Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (2024)

Picking out eyeglasses is no joke. But, just because they’re prescription glasses doesn’t mean they should look boring. They’re going to be a daily accessory. So, you need to find ones that flatter your face shape and are aligned with your style.

The problem is buying chic; high-quality glasses can sometimes cost an arm and a leg. Some designer brands can cost upwards of $100; others even more.

But who says you have to pay a fortune to cop stylish, well-made eyeglasses?

With a brand likeZenni Optical, you can choose from over 2,500 different frames. The best part is that you can do it without breaking the bank. Today, we’ll go through what the brand stands for and some of its bestsellers.

About Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (1)

Zenni Optical was founded by two scientists in 2003. The company was born in the heart of San Francisco—a hub of fashion-forward, innovative brands.

The brand was launched on a simple pretense: everyone deserved to see properly, look good in glasses, and not have to pay hundreds of dollars. They believed that all people should have access to high-quality and affordable eyewear.

Inclusion and celebrating diversity sit at the brand’s and its team’s core. So, they ensure two things for their customers. The first is affordable pricing for all items. The next is a wide selection of eyewear to choose from, so there’s something for everyone.

Prescription glasses start at $6.95. But they don’t stop there. You can also shop for sunglasses, non-prescription frames, blue-light-blocking lenses, and more! In addition, Free-form, progressive glasses will have a higher but reasonable price of $35.

There are thousands of frames to choose from on their website. That means it’s easy to end up with your dream frames in the precise color and shape you want. They’re made with state-of-the-art materials to give you the finest quality possible.

Since its inception, the company has sold over 40 million pairs of glasses. They’ve also collaborated with influencers like George, Claire Kittle, Iris Apfel, and more.

The brand has built a large, solid community on social media. On Instagram, they have over 325k followers. And on Facebook, they have more than a million likes. Big stars like Rashida Jones have caught on the Zenni bandwagon (the actress proudly sports her pair!).

Ordering from Zenni Optical

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One of the best parts about shopping on the brand’s website is its try-on feature. It allows you to check how a certain frame looks on you before you buy it.

Every time you place an order on the website, they send it straight to the factory. There, your frames are custom-made according to your choices. Then, your eyewear goes through every step of Zenni’s meticulous quality control process.

After that, your glasses are carefully packed and shipped to you! They come with a simple yet beautiful eyeglass case and a complimentary lens cloth. On a regular day, the brand ships out 7,000 pairs worldwide (in over 80 countries, to be exact).

The brand also boasts award-winning customer service. They have a team that’s always on top of every order. So, if you have questions about your order, don’t hesitate to contact support.

It only takes 3-5 for delivery, and you get 30-day returns. The only con is that they don’t provide free shipping, starting at $4.95.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Affordable pricing
  • Wide range of stylish frames
  • Virtual try-on feature to help you decide what to buy
  • Over a million social media followers around the world
  • You get 30-day returns
  • Just 3-5 days for doorstep delivery
  • Has collabs with influencers and stars
  • Excellent customer support

Cons:

  • No free shipping

Zenni Optical Bestsellers Review

Browline Glasses 1911823

Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (3)

These browline glasses are for you if you want a vintage style with a touch of bookish charm. The round, metal frames complement bold facial features and bigger face shapes. It gives your face a softer look.

This frame design has brow and temple arms that are nice and glossy. This touch gives you that sensitive artist look.

They’re available in dark brown with flecks of green and three transparent hues. These are clear, lilac, and honey.

  • What customers like about it:
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Perfect for those who love vintage frame styles

Cat-Eye Glasses 2024421

Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (4)

Next up, we have an angular cat-eye frame. This trendy frame is cute on those with rounder face shapes, as it can add a sharper look to the face. But, again, this is an excellent choice for women who want a bit of attitude and youthfulness in their eyewear.

The TR90 plastic frames have a glossy finish. It’s available in four colors—black, cream, tortoiseshell, and red.

  • What customers like about it:
  • Gorgeous and chic style
  • Complements broad faces
  • Comfy and easy-to-wear

Square Glasses 3218617

Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (5)

Another style that will look great on small, round faces is the classic square frame. These square glasses create flattering angles for faces that have delicate features. They’re also great if you want to pull off a competent, professional look.

The thin metal rims of the frames make them perfect for everyday wear. It’s attractive but never flashy. Add a fashion tint to the lenses if you want flair to this simple frame. It would suit the large size of the lenses well!

These frames are available in black and ultraviolet variants.

  • What customers like about it:
  • Simple yet fun and customizable
  • Frames are thin and lightweight but still sturdy
  • It doesn’t slide down the nose
  • Very high-quality

Round Glasses 101235

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These frames are part of Zenni’s “Faithful to the Bay” collection, which honors the 49ers and authentic San Francisco style. In line with this, these round frames are thick-rimmed and have a pop of color to grab attention. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to be bold, even in everyday glasses.

The frames are made with hand-polished acetate. It has a keyhole bridge and thinner temple arms for extra pizzazz, too!

You can get these in sea glass, red, and classic tortoiseshell colors.

  • What customers like about it:
  • Perfect fit on the face
  • Superb quality
  • Durable, so they’ll last a long time

Square Glasses 127921

Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (7)

Lastly, we have the ever-reliable basic square frame. It’s simple but still looks universally fantastic on anyone. This is awesome for anyone who doesn’t want that much attention from their eyewear but still wants to look like a million bucks.

There are loads of color options for these frames. You can go for live glossy colors or matte options, which range from red to tortoiseshell.

  • What customers like about it:
  • Super lightweight, making it very comfortable
  • Durable and lasts years without breaking

Zenni Optical Customer Reviews

The brand has garnered over 130k reviews on Trustpilot. On the site, they have an excellent score of 4.6 out of 6—pretty high as far as Trustpilot goes. There are also thousands of rave reviews on the official website.

Check out this YouTube review fromHanahFilesas well. She did a shopping haul of 20 pairs for the brand and showed fans how each one looked when worn. It’s an awesome way to see how multiple frame styles look on a real human being.

Zenni Optical vs. Eye Buy Direct vs. Warby Parker

Wondering how the brand fares vs. its top competitors? Then, check out how Zenni Optical outperforms them.

Name

Zenni Optical

Warby Parker

Eye Buy Direct

Logo

Website

Products

You can find glasses for men, women and kind:
reading glasses, sunglasses,
sport glasses,
blue light glasses, contacts and etc

You can find glasses for both men and women:
reading glasses, sunglasses,
contacts and etc

You can find glasses and sunglasses from Eye Buy Direct and other premium brands

Glasses example

Square Glasses 7811123, starts from $25.95

York, starts from $145

Botanist, starts from $35

Image

Free US shipping

No, starts from $4.95

Yes

Free shipping only from $99

Free returns

30 days free return

30 days free returns

14 days free returns

Pros

  • Affordable pricing

  • Wide range of stylish frames

  • Virtual try-on

  • You get 30-day returns

  • Just 3-5 days for doorstep delivery

  • Has collabs with influencers and stars

  • Excellent customer support

  • Wide range

  • Supports charity

  • You can book an eye exam

  • Home try on option

  • 365 days warranty

  • Wide variety

  • Affordable

  • Good reviews

  • You can add anti-scratch coating on the lenses

Cons

  • There in no free shipping

  • Pricey

  • Delivery takes up to 12 working days

  • Free shipping only from $99

  • Delivery may take up to 14 days

The brand is far more affordable than brands like Warby Parker. For example, glasses start at less than $6.95.

Meanwhile, the cheapest pair at Warby Parker is an astounding $95. Also, Warby Parker seems to have customer service that is quite poor, going by reviews online.

This is a far cry from Zenni’s award-winning customer service team, which is great for peace of mind.

Zenni Optical and Eye Buy Direct are both affordable. But when it comes to deliveries and returns, Eye Buy Direct isn’t the best.

For example, delivery can take up to two weeks from the brand. Plus, they only have 14-day returns, unlike Zenni’s 30-day policy.

Is Zenni worth it?

Absolutely! The company offers a wide range of eyewear styles for an affordable price.

The designs are simple yet attractive. And as long as you know how to pick frames for your face shape, they’re sure to be flattering on you. But, of course, the fast shipping and 30-day returns are just the cherries on top when buying from them.

When you need a new pair of glasses but don’t want to burn a hole in your pockets, try out Zenni. You get quality, style, and loads of frame options, all for a reasonable price.

Shop Zenni now.

Read This Next:

  • Eyeconic Review: 5 Things To Know Before Buying Glasses
  • Our Readers.com Review — Are These Glasses Worth the Try?
Zenni Optical Review: Bestsellers, Pros & Cons, Is It Worth It? (2024)

FAQs

Why are glasses from Zenni so cheap? ›

Zenni Optical offers a wide range of frames and lenses at prices that are significantly lower than traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. This is because Zenni Optical cuts out the middleman and sells directly to consumers, allowing them to offer lower prices without sacrificing quality.

Is Zenni optical the best? ›

Overall, Zenni Optical is a great place to shop online for cheap prescription glasses. However, you may notice the difference in quality if you're used to spending hundreds of dollars on a pair of glasses.

Are Zenni glasses shipped from China? ›

How Zenni works. Zenni Optical owns a production facility in China. Once you place your order, it goes straight to the factory where all the frames and lenses are made, according to the company.

Why is Zenni so popular? ›

Consumers Love Zenni

As a brand that prioritizes both quality and accessibility, we stand to revolutionize the eyewear industry, proving that clear vision and stylish frames can indeed be within reach for everyone.

Can you return Zenni glasses if you don t like them? ›

Please note the following conditions for returns:

Glasses must be sent back using the prepaid return label within 14 days of receiving the order to qualify for a refund or within 30 days for store credit. Any refund returns sent back to us beyond 14 days will receive store credit if received within 30 days.

What are the pitfalls of buying glasses online? ›

8 Reasons To Avoid Online Glasses
  • Know what's being cut to offer lower prices. ...
  • Beware of claims of “same top quality.” ...
  • A bigger selection often isn't a better selection — it's just more confusing. ...
  • Virtual and home try-ons can't insure satisfaction. ...
  • Cheap sunglasses can do more harm than good.

Are Zenni lenses plastic or glass? ›

Speak with your eyecare provider to understand which lens material is best suited to your needs. At Zenni Optical, we offer both polycarbonate and plastic lenses to cater to diverse needs and preferences. Our dedicated team is always ready to assist and guide you towards making an informed decision.

How long does it take to get glasses from zenni optical? ›

Get Eyeglasses Fast With 3-5 Day Rush Delivery.

What country is zenni optical from? ›

Zenni Optical (formerly 19dollareyeglasses.com) is an American online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses. Founded in 2003 by Tibor Laczay and Julia Zhen, it is based in Novato, California. The company sells more than 2,000 types of prescription glasses and sunglasses as well as 45 types of contact lenses.

Does Zenni accept insurance? ›

Do you accept insurance? We do not accept insurance. However, some insurance companies will accept an invoice copy for reimbursem*nt.

Does Zenni use Varilux lenses? ›

I consulted with a Zenni customer care rep who told me that Zenni uses free-form progressive lenses, which keep costs down as they are less expensive to manufacture than, say, Varilux lenses.

Does Zenni check your prescription? ›

Do I need a prescription to order glasses from Zenni? You'll need your prescription and pupillary distance (PD) measurement when ordering Zenni glasses, except when ordering non-prescription glasses or readers.

Is Zenni high-quality? ›

Zenni stands out for its wide range of eyeglasses starting at an incredibly affordable $6.95. This budget-friendly option allows individuals to acquire high-quality, durable glasses without breaking the bank.

Who competes with Zenni? ›

Top 9 Zenni competitors
  • Lenskart.
  • Eye Candy Creations.
  • Christopher Cloos.
  • Miller & Marc.
  • Warby Parker.
  • Jonathan Paul Eyewear.
  • Moscot.
  • Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs.

Where do Zenni glasses ship from? ›

State-of-the-Art Optical Laboratory in Ohio

Equipped with the latest technology and staffed by skilled professionals, this facility allows Zenni to process orders efficiently and deliver them to your doorstep in record time. This commitment to quality and efficiency sets Zenni apart from other online eyewear retailers.

How long does it usually take to get glasses from Zenni? ›

With your frames and lenses selected, all that's left to do is wait for your new glasses to arrive! Thanks to Zenni's expedited shipping, you can expect your order to be delivered straight to your doorstep in just 3-5 business days.

Does insurance cover glasses from Zenni? ›

Do you accept insurance? We do not accept insurance. However, some insurance companies will accept an invoice copy for reimbursem*nt. Check with your insurance company, and if they do, you can request an emailed invoice copy from our Customer Service department.

Is it safe to buy cheap glasses? ›

Cheap metal frames often contain nickel alloys that can cause skin irritation; others can discolor your skin. Also (and more disturbing), cheap eyeglass frames and cheap sunglasses occasionally are recalled and removed from the market because they contain lead paint or other toxic substances.

What are the disadvantages of cheap glasses? ›

Cheap eyeglasses are manufactured with very little quality control. This means that the lenses may not be able to correct your vision problems adequately. Even the smallest mistake in your lenses such as a slightly-off focal point or too-strong magnification can cause problems such as: Eye strain.

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