Zenni is well-known for its cheap and trendy eyeglasses — we tested several pairs to see if they live up to the hype

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Zenni is arguably the most popular and well known online retailer for prescription eyewear — and for good reason. The brand is revered for its super affordable prices, easy-to-use shopping experience, and lens options for every imaginable use.

As two editors who have tested nearly every other online glasses retailer, we tested Zenni to see if it lives up to the hype. Spoiler alert: it does.

Zenni's lens options

Useful lens options are equally important to stylish frames, and Zenni has everything you need. From blue light-blocking lenses, Transitions, and polarized sunglasses to progressive, bifocals, and readers, Zenni can meet your needs. You'll also find options for high-index lenses best suited for stronger prescriptions. The brand even sells nighttime driving lenses and prescription lenses for Meta Quest VR headsets.

Does Zenni take insurance?

Zenni doesn't take insurance directly, but you'll get a detailed receipt in your order history that can be used for reimbursement through your insurance. However, if you're using FSA or HSA dollars, you can spend them directly on the site. Just check out using your FSA/HSA card the same way you would with a credit or debit card. Zenni Learn more about using your FSA or HSA dollars on Zenni.

Sally's review of Zenni

I have never received more compliments on my glasses than when I wear my Zenni Optical pairs — in fact, my interesting designer frames from brands like Prada and Fendi get very little attention in comparison! But it just shows that you don't have to spend a ton of money on name-brand glasses to get something unique or stand out.

Both pairs that I have were around $60, including lenses, making them super affordable and easy to replace or experiment with different styles. And yes, you might need to replace them every couple of years — I wore one of my pairs every single day for about 3 years before the frames cracked due to an aggressive lens-cleaning effort, but thankfully, they continued making the same style, so I was able to reorder them for really cheap. My replacement pair is still going strong 2 years later.

One of the things I really like about Zenni is that they make the search easy if you have a prescription with limitations on style options. For example, my prescription requires two numbers for my pupillary distance, which not all styles can accommodate. Zenni lets me sort by glasses that work with two PD numbers. Plus, there are a ton of other ways to sort glasses based on your needs — from lightweight frames to pairs that are ideal for high prescriptions.

Amir's review of Zenni

As a first-time Zenni shopper, I was immediately impressed by their assortment of frames and just how affordable they were. Affordable frames are a plus for everyone, but they're especially great for people with a strong prescription like myself. You'll always pay more for thinner high-index lenses, so it's nice to save on other parts of the glasses.

I went with a simple gold wire frame for $6.95, and after upgrading to high-index lenses with an anti-reflective coating, my total came out to $106, which is an amazing deal for eyewear that requires lens upgrades.

Using virtual try-on at Zenni

Zenni has one of the best virtual try-ons I've used. It's available on Zenni's website and mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play. I almost always pick out the same or very similar frames every time I get new glasses, so I decided to pick a style that was completely new for me — and Zenni's virtual try-on helped me choose a style. With most glasses retailers, virtual try-ons can be very janky, with an unrealistic view of the glasses, rendering them mostly useless.

Cons to consider

The only downsides to Zenni are a lack of in-store locations and the overall quality of the less expensive frames. If you value in-store support like adjustments, you won't get that from Zenni. The brand's frames are a great bargain, but are not the highest quality. However, if your frames break, they are cheap enough to replace rather than repair.

The bottom line

Overall, Zenni is the best place to shop for prescription eyewear if you're on a budget. The brand has super affordable frames from its in-house line and name brands like Fossil, Nike, Calvin Klein, and more. Whether you're using the website or the mobile app, Zenni makes it easy to shop around, save your favorite frames, and virtually try them on before buying.