Contact Lens Subscription Services vs Traditional Prescriptions

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Not everyone has time to make an appointment with an optometrist when they need to get their contacts. That’s where contact lens subscription services come in handy. Whether you’re looking to experiment with contact lenses or simply to procure an old favorite, like day Aqua, Proclear 1 Day, or Acuvue 2, different contact lens subscription services will help you do so.

Hubble and Waldo are two of the larger contact lens subscription services operating internationally today. With Warby Parker joining in the mix, what’s the difference between these services and which of these will best suit your needs?

ServiceTrial OfferPrice/MonthRatingRanking


10 free lenses during your first month of use for a cost of $2.95 in shipping
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$36
4.6
Budget Winner
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$5 for a 6 day trial
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$36.67
3.5		Eco Friendly
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15 pairs of contacts for free. $1 in shipping.
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$36 + $3 Shipping
3.5
Largest Selection
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How to get the most out of your first contact lens subscription

Earn cash back bonuses when you sign up for any of these contact lens subscriptions. Save up to $36 on your first subscription. Try all of these brands and for up to two months of contacts.

Get this deal by registering for Swagbucks and explore these deals. Sign up and start earning cashback.

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What are the traditional sources of contact lenses?

Traditionally, you receive your prescription contact lenses after visiting a practicing optometrist. Optometrists are able to prescribe you contact lenses that not only improve your vision but can also compensate for astigmatism, presbyopia or different degrees of vision loss in both of your eyes. Depending on the service you choose to work with, you may receive contact lenses from traditional brands including:

  • Acuvue – as part of Johnson & Johnson, Acuvue has been transforming corrective vision since 1988 with the world’s first soft disposable corrective lenses. Its leading products Acuvue 2, Acuvue Moist, Acuvue Oasys, and Trueye are worn by more people than any other brand.
  • Dailies – is under the Alcon brand, is a popular single day use contact lens brand that allows for more moisture, keeping lenses comfortable all day long. It’s known for being a healthy option for children and young adults. Single-use lenses help establish hygienic habits for younger wearers. Dailies is a smaller line comprising of just Dailies Total1 and Aquacomfort Plus.
  • CooperVision – owns Biofinity Toric and Proclear Toric which are the most prescribed lens on the market to correct astigmatism where the cornea or lens stretched into an irregular shape, making images appear blurry. Their Biomedics 55 are used to tread traditional
    nearsightedness and farsightedness.
  • Air Optix – also under the Alcon brand and has an extensive line of contact lenses for every situation and condition. Its most recent innovation is in the HydraGlyde that combines long-lasting moisture and deposit protection.
  • Bausch + Lomb – a Canadian eye health brand that is one of the world’s largest suppliers of contact lenses and lens care products. They have the most extensive line of contact lens options for Astigmatism and Presbyopia. Their Purevision for nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia) allows a high level of oxygen to reach your eyes and resist buildup.

What are contact lens subscription services?

Contact lens subscription services are able to provide you with comparable contact lenses sent directly to your door, without the need for a trip to the optometrist.

Many of these subscription services also allow you to customize your contact lens orders. This means you can opt for specializations like Multifocal lenses to aid with the treatment of astigmatism, daily disposable soflens or varying colors via Air Optix Colors.

With all of these options available to you, it can be difficult to determine which of the many available contact lens subscription services will serve you best. That’s where direct comparisons like this one come in handy.

Waldo Review

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (8,900+ Trust Pilot reviews)

Trial Offer: 10 free lenses during your first month of use for a $2.95 shipping fee.

Price per month: $36 + free shipping

About: Aims to give its customers the highest quality contacts without the hassle or price tag by selling directly online.

What we like: They have registered opticians in-house and a great customer service team that’s very hands-on for a positive and fun experience.

Our Recommendation: Budget Winner

Best Promotion: Get an extra $7 bonus when you try Waldo via Swagbucks.

  1. Register for Swagbucks
  2. Search for Waldo deal on Swagbucks
  3. Click through to Waldo and start shopping

Scout by Warby Parker Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (16+ Trust Pilot reviews)

Trial Offer: $5 for a 6-day trial

Price per month: $36.67 + free shipping

About: Warby Parker has been in the eyewear space offering designer eyewear at low prices while socially conscious about their impact.

What we like: Their innovative space-saving flat packaging is made from recycled materials and reduces the amount of debris that can come into contact with the lens when you put it on.

Our Recommendation: Eco-Friendly

Best Promotion: Get an extra 1% cash back on every dollar you spend with Swagbucks.

  1. Register for Swagbucks
  2. Search for Warby Parker deal on Swagbucks
  3. Click through to Warby Parker and start shopping

Hubble Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (5,000 Trust Pilot reviews)

Trial Offer: 15 pairs of contacts for free + $1 shipping

Price per month: $36 + $3 shipping

About: Hubble offers high-quality contacts that are barely a dollar a day, so you can finally afford to wear fresh lenses as much as you’d like.

What we like: They have the longest trial offer on their brand of contacts. If you prefer your traditional big box lenses, they also sell competitor lenses too.

Our Recommendation: Largest Selection

Best Promotion: Get an extra $2.50 cash back when you try Hubble with Swagbucks

  1. Register for Swagbucks
  2. Search for Hubble deal on Swagbucks
  3. Click through to Hubble and start shopping

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Who benefits from these first-month deals and services?

Most contact lens subscription services will give you a deal on your first month as a subscriber. Hubble, for example, provides you with your first fifteen pairs of contacts for free with $1 set aside for shipping. Comparatively, Waldo provides you with 10 free lenses during your first month of use for a $2.95 shipping fee. Scout by Warby Parker is $5 for a 6 day trial for $110 for a 3-month supply of both eyes.

It’s worth noting, though, that upon signing up for each of these services, these platforms may automatically sign you up for a box renewal once your first month has passed by. Do you benefit, then, from the first-month bonuses?

If you’re looking for affordable contact lenses, yes! All three will help you save money during your initial month while also allowing you to test out the contacts that’ll keep you going on a daily basis. If you’re not interested in continuing with the service, though, you’ll have to log into your account on either platform and manually unsubscribe.

Which contact lens are the best?

Between the three companies, which offers you the best deals after the first-month specials have expired?

Hubble and Waldo will deliver the contacts you request to your door on a monthly basis. Warby Parker delivers theirs in a 3-month pack. Service costs only differ by shipping costs, with Hubble inching ahead of Waldo in terms of expense. Subscribing through Waldo will cost you $36 a month with free shipping. Warby Parker averages at $36.67 a month with free shipping. Subscribing through Hubble will cost you $36 with $3 for shipping per month.

How do these services differ from the services offered to you by the major contact lens brands?

All three brands are reasonably new services, selling directly to customers and garnering an international audience of consumers. Contact lens companies like Bausch + Lomb or Acuve, comparatively, have been around for decades but require going through a reseller, resulting in higher prices. These companies may be slower to innovate than services like Hubble, Waldo, or Warby Parker, but they’ve also garnered a reputation for success over their years of operation.

In short, Waldo, Hubble, and Warby Parker will get the contact lenses you want to your door fast. However, companies like Alcon, Trueye and Bausch + Lomb will prescribe you contact lenses with the help of decades of medical experience.

Contact Lens Brands – The Winner?

With all of that in mind, which of these two services should you consider signing on with? Which contact lenses are best?

Frankly, while the costs associated with each of these services are relatively low, their reviews are discouraging. More often than not, previous consumers will rank these services a single star out of five. The lenses are varied, yes, making these services reasonable for someone trying to develop a better understanding of their visual limitations. However, you’ll be able to just as readily purchase through Coastal, Discount Contact Lenses, or Contacts Direct. The affiliated costs may be a little bit higher, but the service will be much improved.

Of the three, Waldo sets itself apart thanks to its rock-bottom prices.

Thinking of signing up for a contact lens subscription service? Do your research ahead of time and don’t be afraid to experiment! With a little bit of legwork, you’ll readily find an affordable service that’ll treat your eyes right.

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