Zenni Optical Review: What to Know Before You Buy | MyVision.org (2024)

Zenni Optical is a budget glasses retailer with a reputation for providing fashionable glasses of good quality at competitive prices. They are worth considering for consumers on a budget, although they don’t accept insurance.

Zenni Optical Overview

Zenni Optical is a company with the stated goal of providing affordable yet fashionable glasses to its customers. The company claims they are dedicated to four principles:

  • To provide the most affordable eyeglasses to people all over the world
  • To provide the highest-quality optical lenses to their customers
  • To make it easy to order eyeglasses online
  • To provide exceptional customer support

The company offers good-value frames and lenses for competitive prices. However, it does not accept insurance.

Some insurance companies will reimburse Zenni Optical purchases. If you’re unsure and want to maximize your savings, call your insurance provider ahead of time and ask about their reimbursem*nt process.

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What Do They Offer?

Zenni Optical is a budget line of glasses designed with the intention of offering fashionable choices for inexpensive prices. They offer enough variety that most people are likely to find at least some frames they like at almost any price point.

Perhaps Zenni Optical’s most impressive offering is their $6.95 glasses frames in both men’s and women’s styles. While other companies offer frames at similar price points, Zenni Optical has a good selection in this range, with several options that may look simple but don’t look cheap.

How Does Zenni Optical Work?

Zenni Optical is an online-only glasses retailer. Their website has a straightforward layout that makes finding what you need an easy process. Their site offers four distinct tabs, each with a variety of options when clicked on. These include the following:

  • Men
  • Women
  • Kids
  • Blokz (Their blue-light blocking glasses)

Once you find frames you like, you can check the available frame sizes to make sure they will fit and the types of lenses available for those frames. Assuming the frames work for your needs, you can then navigate through their lens menu, inputting your prescription (or choosing non-prescription lenses) and selecting any features you want for your lenses. An anti-scratch coating and UV protection are included in the price.

About Zenni Optical’s Virtual Store

Overall, Zenni Optical’s website is fairly easy to use. They also have a fairly extensive FAQ system broken into categories, such as this page answering common questions about prescriptions and pupillary distance.

Customers can make an account so that their prescription information is saved. The website also lets both guests and customers with accounts “favorite” frames, so they can easily access them again.

Another feature Zenni Optical offers, common with many online glasses retailers, is their virtual try-on system, which lets you use a number of models to test glasses on or use your camera to see roughly what frames might look like on your face.

Products & Quality

Zenni Optical offers a variety of glasses and sunglasses in men’s, women’s, and kids’ designs. Their “kid” glasses span glasses models that are aimed at toddlers to teens. Zenni also has a gaming line, offering “Blokz,” a line of affordable blue-light blocking glasses that come in a number of different styled frames.

Arguably, one disadvantage of Zenni Optical is a lack of high-budget and other “luxury” options. The company has focused on providing fashionable frames for people operating on a budget, and none of their frames are over $50.

Shipping & Returns

Zenni Optical can ship to almost anywhere in the world, although they do sometimes temporarily restrict shipping to certain areas due to world events. They generally reopen shipping to these regions as soon as they are able to do so.

U.S. customers in all 50 states can use their Express Shipping option, which allows them to get their order within 5 to 10 business days. This shipping method costs $18.95. Without paying for express shipping, deliveries usually take about two weeks.

Zenni Optical Costs vs Alternatives

Zenni Optical is an excellent option for budget shoppers. Their entire business model is designed around providing customers affordable frames. Through that focus, you can find frames of many different materials and thicknesses on their site, none of which cost more than $50.

Even without insurance, many of Zenni Optical’s lenses are under $50 too. This includes lenses in mild, medium, and strong prescriptions, with features like blue light blocking raising the price but still allowing a person to keep the cost of lenses under $50 in many cases.

An article from Forbes called Zenni Optical the best-value source of prescription glasses. While some companies may offer a wider variety of frames or even overall cheaper glasses, the actual value of glasses you receive for your purchase is highly competitive with Zenni Optical.

The company’s biggest disadvantage is that they do not accept insurance. For many customers, this may mean the company’s glasses cost you more overall if you have a vision plan you can benefit from with other glasses retailer sites or at brick-and-mortar locations.

Shipping Times

Shipping times are among Zenni Optical’s weaker areas. Two weeks is not extremely long, but it is a bit longer than some other companies can offer. Their express option is somewhat expensive at almost $20 but doesn’t necessarily provide a proportional amount of time saved with the promised window of 5 to 10 business days.

If speed is a priority, EyeBuyDirect is an option worth considering, as they offer 2-day shipping to United States customers.

Getting Started With Zenni Optical

To get started with Zenni Optical, we recommend making an account on their website. This can save you time if you use their services multiple times. Then, you can search through their frame options at the price point you desire, favoriting those you like.

Once you have several frames you have an interest in, you can use their try-on feature to see how they look on either you or one of their models with the most similar body type and skin tone to yourself. You can then select from those you like best, and choose the lens options you want.

Reviews of Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical is well reviewed. Overall, it seems to offer good value for the cost of its products. They have made a genuine effort in their stated goal of providing fashionable glasses options that are affordable even to low-income families.

The company advertises its 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot on its website, which is the result of thousands of reviews. They also claim to have sold over 40 million glasses. While success does not guarantee a company offers good products, it does seem to indicate people are happy overall with the company’s products and services when coupled with its positive reputation.

Zenni Optical vs. Warby Parker

One option worth considering as an alternative to Zenni Optical is Warby Parker. Warby Parker is a company often well reviewed for the high quality of its customer service and how easy it is to shop on its website and app.

Warby Parker lacks many of the budget frames offered by Zenni Optical, but they also offer several high-budget brands that Zenni Optical doesn’t have. Additionally, Warby Parker can accept insurance, which may mean the actual cost of your glasses is similar to or even less than you would pay through Zenni Optical.

Zenni Optical FAQs

Why is Zenni Optical so cheap?

Zenni Optical is a company that has the explicitly stated goal of offering affordable but fashionable glasses to its customers. As such, it has optimized its business model around offerings at highly competitive prices. This also means they don’t offer some of the more expensive frames and supplemental glasses options other companies sometimes do.

Are Zenni Optical lenses good quality?

Overall, the general reputation of Zenni Optical suggests its lenses work as advertised. If you put in your prescription information accurately and select the lens options you want, the lenses will be of good quality and should work exactly as intended.

Why are Zenni glasses so cheap?

With a focus on affordable offerings, Zenni Optical offers their own brands of eyewear. This means they don’t mark up from manufacturers’ pricing like most optical retailers do.

References

  1. About Zenni Optical. Zenni Optical.

  2. Fast Shipping Service. EyeBuyDirect.

  3. Look at the Types of Lenses You Can Get for Only $50. Zenni Optical.

  4. Men’s: $6.95 Glasses. Zenni Optical.

  5. Prescription & PD FAQ. Zenni Optical.

  6. Shipping & Returns FAQ. Zenni Optical.

  7. Warby Parker Review: 5 Things to Know Before Buying Glasses. (April 2022). Clark.

  8. Where to Buy Prescription Eyeglasses Online and How to Choose the Best Pair. (May 2022). Forbes.

  9. Women’s: $6.95 Glasses. Zenni Optical.

  10. Zenni. Zenni Optical.

  11. Zenni Gaming. Zenni Optical.

  12. Zenni Optical Review: 6 Things To Know Before Your First Order. (April 2022). Clark.

Note: This page should not serve as a substitute for professional medical advice from a doctor or specialist. Please review our about page for more information.

Zenni Optical Review: What to Know Before You Buy | MyVision.org (2024)

FAQs

Can I use my insurance on zenni optical? ›

“So can I buy glasses at Zenni with insurance?” While Zenni does not directly accept insurance, you can ask your insurance company if they accept an invoice copy for reimbursem*nt. If so, simply request your invoice copy from Customer Service and we will email it to you promptly!

What info do you need for zenni optical? ›

If you've never shopped for glasses online, you'll need to prepare yourself with a few crucial items: an updated prescription, a pupillary distance (PD) measurement, a millimeter ruler, and a current pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses that fit you well.

Why is Zenni so inexpensive? ›

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 high quality? ›

“Ever since discovering Zenni Optical, I haven't ordered glasses from anywhere else and I've ordered six pairs of glasses from them,” she says. “The quality is great and the prices are even better!” During the initial 30-day period, broken frames can be replaced at no charge.

Does Zenni have senior discounts? ›

Group Discounts

Zenni offers a 10% discount to seniors, military, first responders, medical professionals, nurses, teachers, and students. Click here to get verified by ID.me, a verification network that allows you to prove your group status online with a qualifying email.

How does Zenni verify prescriptions? ›

Prescription Submission: Customers can submit their prescription by either uploading a photo or entering the details manually during the ordering process. Verification Process: Zenni Optical ensures accuracy and safety by verifying prescriptions with the patient's optometrist before processing the order.

How much do you have to spend at Zenni to get free shipping? ›

Free standard U.S. shipping is automatically applied as the delivery method on all eligible orders of $25 or more during checkout. If you choose an expedited mode of shipment, please note that additional charges will apply.

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

Each Rush Delivery includes the 3-5 business days rush delivery fee ($19 value). If you do not need your order within 3-5 business days, our standard (7-14 business days) and express shipping (5-10 business days) options are all available for all of our frames.

Can you try on Zenni glasses before buying? ›

Can I try on glasses before buying them? Absolutely! Our Virtual Try-On lets you instantly try on as many pairs as you like from the comfort of your home. Click the "Try On" button on any frame to get started. or get started here.

Is Zenni a Chinese company? ›

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.

What are the cons of buying glasses online? ›

Prescription accuracy, durability of the lenses, and fit can all be potential issues of buying your glasses online. Glasses ordered online will often need to be adjusted by an optical professional anyway. They may charge you to handle this, and it ultimately means a trip to the eyeglass store after all.

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.

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.

Is Zenni a safe site? ›

Is Zenni Optical trustworthy? Zenni has an excellent customer review score on Trustpilot. The rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars means that most customers reviewing Zenni were pleased with the ordering process and the results. And it's not just feedback from a few people — that rating is from over 134,000 reviews.

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.

Can you claim Zenni on insurance? ›

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.

Can I use benefits on Zenni? ›

With Zenni, you can utilize your HSA or FSA funds to cover prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses, making your eyewear purchases even more budget-friendly. You can also use your HSA or FSA to purchase items such as nose pads, lens cleaner, and prescription lens inserts for the Meta Quest 3.

Can you use insurance to pay for Pair Eyewear? ›

"We accept most HSA and FSA cards as payment methods at checkout! If you don't have an HSA or FSA card, up to 80% of insurance companies will reimburse you for the cost of our prescription Base Frames," Pair Eyewear states on their website.

Is eyewear insurance worth it? ›

It could be worth having vision insurance if you plan on scheduling annual eye exams, and it's especially worth it if you also plan on purchasing eyewear or contacts during the year.

References

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