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- Warby Parker is a popular D2C
eyewear company that makes it easy to find newglasses , regardless of how you prefer to shop for them. - The brand offers brick-and-mortar locations as well as online shopping with the support of home try-on and virtual try-on services.
- I've ordered glasses from Warby Parker in the past but didn't use the free home try-on service. This time, I put it to the test, and it made the ordering process much less stressful and helped me pick a
style outside my comfort zone.
Warby Parker has become a go-to destination for eyewear, not just because it's cool and trendy, but because it combines elements that make shopping easy for everyone. From the brick-and-mortar stores to the home try-on and virtual try-on services, you can shop however you feel most comfortable.
As someone who has bought plenty of glasses in-store and online (including some from
Warby Parker offers a large variety of frame styles with options for prescription glasses, reading glasses,
With glasses starting at $95, Warby Parker may not be the absolute cheapest option on the market, but it's definitely affordable, especially considering the high-quality eyewear that you get.
Keep reading to learn all about free Home Try-On and ordering glasses from Warby Parker.
Table of ContentsHow Warby Parker's Home Try-On works
To get started, you'll answer a short quiz. This helps Warby Parker narrow the search down to glasses you'll really like.
Choosing the correct face width is important because it determines how your glasses will fit. I'd say that my face is on the border of narrow and medium. I once ordered a pair of narrow glasses from Warby Parker and they were pretty snug, so if you're not 100% sure that you fall into the narrow category, go with medium, which is the most common size.
You can stick with what you know works best or choose something new. After all, Home Try-On is free.
Warby Parker will recommend frames based on your answers to the quiz, but you're also free to choose frames that weren't suggested. I ended up picking four pairs of glasses and one pair of sunglasses, all of which had some variation of a tortoiseshell pattern. Less than a week later, I received my non-prescription trial glasses in the mail.
The glasses come neatly packaged in a box, along with order instructions, a Home Try-On handbook, and a pre-paid return shipping label. Be sure to save the box because you'll need to send all five pairs back after five business days.
Why Home Try-On is the best way to shop for glasses
From left to right: I tried Warby Parker's Watts, Durand, Percey, Burke, and Weathers glasses.
I've ordered glasses in just about every way possible and this has by far been the least stressful and most reassuring way to pick a frame that I truly like.
Shopping in an eyewear store can be a hassle because there are so many options in front of you. Plus, other people are watching as you try on frames and squint in the mirror to see if they look good. I like to snap a quick selfie of myself wearing them before I decide, which adds to the awkwardness.
Eyeglass websites with virtual try-on can be hit or miss. Sometimes they're more ridiculous than a Snapchat filter and other times they only give you a rough idea of what they'll look like. They're never a truly accurate representation of the frames you're choosing. If you still prefer to use the virtual try-on, you can download Warby Parker's app here.
With Warby Parker, I tried on all five pairs, took selfies in the comfort of my home, and got the opinions of my family. I didn't tell them which pair I preferred, but they all chose the same ones I liked, so I knew that was the pair to go with. Being able to see how each frame looks in-hand and on my face, feel how they fit, and get the opinions of others helped me to make my decision. It only took me one day, but if you're really indecisive or need time to sleep on it, you can test them out over the full five business days.
Ordering your glasses
I ultimately went with the Burke frames because they're different than anything I've worn before. All prescription glasses from Warby Parker start at $95, but after adding blue light filtering lenses (essential for anyone who stares at a screen for hours on end every day) and 1.67 high-index lenses (recommended for anyone with a prescription over +4.00) my order total came to $175.
Although Warby Parker covered the cost for the purpose of my review, I consider that a very fair price for glasses. It's not the cheapest option available, but it's also not anywhere near the most expensive. For the quality of the frames, lenses, and the thoroughness of the home try-on process, it's a good value.
About 10 days later, I received my glasses and they were exactly as I expected them to be. Just like the pair I tried on, they were sturdy and fit my face well. The only difference was that I could see out of them now.
Does Warby Parker take insurance?
Warby Parker accepts insurance for prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, and eye exams.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) that are linked to major credit card companies can also be used to purchase glasses.
Warby Parker accepts insurance from most major eye insurance providers. You can find a list of providers here and specific directions for how to apply for reimbursement.
You won't have to do a lot of digging through the site to submit a reimbursement either. Immediately after I placed my order, Warby Parker reminded me that I could use insurance.
Cons to consider
The only notable con here is that Warby Parker does not offer brands other than its own in-house line. While the quality of the frames is better than the in-house brands of other online eyewear companies, you simply don't have the option to shop popular or designer names here.
I would also describe Warby Parker's selection of frames as modern and unique. Not every frame is available in solid black acetate, so if you like to keep it super simple, you may not find a frame that you like. By the same token, Warby Parker gives you the opportunity to try something new. Even if you're not completely sure you'll like a frame based on what it looks like in pictures, you can use the Home Try-On because it's risk-free and costs you nothing.
The bottom line
If you value pressure-free shopping, convenience, and dependable value, Warby Parker is a great place to shop for eyewear. The brand offers prescription glasses, sunglasses, and blue light blocking glasses. Even if you're comfortable with buying online, you'll always have the option of visiting a Warby Parker store when you need adjustments or other help.