Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

Genuine Style Review UK: What You Get

Genuine Style stocks dozens of designer brands, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Versace and Michael Kors. The ski range comes from Smith, Bollé and Dragon. Some products have a virtual try-on, so you can see a pair on your own face before you order.

At checkout you can pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Klarna. Their product pages show a Trustpilot score of 4.5 from 780 reviews, but it’s worth checking Trustpilot directly rather than trusting a badge alone.

Designer Sunglasses and Prices

Sunglasses are what Genuine Style does best. Prices start at £18.99 for budget lines such as Hype and Victoria’s Secret Pink. Most designer pairs cost between about £86 and £149, and the middle of the range sat around £109 when we looked.

Ray-Ban has the biggest range, with hundreds of listings. Browse Ray-Ban at Genuine Style or see all their sunglasses.

Outlet Deals

The outlet section suits you if you’re flexible on style. The pairs we checked ran from £54.99 to £498.99, with a typical price around £110.

Ski Goggles and Helmets Before Winter

Their ski range is small, so treat it as a shortlist, not a full shop. When we looked, these goggles were in stock:

• £98.99 buys the Dragon DX3 Plus OTG. OTG means over the glasses, so this is the one to check if you wear glasses under your goggles.
• The Bollé Blackridge costs £134.99.
• Another Bollé option, the Nevada, costs £142.99.
• Smith’s Preview goggles cost £151.99.
• The magnetic Squad MAG from Smith costs £180.99.
• At £198.99, the Smith I/O MAG XL is the top of their range.

Helmets were limited too:

• The Bollé Atmos Youth helmet costs £59.99.
• Smith Rodeo MIPS costs £68.99.
• Smith Liberty MIPS, a women’s fit, costs £139.99.

Their children’s goggles were out of stock, so check back nearer the holidays. Browse the ski goggles at Genuine Style and check the size and lens category on each product page.

Genuine Style Review UK: Prescription Glasses

You can add prescription lenses to many of their frames, and the frames are the strong part. A Ray-Ban frame we looked at cost £65.99 against a £124 recommended price. The lenses cost extra.

• Clear single vision lenses add £45 (standard), £65 (thin) or £90 (thinnest).
• Polarised and Transitions lenses add £95 to £150.
• A blue light filter adds £10.

So that Ray-Ban frame with standard clear lenses comes to £110.99. You’ll need your prescription and your pupillary distance, and our PD measurement guide shows how to measure it at home.

Three things to know first. They make each pair to order, which takes about three weeks. We did not see varifocal or bifocal options in the ordering process, so check with them before you rely on it. Prescription lenses are bespoke and not refundable. If you need varifocals, our Mojoglasses review covers a designer frame retailer that supports them.

Delivery, Returns and Trustpilot Rating

In-stock orders placed by 3pm on weekdays ship the same day, with free next-day UK delivery. Europe costs £10 and takes 3 to 10 days, and the rest of the world costs £15 and takes 5 to 21 days. Customs charges may apply outside the UK.

Free UK returns cover non-prescription items and frames for 30 days, as long as they’re unused and in their original packaging. Genuine Style fixes lens errors its own side makes. If you choose to change your lenses, you pay 75% of the lens charge.

Genuine Style Review UK: Who It Suits

Genuine Style suits shoppers who want designer sunglasses at a lower price, plus anyone building a ski kit shortlist before winter. It also works for a designer frame with simple single vision lenses. You’ll find it a weaker fit if you need varifocals, want glasses in a hurry or want refundable lenses.

Prices change often, so compare a few retailers before you order.

The post Genuine Style Review UK: Designer Sunglasses, Ski Gear and Frames appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

Who Are SmartBuyGlasses?

SmartBuyGlasses is an online eyewear retailer with its head office in Hong Kong, and it has been trading for over 15 years. Its UK website ships from warehouses in Italy, Hong Kong, Australia and the US. It also has in-house dispensing opticians, including UK-qualified ones, whom you can ask for advice before you order.

It holds a 4.6 rating on Trustpilot from over 17,000 reviews.

What Do SmartBuyGlasses Sell?

• Designer frames: brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci and Prada, plus its own cheaper SmartBuy Collection.
• Prescription glasses: single vision and varifocals, with options such as thinner lenses, blue light filters and Transitions.
• Prescription sunglasses: including polarised and varifocal options on selected styles.
• Reglazing: new lenses in your own frames from £59, with free pickup from your home.
• Contact lenses: daily, monthly and toric lenses from major brands.

SmartBuyGlasses Review: Delivery and Customs

Standard delivery is free on orders over £45 and takes 4 to 7 working days. However, prescription lenses add time: 1 to 3 working days for single vision, and 4 to 5 for varifocals. If a frame isn’t in stock, sourcing it can take another 5 to 11 working days, so check the estimate on the product page.

Because orders ship from abroad, you might be asked to pay customs charges. SmartBuyGlasses says it will refund these in full. Just keep the receipt and send it to their customer service team.

Returns and Warranty

This is where SmartBuyGlasses stands out. You can return anything within 100 days for a refund or exchange, and unusually, that includes prescription lenses. Most online retailers refund only the frame, as our glasses returns comparison shows. Frames, sunglasses and prescription lenses also come with a 24-month warranty against manufacturing defects.

SmartBuyGlasses Review: The Downsides

Most reviews are positive, but the negative ones share a few themes:

• Delays: some customers waited weeks, usually because a frame needed sourcing or their prescription needed checking.
• Customer service: some reviewers found replies slow, especially when arranging returns.
• Shipping from abroad: delivery takes longer than from a UK warehouse, so order early if you need glasses by a set date.

Who Is SmartBuyGlasses Best For?

SmartBuyGlasses suits you if you want a designer frame for less, or prescription sunglasses from a big brand. The 100-day returns, including lenses, also make it a lower-risk way to try buying online. However, if you need glasses quickly, a UK-based retailer may be faster.

SmartBuyGlasses Review: The Short Answer

SmartBuyGlasses is a well-established online retailer with a huge designer range and one of the most generous returns policies we’ve seen. Allow extra time for delivery, and compare prices for your prescription before you buy.

The post SmartBuyGlasses Review UK: Designer Glasses With 100-Day Returns appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

Who Are Mojoglasses?

Mojoglasses is a UK optical manufacturer based near Cambridge, with its own lens lab in Cambridgeshire. With over 30 years of experience, their own lab technicians make every pair on site.

They only sell designer brands, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Versace, Tom Ford, Persol, Oliver Peoples and Ted Baker. According to their website, they are an authorised retailer for these brands, so the frames are genuine and come with the manufacturer’s warranty. Their team includes qualified dispensing opticians, and you can call, email or chat with them if you need help choosing lenses.

Customers rate them highly. At the time of writing they have a 4.9 score on Trustpilot from over 3,600 reviews.

Mojoglasses Review: How Much Do Their Glasses Cost?

The price you see on a frame is for the frame only. You choose and pay for lenses separately in the next step.

Frames start from around £40. As an example, the Ray-Ban Clubmaster RX5154 was £78 when we checked, against a full price of £162. Adding their basic single vision lenses (£10) brought the total to £88, plus £5.95 delivery.

That is a good price for a genuine Ray-Ban with prescription lenses, but it is more than the cheapest online retailers charge for a basic pair. If you want to see how that compares with the high street, our guide to how much glasses cost in the UK breaks down typical prices.

Lens Options and Extras

Once you have picked a frame, you choose your lenses. For single vision lenses, the options were:

• Clear lenses: £10
• Blue light blocking lenses: £35 (includes anti-reflective coating)
• Driving lenses, to cut glare from headlights: £45
• Light-adaptive lenses that darken in the sun: from £50
• Prescription sunglasses tint: from £20
• Zeiss single vision lenses: from £85

If you have a stronger prescription, you can add thinner, lighter lenses for £25, £45 or £70, depending on how strong your prescription is. This is one of their strengths, as they make lenses for high and complex prescriptions every day.

Varifocals start from £75, with two types to choose from: Premium HD and Ultra HD, which gives a wider field of vision. If you are new to varifocals, our varifocal glasses guide explains what to expect.

One thing to note: the basic £10 clear lenses do not mention an anti-reflective coating, while the more expensive options do. If you want anti-glare, check what comes with them before you pay.

Reglazing: Keep Your Frames, Change Your Lenses

If you already have frames you love, Mojoglasses can reglaze them with new lenses. You choose your lenses online, they email you a prepaid label, you post your glasses to them, and they aim to send them back within 7 days of receiving them. It is useful if your prescription has changed, your lenses are scratched, or you want to add something like a sun tint or thinner lenses.

Delivery, Returns and Warranty

• Delivery: £5.95 for tracked next day delivery once your glasses are dispatched.
• How long it takes: they usually dispatch single vision glasses within 7 to 10 days, and varifocals within 10 to 14 days.
• Returns: you have 14 days from delivery to return your glasses.
• Warranty: frames come with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty against faults.

Mojoglasses Review: The Downsides to Know About

The biggest one is the returns policy. If you return glasses with prescription lenses, Mojoglasses only refund the frame, not the lenses, because they make the lenses to your prescription. You also pay the return postage. Your normal consumer rights still cover faulty glasses.

Other things to bear in mind:

• The headline price is for the frame only, so the total will always be higher.
• They make every pair to order, so expect to wait one to two weeks.
• They only sell designer brands, so if you just want the cheapest possible pair, other retailers will be cheaper.

Mojoglasses Review: Who Are They Best For?

To sum up this Mojoglasses review, they are a good fit if:

• A genuine designer frame matters to you, but full high street prices do not.
• You have a strong prescription and need thinner, lighter lenses.
• Your current frames are fine and you just need new lenses.

If price matters more than the brand name, you may find a cheaper pair elsewhere. The quickest way to check is to compare prices with our glasses wizard, which shows Mojoglasses alongside other UK retailers for your prescription.

If Mojoglasses sounds right for you, you can browse their designer frames here.

The post Mojoglasses Review UK: Genuine Designer Frames at Lower Prices? appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

Lentiamo Review UK: What You Get

Glasses prices start from around £20, though the final cost varies quite a bit depending on the lens options you choose, so treat that as a starting point rather than what most people actually pay. Anti-reflective lenses come included as standard, which some retailers charge extra for.

One thing worth knowing before you order: Lentiamo requires your PD (pupillary distance) for glasses, same as most online retailers that don’t measure your eyes in person. If you don’t already have it from a recent eye test, our guide to measuring PD at home covers exactly how to get an accurate figure yourself.

Frame Range and Extras

Despite the contact-lens reputation, the frame range includes recognisable designer names, Ray-Ban, Prada, Tom Ford, and Carrera among them, alongside own-brand options across square, round, pilot, and cat-eye shapes for women, men, and kids.

There are also dedicated categories for reading glasses, blue light glasses, computer glasses, and prescription sunglasses, so it’s not just standard prescription frames. A virtual try-on tool is available on select frames too, useful for getting a rough sense of fit before you commit to buying online.

If designer frames are your priority, our Mojoglasses review covers a retailer that specialises in them.

Delivery, Returns and Trustpilot Rating

Lentiamo offers free delivery on orders over £59, and 30-day returns if the glasses aren’t right. On Trustpilot, they currently hold a 4.3 rating, worth checking directly on Trustpilot’s own site rather than trusting a badge alone.

Lentiamo Review UK: Current Discount Code

As of writing, Lentiamo has a 20% off code on their own-brand glasses. Codes like this do change, so it’s worth confirming it’s still live before you check out.

Compare Retailers

If you’d rather see Lentiamo stacked up against other online opticians before deciding, our comparison tool shows real prices side by side, including NHS voucher savings if you qualify. For a direct price comparison against Specscart specifically, our Specscart vs Lentiamo head-to-head covers that in detail.

The post Lentiamo Review UK: Known for Contacts, But Are the Glasses Any Good? appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

For more detail on each retailer, see our full Specscart review and Lentiamo review.

Specscart vs Lentiamo: The Short Version

• Specscart: best if you want everything bundled into one price and the reassurance of trying frames at home first.
• Lentiamo: best if you want the lowest possible entry price and don’t mind buying without trying them on first.

Specscart

Prices

Specscart frames start from around £29.99, and that price already includes their “Clear Fully Loaded” lens package: anti-glare, scratch-resistant, anti-UV, and impact-resistant coatings, all standard, no add-ons to think about.

What they’re good at

• Every pair includes the full coating package free
• Free 7-day home trial, try up to 4 frames before you commit
• Reglaze service (new lenses in your existing frames) from £35.99
• 30-day no-questions returns, extended to 60 days for varifocals
• 3 physical stores in Greater Manchester (Bury, Walkden, Urmston) with free eye tests, if you’re local

Things to consider

Their entry price is higher than Lentiamo’s absolute cheapest options, since the bundled coatings are baked into the price rather than optional.

Best for

Anyone who wants a simple, all-inclusive price and likes the reassurance of trying frames at home before ordering. Visit Specscart

Lentiamo

Prices

Lentiamo’s sale frames start from as low as £11.34, with their wider plastic frame range spanning roughly £25 to £365.90 depending on style. Every pair includes 100% UV protection and a free anti-reflective coating, blue light and water-repellent protection cost extra if you want them.

What they’re good at

• Genuinely rock-bottom entry prices on sale frames
• A huge selection, 1,000+ plastic frames alone
• 365-day lens replacement guarantee if unopened
• 30-day no-reason returns, in line with their official returns policy.

Things to consider

No home trial, you’re ordering based on photos and sizing rather than trying frames on first, and the core coating package is more basic unless you pay extra for blue light or water protection.

Best for

Confident buyers who already know their prescription and preferred frame style, and want the lowest possible starting price. Visit Lentiamo

Specscart vs Lentiamo: Side by Side

Specscart vs Lentiamo: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Specscart if: you want one simple price with everything included, or you’re not 100% sure a frame will suit you and want to try it at home first.

Choose Lentiamo if: you know exactly what you want, want the widest possible frame selection, and want to keep your starting price as low as possible.

Both currently have live discount codes if you want to stack extra savings, see our Specscart discount code guide for the current offer, and check Lentiamo’s site directly for theirs. Or, use our free comparison tool to see live prices from both retailers side by side, matched to your exact prescription.

The post Specscart vs Lentiamo: Which Is Cheaper? appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

You’ve had the eye test, you have picked the frames, and then come the upgrades. If you have ever bought glasses from a high-street optician, you know the dread of the checkout total. High-street chains love to slap massive upsell fees on your bill for basic essentials, which is why an honest Specscart review UK buyers can trust is so important.

When you look at the real data behind how much do glasses cost in the UK (2026 honest breakdown), lens upgrades can quickly double your budget. But what if an independent brand gave those exact premium treatments away for free?

Why Specscart is Disrupting High-Street Opticians

Most online retailers promise cheap prices, but they hide the real costs until you reach the basket. Traditional shops frequently charge upwards of £30 just for a basic anti-glare layer.

Specscart operates on a completely different model. Every single pair of frames they sell automatically includes their “Clear Fully Loaded” lenses. This means you get premium anti-glare, scratch-resistant, anti-UV, and impact-resistant coatings completely standard. The coatings are included, and the only common extra is thinner lenses for stronger prescriptions. By manufacturing everything inside their specialized Manchester laboratory, they bypass the traditional high-street middlemen entirely.

Specscart Review UK: How the Home Trial Works

Buying prescription glasses online can feel a bit risky if you aren’t sure how a frame will look on your face. Specscart solves this problem with a brilliant, completely free 7-day Home Trial box.

The process is simple. You browse their website and select up to four frames that catch your eye. Specscart ships the physical frames directly to your door alongside three sample lenses and a UV testing pen. You get a full week to try them on, test the weight, and get opinions from your friends and family. A pre-paid return label is included in the box, making it entirely risk-free to post back.

Frame Quality and Lens Thickness Pricing

Specscart frames typically start around £29.99, which includes your fully coated single-vision lenses. If you have a standard, mild prescription (up to +/- 3), their complimentary 1.5 index lenses are all you need.

For those with stronger prescriptions, Specscart offers thinner lens upgrades depending on how strong your prescription is, ranging from a modest fee for a mild upgrade up to roughly £100 for the thinnest, highest-index option for very strong prescriptions. Exact pricing depends on your specific prescription strength, so it’s worth checking the current options at checkout for your numbers.

Give Old Frames New Life: The Specscart Reglaze Service

If you already own a pair of frames that you absolutely love, you don’t need to buy a brand new pair. Specscart offers a highly efficient lens replacement or “reglaze” service starting at just £35.99.

You simply input your prescription details online, mail your existing glasses to their Greater Manchester headquarters, and their technicians will cut brand-new lenses to fit. Just like their new glasses, their reglaze packages automatically include all anti-glare and scratch-resistant coatings for free. It is a brilliant, highly sustainable option for saving money on a luxury frame.

Specscart Review UK: Is Specscart Right for You?

Specscart’s biggest advantage is bundling premium coatings into the base price rather than charging extra for them, something most high-street opticians don’t do.

Because Specscart ships their glasses with a premium protective case, you are fully covered on the go. However, if you take advantage of their multi-buy deals to build a collection, grabbing an affordable multi-slot glasses organiser case on Amazon is an excellent way to keep your new specs beautifully organized at home. If bundled coatings and a free home trial matter to you, it’s worth comparing their pricing against other options.

Is Specscart Legit?

Yes. Specscart is a real UK business, not a pop-up website. Here’s what we checked in September 2026:

• A registered UK company: Specscart is the trading name of HRM International Limited, which has been on the Companies House register since July 2017 (company number 10855134), with its registered office in Bury, Greater Manchester.
• Real shops: as well as selling online, Specscart runs its own stores in Walkden, Bury and Urmston, where you can book an eye test.
• Strong reviews: Specscart holds a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot from over 6,600 reviews.
• Free returns: you get 30 days to send your glasses back for free.

Like any retailer, it isn’t perfect. Most of the negative reviews we read mention slow replies from customer service, or lenses that needed remaking. If you need your glasses by a set date, order in good time.

The post Specscart Review UK: Are Their Free Lens Coatings Legit? appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

We have all done it. You stand outside the high street shops, peer through the windows, and try to guess which one is going to give you the best deal on a fresh set of frames. When it comes to a high street showdown between Specsavers vs Boots Opticians, two massive names completely dominate the UK optical landscape.

Both chains promise expert care, massive frame selections, and tempting bundle offers. But when you factor in eye test fees, designer upgrades, and lens thinning costs, which one actually offers the best value for your hard-earned cash? Let’s strip back the marketing and look at the real figures.

Specsavers vs Boots Opticians: Eye test costs

Before you even think about picking out a trendy set of frames, you need to account for the price of sitting in the optician’s chair. Private eye test fees can vary slightly depending on your exact local high street location, but the baseline costs generally fall into these brackets:

• Specsavers: A standard private eye test typically costs £25. If you want to include an OCT retinal scan (highly recommended for a detailed check of your eye health), they charge a flat £10 add-on fee, bringing your total check-up to £35.
• Boots Opticians: A standard private “Essential” eye test costs £29.95. If you choose to upgrade to their “Advanced” eye test, which builds in their advanced OCT eye scan technology, the total price sits around £54.95.

The NHS Shortcut: Remember, if you qualify for a free NHS-funded eye test (for example, if you are over 60, under16, or receive certain qualifying benefits), the core test is completely free at both retailers. You will just pay the standard add-on fee if you choose to upgrade to an advanced digital retinal scan. A free eye test doesn’t always mean free glasses too, as our guide to the NHS sight test vs NHS optical voucher explains.

Frame choices and multi-buy deals compared

Once your test is wrapped up, it’s time to browse the walls of frames. This is where the marketing strategies of the two giants diverge completely.

The Specsavers Strategy: The Famous 2-for-1

Specsavers has built its entire reputation on its entry-level affordability and simple multi-buy pricing. Their budget, unbranded frames start at just £25.

However, their standout feature is the “Designer 2-for-1” package. Starting from £69 (and scaling up into their premium collections like Marc Jacobs or Vivienne Westwood at £129 to £149), you buy one pair of frames and receive a second pair from the exact same price tier completely free. Both pairs include standard single vision lenses as part of the bundle.

The Boots Strategy: Designer Variety & Premium Loyalty

Boots Opticians tends to start slightly higher on the pricing ladder, with their basic unbranded ranges typically beginning around £40 to £50. Where Boots shines is its curation of premium high-street styles, featuring brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Tom Ford.

Instead of a flat 2-for-1, Boots typically runs a Half-Price Second Pair promotion. You buy your first pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses, and you get 50% off the cheaper second set. While this sounds less generous than a completely free pair, Boots offsets this by tying into the popular Boots Advantage Card system (earning you points on your purchase) and offering a steady 10% discount for students and over-60s.

Lens fees and hidden extras

Here is the golden rule of buying glasses on the high street: the price tag on the frame is rarely the final price you pay at the till.

If you have a stronger prescription, standard plastic lenses will look quite thick and bulky inside your frames. To make them comfortable and visually appealing, you will need to pay to have the lenses thinned down (known as High Index lenses). Furthermore, adding scratch-resistant or anti-reflective coatings, which are essential if you spend hours staring at laptop screens or driving at night, will add individual charges to your bill at both opticians.

At both Specsavers and Boots, these essential lens upgrades can easily add anywhere from £30 to well over £100 on top of your original frame price, quickly turning a cheap bargain into a significant investment. If you want to skip the expensive high-street anti-reflective or anti-fog coatings entirely, picking up a pack of premium anti-fog lens wipes on Amazon is a simple, cheap alternative.

Can you take your prescription and shop online?

When your eye examination is complete, the store assistant will naturally guide you straight over to their retail displays to choose your frames. This can feel incredibly high-pressure, especially if you are watching the total cost mount up on the screen.

Here is the secret the high street opticians won’t advertise: you are under absolutely zero obligation to buy your glasses from the shop that tested your eyes.

By UK law, as soon as your eye test is finished, your optometrist must hand you a clear, printed copy of your prescription. You are entirely free to thank them for the test, take that paperwork out of the shop door, and use it to shop around.

Taking that prescription and ordering your glasses online through dedicated comparison platforms or independent online retailers allows you to cut out massive high-street retail markups. Online retailers often charge much less for a complete pair, and some, like Mojoglasses, sell the same designer brands you’d find on the high street. If you are keeping an old pair of high-street frames as a backup while you wait for your new online order to arrive, a basic glasses repair kit with mini screwdrivers on Amazon can keep them going.

Online Retailers Worth Comparing

Here are three UK online retailers to compare against your high street quote, with prices as we found them in September 2026:

• Specscart: frames from £29.99 with single vision lenses and anti-glare included, plus a free home trial of up to four frames.
• Lentiamo: frames from around £21, with 30-day returns.
• Mojoglasses: designer brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley and Prada, which Boots also stocks, for less than full high street prices. Frames start from around £40, with lenses extra.

Our Specscart review and Mojoglasses review cover each one in more detail.

The verdict: Specsavers vs Boots Opticians

If your main priority is securing two pairs of everyday, reliable glasses for a straightforward, flat price, Specsavers and their unbeatable 2-for-1 bundle are incredibly difficult to beat on raw value.

If you are looking for a specific high-end designer label, want to maximize your Boots Advantage Card points, or qualify for their ongoing 10% student or over 60s discounts, Boots Opticians provides an excellent, premium experience.

Whichever route you choose in the Specsavers vs Boots Opticians debate, always remember to ask for your physical prescription copy before you leave the store. Knowing your numbers opens up a world of independent online pricing that can save you a small fortune.

The post Specsavers vs Boots Opticians: Which Is Better Value? appeared first on GlassesCompared.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase (for example, on Amazon), we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an independent UK price comparison service, we only recommend products and retailers we genuinely trust.

If you’ve got a new prescription and you’re trying to decide where to buy your glasses, then chances are you’re weighing up a retail comparison: Specsavers vs Vision Express vs Glasses Direct.

They’re three of the most popular places to buy glasses in the UK but they’re very different in how they work, what they charge, and who they suit best. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you a straight comparison so you can make the right choice for your prescription and your budget.

Specsavers vs Vision Express: The Short Version

• Specsavers: best for value on the high street, great for first-time buyers and anyone who wants the reassurance of in-store support
• Vision Express: best for speed and convenience, strong for complex prescriptions and varifocals
• Glasses Direct: best for price, ideal if you know your prescription well and are comfortable buying online

Specsavers

As the UK’s largest optical retailer, Specsavers has earned its reputation for good reason, they offer competitive prices, a huge range of frames, and also have a presence in almost every town in the country.

Prices

Specsavers’ entry-level complete pairs (frames and single vision lenses) start from around £69 for two pairs. Their own-brand frames are reasonably priced, and they regularly run 2-for-1 promotions, however, varifocals start from around £99 for a basic tier, rising significantly for premium lens options.

What they’re good at

• Consistent, reliable service across all branches
• Wide range of frames at every price point
• Eye tests available in store
• NHS vouchers accepted
• Good aftercare, free adjustments and repairs

Things to consider

• Quality can vary between branches
• Upselling on lens upgrades is common, it’s easy to end up spending more than you planned
• Premium brands and designer frames are available but push the price up significantly

Best for

Ideal for first-time glasses buyers, families, as well as anyone on an NHS voucher, especially people who prefer to try frames on in person before buying.

Vision Express

Meanwhile, Vision Express sits slightly above Specsavers on price but offers a more premium in-store experience and is particularly strong on complex prescriptions and varifocals, with a typical turnaround of 3-5 working days.

Prices

In terms of cost, complete pairs at Vision Express typically start from around £79, though their promotions (often 2-for-1 on frames) can bring this down. Furthermore, varifocals start from around £149 for a standard tier. Additionally, they stock a good range of designer brands, which inevitably push prices higher.

What they’re good at

• Firstly, good turnaround times. Typically 3-5 working days for standard prescriptions
• Secondly, strong on complex prescriptions and varifocals
• Thirdly, good range of designer and premium frames
• NHS vouchers accepted
• Knowledgeable staff in most branches

Things to consider

• Slightly higher starting prices than Specsavers
• Fewer branches than Specsavers, may not have one nearby
• Can feel more sales-focused than some independent opticians

Best for

Particularly suited to those with complex prescriptions or varifocals, as well as anyone looking for designer frames with in-store support, and people who want a more premium high street experience.

Glasses Direct

Glasses Direct, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely, they’re an online retailer, which means no physical stores, but also significantly lower prices. In fact, they’ve been around since 2004 and are now one of the most trusted online eyewear retailers in the UK.

Prices

Pricing is where Glasses Direct really stands out. For example, complete pairs with single vision lenses start from around £49, and they regularly run 2-for-1 promotions on frames. Notably, varifocals are available from around £69 for a standard tier, considerably cheaper than the high street equivalents.

What they’re good at

• Significantly lower prices than the high street
• Free home trial, try up to four frames at home before you buy
• 120-day returns policy, one of the best in the industry
• Wide range of frames including designer options
• Good customer service by phone and online chat

Things to consider

• You’ll need your pupillary distance (PD) measurement – ask your optician for it or read our easy guide on how to measure it at home.
• No in-store fitting or adjustment service
• First-time varifocal wearers may find it harder without in-store support
• You’re relying on measurements rather than trying frames in person

Best for

Best suited to experienced glasses wearers who know their prescription, as well as anyone looking to save money, especially people who’ve bought glasses before and know what suits them.

Specsavers vs Vision Express vs Glasses Direct

Here’s a rough comparison for a standard single vision prescription:

Prices are approximate and vary by frame choice and lens upgrades.

Specsavers vs Vision Express vs Glasses Direct: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Specsavers if: you want reliable high street value, you’re buying glasses for the first time, you have an NHS voucher, or you want eye test and aftercare all in one place.

Go with Vision Express: you have a complex prescription or are buying varifocals for the first time, you want a more premium in-store experience, or you prefer designer frames with knowledgeable in-store staff.

Try Glasses Direct if: you’ve bought glasses before and know your prescription well, you want to save money, or you like the idea of trying frames at home before committing.

Cheaper Online Alternatives to Specsavers and Vision Express

If Glasses Direct appeals because of the price, it isn’t the only online option. These UK retailers also sell complete prescription glasses online, and the prices below are what we found in September 2026:

• Specscart: frames from £29.99 with single vision lenses, anti-glare and scratch-resistant coatings included, plus a free home trial of up to four frames.
• Lentiamo: frames from around £21. Lentiamo is best known for contact lenses, but it has a wide range of glasses and offers 30-day returns.
• Mojoglasses: genuine designer frames such as Ray-Ban and Prada for less than full high street prices, with lenses made in their own UK lab. Frames start from around £40, with lenses extra.

You can read more in our Specscart review, Lentiamo review and Mojoglasses review. None of these three say they accept NHS vouchers online, so if you have a voucher, the high street is usually the place to spend it. Our guide on using an NHS voucher online explains why.

One More Thing Worth Knowing

Whichever retailer you choose, prices for the same prescription can vary significantly depending on the frame you pick and the lens upgrades you add. The headline prices above are for the most basic options, it’s easy to spend considerably more once you factor in anti-glare coating, thin lenses, or designer frames.

Ultimately, before you buy, it’s worth comparing prices across all three using your exact prescription – including any NHS voucher savings.

GlassesCompared is a free UK glasses price comparison service. We help you find the best deal from trusted UK retailers using your exact prescription.

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