Kim Wong-Shing Senior Associate Editor / Wellness
Kim Wong-Shing loves demystifying the world of wellness to make it accessible to any reader. She’s also passionate about exploring the intersections of health, history and culture. Prior to joining CNET, she contributed stories to Glamour, MindBodyGreen, Greatist and other publications.
- Reads health studies in her sleep.
Many online companies sell reading glasses and some specialize in them. Not all of them are equal, though. That’s exactly why we sifted through nearly a dozen sites, examining customer reviews, product variety and shipping policies to find the best reading glasses your money can buy.
What are the best overall reading glasses?
GlassesUSA is our pick for the best overall reading glasses you can buy online, thanks to its well-rounded inventory, fair policies and great customer reviews. GlassesUSA was also one of CNET’s picks for the best online glasses and best prescription sunglasses.
Best reading glasses for 2024
<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best overall reading glasses" description="
GlassesUSA offers any of its 300-plus frames as a pair of reading glasses, rather than prescription glasses. You can get lens powers from +0.25 to +4 on every pair, which is one of the widest ranges out of all the brands we looked at — even people with very weak or very strong farsightedness can get their readers here. There are many different styles to choose from, from traditional to bold. Frequent sales bring the prices down to as low as about $34 for a pair. GlassesUSA also has other policies and perks that make it a convenient vendor to buy from. These include virtual try-ons, free shipping, free returns or exchanges and a year-long warranty.
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GlassesUSA offers any of its 300-plus frames as a pair of reading glasses, rather than prescription glasses. You can get lens powers from +0.25 to +4 on every pair, which is one of the widest ranges out of all the brands we looked at — even people with very weak or very strong farsightedness can get their readers here. There are many different styles to choose from, from traditional to bold. Frequent sales bring the prices down to as low as about $34 for a pair. GlassesUSA also has other policies and perks that make it a convenient vendor to buy from. These include virtual try-ons, free shipping, free returns or exchanges and a year-long warranty.
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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best shopping experience" description="
Warby Parker is a popular and well-known brand in the online glasses world, and for good reason. Its site makes it easy to shop for the exact styles you’re interested in based on size, shape, color and more. You can try on frames virtually or even at home. All of Warby Parker’s glasses are available as reading glasses with powers from +0.25 to +2.75. These frames are great quality for the price, which starts at $95 for a pair.
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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best budget reading glasses" description="
You can’t go wrong with a budget pair of glasses from Zenni, which sells more than 1,700 frames. The company now offers a line of ready-to-wear readers with powers from +0.50 to +2.75 for just $10. (If you need +0.25, you can also go the custom route.) The site offers a virtual try-on experience and because the frames are so affordable, it’s easy to get a couple of pairs for different occasions or to stash in different locations. If you do change your mind, make a return within two weeks for a refund or within 30 days for store credit.
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There’s something to be said for buying a pair of reading glasses from a brand that’s dedicated to that specific product. Readers.com offers little perks like an online “PowerFinder” to help you determine the best strength for your eyes, and it sells frames in +1 to +4 powers to accommodate a wide range of vision needs. For some frames, up to +7 is available. The site’s frames come in a range of prices and styles (over 500). You can filter your search by shape, style and more.
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<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Fun, affordable reading glasses" description="
Peepers, a brand you might recognize from talk shows or Oprah’s Favorite Things, is ideal for people who want a bolder or more creative look at a reasonable price. The brand keeps things simple: The selection isn’t huge, but it is well-curated and each pair of glasses is the exact same price: $29 (before sales). Virtual try-on is available, and shipping is free over $42. Powers range from +1 to +2.25.
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Pair Eyewear is unique in that each of its frames allows for multiple different looks — you can add magnetic attachments to the frames to achieve a new color or pattern. Any one of the frames on Pair’s website can be made into reading glasses with strengths from +0.25 to +2.75 for the same price as a prescription pair of glasses. There are 15 base frames to choose from and more than 300 attachments to choose from. CNET reporter Jessica Rendall explained the process in detail in her review.
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How do I know what strength of reading glasses to get?
