The Best Glasses For Men That Combine Style And Quality

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14-day return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as FSA/HSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

• Best for: Wide selection, an easy virtual try-on experience, and free shipping and returns.
• Keep in mind: The expansive selection can be overwhelming for some; try utilizing the site filters to narrow your options.

In our reporting, we’ve consistently found GlassesUSA to be one of the best online prescription glasses retailers, offering a mix of high-end designer frames (Ray-Ban, Gucci, Oakley) and less expensive in-house brands. Our panel testers noted the ease of the ordering process, saying that “it was very easy to enter my prescription details and even go back to change the color of the frame without having to re-enter any details. The process was simple and I felt confident making my complicated prescription order.” The virtual try-on feature eliminates guesswork in figuring out if the frames will look good on you but there’s also free shipping and returns for peace of mind, too. 

Turnaround time: 7 to 14 days | Return policy: 14-day free returns for a one-time replacement or refund | Insurance accepted: No, but FSA/HSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

• Best for: Eyebuydirect stands out for their budget lens selection, and they offer two-day delivery on many frames if you need your glasses in a rush.
• Keep in mind: You only get free USPS ground shipping on orders over $119, so if you’re buying inexpensive frames you may still have to pay a bit more for shipping.

If your prescription is in flux (and you find yourself re-buying glasses a lot) or you’re on a budget, Eyebuydirect keeps prices down by vertically integrating everything from concept to design to manufacturing in-house. The site can be filtered to show bestsellers for men specifically, and you can further refine the results from there. “I like that you can filter by all of the possible measurements, including bridge width, lens height and width, etc.," says our tester. "My prescription requires a certain size lens or I experience distortion, so that filter feature was very useful.” Frames start at $6 and standard lenses at $7 or you can opt for upgrades like advanced lenses and premium lenses, which go for $49 and $80, respectively.

Turnaround time: 1 to 2 days | Return policy: 90 days | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

• Best for: Those who want custom, stylish readers that are an upgrade from basic drugstore buys.
• Keep in mind: They only offer free standard shipping for orders over $42, so you may have to order more than one pair to qualify for free shipping.

I recently started wearing reading glasses and tested out Peepers, which specializes in readers specifically. I really appreciated the expansive selection—there are endless options—and the virtual try-on feature. Bonus: You can consult a convenient printable chart to test your vision at home and find what magnification strength you need. One complaint, though, is that the readers start at +1.0 strength, which doesn’t work for those who need less than that (such as +0.50 or +0.75). But the prices are great; most pairs cost between $22 to $30 including the lenses, and you can also shop sunglasses and blue light glasses here, too. 

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days | Insurance accepted: Yes, in addition to HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as at-home try-on | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

• Best for: Free shipping and great customer service along with both virtual try-on and in-home try-on options.
• Keep in mind: They only offer in-house brands.

It’s hard to beat the style of Warby Parker frames, which come in so many different shapes, shades and fits. The brand pioneered the concept of glasses you can try at home—select up to five options, for free—so you find the pair you like best without the hassle of multiple orders. Our testers praised the flattering aesthetics of the glasses, which married fashion and function well. “The pair I ordered was not the lightest frames of the eyeglasses I tested, but they are the most comfortable," says our tester. "The nose tips were spaced a comfortable distance, needing no adjustment, whereas some of the other brands I tried required nose-rest adjustments due to being abnormally narrow when shipped. The frames stayed comfortable on my face all day, with no ear shaft pressure or discomfort.” If you don’t like your new glasses, you can return them for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of receipt. And if your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free. 

Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

• Best for: High quality designer frames at big savings.
• Keep in mind: You have to pay shipping for refunded returns, and there are also limited product photos on the website.

If your taste runs designer but you don’t want to spend a small fortune, Frames Direct is a good option. Our tester says, “I love what a great deal I got on Ray-Ban frames. These frames would have cost $725 and I checked out for $409. I felt great about that.” Other details to note: There are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like Gucci and Versace to more mid-range options like Oakley and Ray-Ban, and some pairs arrive with a certificate of authenticity that guarantees the glasses are genuine. Most brands sell for 20% to 80% off the retail price, and you can often find discounts.

Turnaround time: 6 to 10 business days| Return policy: 30 days | Insurance accepted: No, although HSA/FSA are accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

• Best for: Those who want single vision lenses, progressive lenses or magnification along with substantial blue light protection.
• Keep in mind: While they offer a quick and easy virtual try-on feature, their frame measurements aren’t as detailed as they could be.

Felix Gray is known for their stylish blue-light-blocking glasses and in our previous reporting on the topic, has consistently scored highly. Our tester says, “I upgraded to Felix Grey from a cheapie bookstore pair and the difference is significant. The Felix Grey frames feel super sturdy and high-quality, just like a pair of glasses from the optician, and the blue light-blocking lenses are totally clear. I wear them when I work at my computer all day, and I have less eye strain and headaches compared to my old glasses.” You can choose between clear and amber frames, the latter of which specifically filters the range of blue light that impacts melatonin secretion as a way to potentially help you sleep better at night.