The 7 best places to buy contacts online using insurance or FSA/HSA in 2026

Our top places to buy contacts online deal directly with your insurance provider. 1-800 Contacts ranked first for its price matching and easy returns.

Contact lens-wearing habits differ for everyone and become apparent over time. Some of us wear dailies and need a yearly supply, while others wear contacts ad hoc because we usually rely on glasses. That's why it's far more convenient, and often cheaper, to buy your contacts online.

Our team has researched and tested the best places to buy contacts online with insurance. These sites saved us the money and time it takes to order from an eye doctor's office.

The best places we tested accept most providers and bill your provider directly with the info you provide. If you're shopping for prescription eyewear, we tested the best places to buy glasses online using insurance, too. Don't forget that if you're shopping out-of-network (OON), you can also pay for contacts with money from your FSA/HSA card.

Our top picks compared

When considering the table below, remember that insurance carrier participation can differ according to your specific plan. We recommend you double-check your benefits before you pay.

RetailerDirect insurance billingMajor carriers accepted (including but not limited to):
1-800 ContactsYes, for in-network plans. Some plans require reimbursement claims.Davis, United, Anthem BCBS
GlassesUSAYes, for a limited number of in-network plans.United, Lincoln, Medigold, Aetna, Cigna
ContactsDirectYes, for in-network plans and some OON benefits.EyeMed, Davis, Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Humana
Warby ParkerYes, for in-network plans. Some plans require reimbursement claims.United, Davis, CEC
WalgreensNo (FSA/HSA only)N/A
HubbleNo. Limited to some reimbursement claims only.N/A
LensablNo. Some reimbursement claims are accepted.N/A

How to buy contacts online using your insurance

  1. Have an up-to-date contact lens prescription. Most expire after one year. If yours is no longer valid, have the retailer contact your eye doctor office directly. Some retailers also offer online vision exams so you can renew it online.*
  2. Confirm that the retailer accepts your insurance. The home page should have a very clear directory that lets you look up your provider.
  3. Find your preferred brand. Search by brand and add your correct prescription to the order.
  4. Enter your insurance information. Some retailers can verify your benefits right at checkout. Others (annoyingly) require you to submit a reimbursement claim after you pay for your lenses.
  5. Check for ways to save extra. Many retailers let you combine your vision benefits with manufacturer rebates, annual-supply discounts, promo codes, and FSA/HSA funds.
  6. Wait for your prescription to be verified. If you didn't upload a valid prescription, the retailer will confirm with your eye doctor before shipping your lenses.

*Some states don't allow prescription renewals via at-home virtual vision exams. In any case, you'll still need your previous prescription on hand to complete one. See our FAQ section for the full list of states where they're permitted.

Best overall: 1-800 Contacts

A person holding a 1-800 contact lenses box while sitting on the edge of a bed.

Shop for contact lenses at 1-800 Contacts

Originally launched in 1995 via phone (hence the phone number as the brand's name), 1-800 Contacts is one of the oldest and most well-known places to buy contacts.

The brand has since expanded to an online platform and hosts more than 250 brands of contact lenses.Free standard shipping takes 5 to 7 days and is free, but you can also choose to pay extra for expedited (2 to 3 days) or overnight shipping.

The biggest perk about 1-800 Contacts' is probably its price match guarantee. If you find the same brand of contacts cheaper elsewhere, you can contact them for a price adjustment.

There is also a generous return and exchange policy. It accepts opened boxes, costs nothing, has no expiration, and lets you receive a full refund.

If your prescription is expired, you can renew it online with its virtual vision exam that costs $20 granted it's successful. Right now, you can save 30% on your first order of contacts.

Does 1-800 Contacts accept insurance? Yes. 1-800 Contacts accepts HSA, FSA, or vision insurance through 1-800 Contacts, as long as your plan covers the cost of contacts. You can also easily submit reimbursement claims.

Best for alternating between glasses and contacts: GlassesUSA.com

A box of Vista contact lenses surrounded by blue circles.

Shop for contact lenses at GlassesUSA

GlassesUSA.com is one of our favorite places to shop for prescription eyewear for its variety of name brands and affordable prices. We love them for contacts for the same reasons, too. You'll find all of the top brands with options for daily, monthly, yearly, and even colored contacts.

GlassesUSA.com also makes it easy to reorder your favorite contacts at whatever frequency is best for you, and with a price match guarantee, free shipping, and free returns, there are no downsides to ordering here (unless you need contact lenses from outside the U.S. — it only ships those domestically).

Though GlassesUSA is not the only retailer on this list that sells both glasses and contacts, it does have the most vast selection of designer and budget frames. Warby Parker has only in-house frames, and Lensabl's list of brands is much more limited.

Right now, you can get 30% off your order with the promo code "CONTACTS30" or a 10-day trial of GlassesUSA.com's Vista Plus contacts for only $9.

Insurance: GlassesUSA.com accepts insurance from this list of major providers. You can also use FSA and HSA dollars to buy prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses.

Best for using insurance: ContactsDirect

A person holding a contact lens on the tip of their finger.

Shop for contact lenses at ContactsDirect

ContactsDirect is one of the biggest contacts suppliers in the US, and its massive selection of available brands ensures you'll find the lenses you need. It accepts most insurance plans and bills your provider directly. If you're out of network, such as with VSP or MetLife plan, ContactsDirect can help submit your reimbursement claims for you.

When shopping online, you can choose to buy individual boxes, 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month supplies depending. These customizable ordering options give you the flexibility to order quantities that make sense for you.

ContactsDirect does offer a price match guarantee, but only from these retailers: 1800 Contacts, Walgreens, Coastal, Walmart Contacts, and Costco.

Right now you can save 15% on all orders and get free shipping by using the promo code "MYLENSES" at checkout. You can also save 20% on a refill when you sign up to receive email notifications.

Insurance: ContactsDirect accepts FSA, HSA, and a wide variety of in-network insurance providers. If your insurance is out of network, you can contact ContactsDirect to discuss how you can use your benefits.

Best for bundling contact lenses and new frames: Warby Parker

Contact lens product boxes from ACUVUE, AIR OPTIX, BAUSCH + LOMB, and CooperVision displayed on blue blocks.

Shop for contacts at Warby Paker

Warby Parker is known for its affordable glasses that are available online and in-store at its many brick-and-mortar locations. You'll find the same shopping experience for its contacts, too.

Warby Parker's budget contact lenses are called Miru Daily (compatible with its retired in-house brand, "Scout"). The lenses are designed to be comfortable and breathable with long-lasting hydration.

Right now, you can get 25% off your first order of any contact lens brand, plus free shipping with no promo code needed.

You can request a prescription throughWarby Parker's Virtual Vision Testor bybooking an in-person eye exam at a location nearby.

Insurance: Warby Parker accepts FSA and HSA dollars for contact lenses.

Best drugstore: Walgreens

The Walgreens logo with different contact lens boxes beside it.

Shop for contact lenses at Walgreens

You might not think of a chain pharmacy like Walgreens for contacts since they're not for sale in-store, but there are still plenty of options online.

You'll find top brands and everything from daily and monthly disposable contacts to color contacts and multifocal contacts. One of the biggest benefits of shopping at Walgreens over other retailers is the consistent promo codes. While many places offer price match guarantees, the convenience of getting low prices without having to contact customer service for a price adjustment is important to consider.

Besides free shipping, Walgreens' many promotions make it a good place to consider ordering from. Right now, you can save 20% on all contact orders with the promo code "DEAL20" at checkout.

After you've placed an order, Walgreens will save your previous purchases to make reordering them easy. Walgreens is also the perfect place to shop for care items like contact solutions and lens cases, so you can conveniently get essentials whenever you need them.

Insurance: Walgreens does not accept insurance, but it does accept HSA and FSA dollars on contact lens orders.

Best for affordable generic brand contacts: Hubble

Two stacked boxes of Hubble contact lenses sitting beside an opened box with its contents just in front of it.

Shop for contact lenses at Hubble

With very few alternatives to expensive name-brand contacts, Hubble is one of the most popular affordable contact lens startups. Unless you're tied to using a very specific brand, Hubble's daily contacts are a great way to save money.

Hubble is also a solid choice if you're a fan of automation since it offers a subscription option. You can get started with a 15-pair trial of Hubble contacts for $1, and after that, the $39 monthly subscription continues to keep prices affordable. If you use a name brand, you can still order them through Hubble, but the main advantage of using Hubble is just how cheap its generic contacts are.

"The drawback of the cheaper generic brand lenses is that I did not find them very durable," says senior associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. "Stick with dailies if you plan to order Hubble contacts."

You can easily cancel or modify your subscription if you don't need more. This is a great feature for people who alternate between glasses and contacts and for whom a typical 30-day supply lasts longer than a month.

Right now, you can save up to 60% on other name-brand contacts for your first order.

Insurance: If your FSA or HSA card is affiliated with a major credit card, you can use it to purchase contacts. Hubble doesn't deal with insurance companies directly, but you can use the receipt to apply for reimbursement with providers.

Best for bundling contact lenses and reviving old frames: Lensabl

A person holding boxes of contact lenses in their hands.

Shop for contact lenses at Lensabl

Lensabl is best known for its replacement eyeglass lens service. Yet it also sells frames and contact lenses, making it the one-stop shop for all of your eyewear needs. Standard shipping on contacts is also free, which is a major bonus.

If you're someone who alternates between glasses and contacts, Lensabl might be the place to shop for you. The site stocks all of the top brands for contact lenses and has options including spherical contacts, toric lenses for astigmatism, and multifocal lenses for presbyopia.

Lensabl does not price-match contacts, but the brand offers an eyewear and contacts renewal plans. If you need to renew your prescription, the partnered Visibly app exam is easy to use from your phone or computer.

Plans start as low as $7.99 per month and include a one-year supply of contacts, one frame including prescription lenses or one prescription lens replacement, credit for an eye exam/contacts fitting or an online vision test for prescription renewal, and up to 25% off additional Lensabl purchases. Note that $7.99 per month is not the standard for plans including contacts.

Insurance: Lensabl accepts Linneo insurance payments online. You can also submit for reimbursement with these insurance providers.

FAQs on buying contact lenses online

Can I buy contacts online with insurance?

Yes, as long as you have a valid prescription and the retailer accepts your insurance. You can submit your insurance at checkout, but in some cases, you will have to pay first and submit a claim to your provider for reimbursement. Even if your insurance isn't accepted directly, you may still be able to use your out-of-network benefits or pay with your FSA/HSA card.

Is it cheaper to buy contacts online?

Almost always. There are more opportunities to save using promo codes, like first-time customer deals or signing up for emails. It's also easier to compare prices online to take advantage of any price match guarantees.

Can I use FSA/HSA dollars to buy contacts?

Yes. Prescription contact lenses are eligible expenses under Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). You can use your FSA/HSA debit card at checkout to pay with pre-tax dollars.

Do I need a prescription to buy contacts online?

Yes. When choosing your lenses, you'll typically upload your prescription, enter your optometrist's information, or authorize the retailer to verify your prescription with your provider. If your prescription has expired, you'll need to renew your prescription.

Can I renew my prescription online?

The following states allow virtual vision tests for prescription renewals: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and WY.

If you don't see your state listed above, you will have to schedule an in-person examination with your eye doctor.

How much does it cost to buy contacts online?

It depends on your lens brand, type, prescription, how often you wear them, and whether your vision plan covers them. Daily disposables generally cost between $20 and $90 per box, while monthly lenses typically range from $30 to $80 per box. Check whether the retailer offers bulk discounts in case you can save over time. ContactsDirect labels clearly which annual supply packages come with discounts.

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