Contributor, Benzinga
March 1, 2023
Warby Parker
Overall Rating:
securely through Warby Parker's website

Warby Parker is an online retailer of eyewear, and its direct-to-consumer business model has helped to revolutionize the way people buy prescription glasses. If you have been to your eye doctor and have a recent prescription, you can easily shop for glasses online at more affordable rates when compared to standard doctors offices. Warby Parker has a large catalog of options to fit any style, size or color preference. While they are most well known for prescription glasses, they offer prescription sunglasses, contacts and non-prescription glasses as well.

One of the best features of Warby Parker is their Home Try-On program, which is free for anyone considering buying a pair of glasses. No one wants to buy glasses without seeing them in person, so Warby Parker allows you to pick your five favorite frames and sends them to you so that you can see what they really look like before making a purchase.

Best For
  • Online shoppers with a current vision prescription
  • Anyone looking for affordable rates on prescription glasses or sunglasses
  • Shoppers looking for a personalized pair of frames or multiple pairs of prescription glasses
Pros
  • Allows you to try out up to 5 frames in your own home
  • Affordable pricing allows you to invest in multiple pairs glasses
  • Mobile app features a highly accurate Virtual Try-On feature
Cons
  • VTO only avail iPhone X+, but it is now available on the website

Warby Parker Ratings at a Glance

Customer Service
Pricing
Mobile App
User Experience
Overall

Warby Parker Product Offerings

Warby Parker offers many options for eyewear, including glasses, sunglasses and contacts. The company’s glasses can be outfitted with blue-light-filtering lenses, progressive lenses and even anti-fatigue options for an additional cost, so your pair can be customized to fit your needs. Warby Parker customers can also choose multiple sizes, which can be beneficial if you find standard frames don’t fit your face.

The most important part of your new glasses are the lenses, and Warby Parker offers several options to customize your pair, both in terms of performance and budget. The standard lens features scratch resistant and anti-reflective coatings, plus offers UV protection—and is included in their $95 optical glasses. You can also purchase progressive lenses from Warby Parker. Typically progressive lenses cost significantly more than standard lenses, and Warby Parker’s are no different, starting at $295.

If you’re looking for a simple pair of reading glasses (simple magnification, up to +2.75) then those are available as well, and no prescription is needed to buy. If you just want a pair of stylish glasses, Warby Parker offers non-prescription options, too.

When it comes to styles, Warby Parker has a wide range of silhouettes and colors that can work with any face shape or desired look. Whether you’re looking for a traditional option or something that will stand out, you’ll find a huge selection of both wire and acetate frames through Warby Parker.

Warby Parker also produces its own brand of contacts, as well as offers a wide range of other brands at affordable prices. A three-month supply of Scout, Warby Parker’s own daily contact lens, is available for only $110, which comes out to less than $1.50 per day. Scout contacts were also designed to be portable and convenient. Each lens comes in a space-saving flat pack that’s easier to transport and store than traditional contacts.

Warby Parker Customer Service

Warby Parker’s customer service is readily available, and the company’s return process is easy and streamlined. Warby Parker provides shipping information for both Home Try-Ons as well as any purchases and returns you make online or through the app. 

You can use the following contact methods to get in touch with Warby Parker's team. 

  • By phone: To contact Warby Parker by phone, call 888-492-7297. Live phone services are available from 9am to 10 pm EST.
  • Live chat: If you prefer to communicate with Warby Parker online, try out the company’s online chat features through its primary website here. Like phone services, chat services are monitored between the hours of 9am to 10 pm EST.

All of Warby Parker’s frames include a 30-day hassle-free return period, which allows you to get a refund for frames that don’t feel right on your face after purchase. 

Warby Parker Pricing

Warby Parker is among the lowest-cost options for online prescription eyeglasses, featuring a quality product and a hassle-free return policy that ensures you won’t get stuck with a low-quality pair of frames. Prescription glasses start out at $95, with add-ons like blue-light filtering, anti-fatigue and progressive lenses increasing the price. 

For the price and convenience of online buying, plus the free Home Try-On, Warby Parker still provides great value, especially when compared to the standard doctor’s office buying experience. While competitors may have similarly priced frames, Warby Parker’s diverse range of styles will fit most tastes as well as budgets. 

Warby Parker Mobile App

The Warby Parker mobile app currently has more than 55,000 positive reviews in the Apple Store, and all of its features are currently compatible with iPhone X and more advanced models. While this means that not every user will be able to take advantage of the app, those with an iPhone can access the following special benefits.

  • Virtual try-Ons: Warby Parker’s app allows you to take advantage of augmented reality features to “try on” pairs of frames using your phone’s front-facing camera. While you can only request five pairs be sent to your home to try on in person, there are an endless number of possibilities on the mobile app.
  • Pupillary distance calculator: Shopping: You can also buy new frames and order them directly through the app. If you have Apple Pay enabled on your device, you can also buy without the hassle of manually entering your credit card information at checkout.

The Warby Parker app is available as a free download for Apple users. 

Warby Parker User Experience

Warby Parker wins major points for its user experience, which makes it easy to try on frames, return the ones that don’t work with your look and feel good about the pair of frames you eventually settle on. Some of Warby Parker’s most unique features include the following.

  • Home Try-On: You need to wear your glasses every day, so it makes sense to want to try on a few pairs in person before you buy. Warby Parker offers a Home Try-On feature that allows you to test out the frames that interest you in the comfort of your own home before you settle on a set to purchase.

Start by shopping online through Warby Parker’s website and select 5 pairs of frames that you want to try out. Warby Parker will send you a pair of each frame that you request with clear lenses so you can try them on and see how they fit on your face before adding your prescription. Trying on frames is completely free, and the company will provide you with a free pre-paid return label to send back the frames when you’re done. Warby Parker offers try-on services for both men’s and women’s frames along with sunglasses.

  • Online style quiz: Not sure which type of frames would work best with your current lifestyle and aesthetic? Warby Parker offers a comprehensive online style quiz that you can take before selecting a few pairs of frames to try on. Streamline your search and get a bit of help selecting frames — just like you might receive shopping for glasses in-person.
  • One-stop-shop for vision needs: While Warby Parker is best known for its range of eyeglasses, the company has recently introduced daily use contact lenses as well. Scout by Warby Parker is Warby’s contact division, offering affordable lenses designed to maintain a higher level of hydration throughout the day. You can purchase three months of contact lenses from $110, which comes out to less than $1.50 per day. If you’re the type of person who prefers to have both contact lenses and frames on-hand, Warby Parker can provide a one-stop-shop for all your vision needs.
  • Buy a Pair, Give a Pair: More than 1 billion men and women around the world are living in underdeveloped areas that don’t provide them with access to the vision care services they need. For every pair of glasses you purchase through Warby Parker, a pair is distributed to someone in need. 

Warby Parker Overall

Overall, Warby Parker is a solid choice for prescription glasses and contact lenses. The company has 200+ locations and many locations in various market, plus its Home Try-On program allows you to test out up to 5 pairs in your home. Warby Parker’s selection of frames is extensive, with pairs beginning at $95. While not every user will be able to take advantage of Warby Parker’s mobile features, it offers an affordable solution for almost all vision care needs with support for vision insurance policyholders as well. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Is Warby Parker legit?

A

Warby Parker provides legitimate prescription glasses, sunglasses and contacts at a reasonable cost. There is no “catch” with the in-home trial, it’s easy to select 5 frames you like and you can try them at home with no obligation to purchase them.

Q

How much do Warby Parker glasses cost?

A

Warby Parker glasses start at $95, and the price can go up from there depending on your frame selection, lens type and the add-ons you choose when customizing your glasses. Warby Parker also offers progressive lenses starting at $295.

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About Sarah Horvath

Sarah is an expert in the insurance, investing for retirement and cryptocurrency space.