contact lenses cannot be sold without a valid prescription. Even if you are only ordering contacts for cosmetic reasons, like wanting to change your eye color or the physical appearance of your eye, you still need a current prescription from an eye doctor.

  You also need to make sure you’ve told your doctor about wanting to wear contact lenses (either along with or instead of glasses). Contact lens prescriptions are different from eyeglass prescriptions because contacts are inserted into your eyes and are considered medical devices. You won’t be able to order contacts with a prescription for eyeglasses.

• How much do contacts cost?

  The price for contacts varies based on how many you’re purchasing. Contact lens boxes often come in packs with a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month supply. For a 3-month supply, you can expect to pay between $30 to $100 per month. Discount Contact Lens, our top pick, offers 3-month supplies ranging between $30 to $50. And they often offer 20% off for first-time customers. Some ways to lower the cost of contact lenses include using free shipping codes, buying larger quantities at a time, or buying them with a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through insurance.