Warby Parker Virtual Try-On App (Review & How-to-Use)

About Warby Parker

In 2010, Warby Parker emerged as a retailer of premium eyewear. Over the years, they've solidified their position as a leading name in the eyewear industry. They design glasses in-house and engage with customers directly to provide more affordable, high-quality prescription eyewear.

Warby Parker has made a name for itself by offering stylish designs, innovative retail options, and affordable prices. Their commitment to offering superior glasses has also revolutionized how people perceive and obtain eyewear. They ship their products across the U.S. and parts of Canada. The company offers:

What’s Unique About Warby Parker?

Warby Parker designs all of their frames in-house. They only use premium materials such as custom-designed cellulose acetate to ultra-lightweight titanium. Warby Parker also prides itself in being carbon neutral across all of their operations.

Also, they work with Verité, an independent, non-profit civil society organization, to ensure their factories have fair working conditions.

But perhaps the most unique and appealing aspect of Warby Parker is its innovative online buying experience. Both their website and app are well-designed and easy to use. They have a Home Try-On Program that allows you to try five different frames for free before committing.

About the App

The Warby Parker Mobile App has a 4.9 rating with over 265K customer ratings on the App Store. I gave it five stars myself. The app is very well designed in terms of aesthetics and user experience.

The app has several useful features that help you browse its collection of frames. We recommend starting with their frames quiz. Just answer a few quick questions, and they’ll show you a collection of frames based on your personalized results.

If you’d rather browse the entire Warby Parker glasses collection, that’s easy too. Their collection is divided into Men’s and Women’s, and once you make your selection, there are some filters to help you narrow down your options, including:

Frame width
Shape
Color
Material
Nose bridge
Available for Home Try-On

If you see a pair of frames that you like, click the heart icon to add it to your favorites. The favorites function is super helpful when narrowing down your choices. It puts all of your top frames in one location. You can use the Virtual Try-On feature and swipe through your favorite frames to instantly compare them.

Managing your account is easy on the app. You can view your orders, manage your prescriptions, find nearby stores, and access their customer support via phone or chat.

How Does the Virtual Try-On Feature Work?

Even though the entire app works seamlessly, Warby Parker’s Virtual Try-On feature is the app's highlight. You can swipe down on any frame to instantly try the virtual frames on. Or you can go to your favorites, fire up the Virtual Try-On tool, and swipe from left to right to compare your top frames side-by-side.

Warby Parker Virtual Try On App — VisionCenter / Michael Bayba

You can try various virtual glasses to see whether they suit your facial features. Different frame widths and colors are available so you can choose the perfect frames for you.

Ordering on the App

Ordering a pair of glasses from Warby Parker is simple on both the app and the website.

Uploading Your Prescription

You’ll need a current glasses prescription. If you don’t have one, you can schedule an eye exam at Warby Parker or your local eye doctor.

All you have to do is upload a photo of your prescription and add your pupillary distance. (Warby Parker has a tool that automatically measures this for you). Once you’ve uploaded these, Warby Parker saves your information, so reordering is simple.

Selecting Your Frames

You have two options when it comes to ordering frames from Warby Parker. The first is to order one pair of glasses after using the virtual try-on tool. You’ll enter your shipping and billing information, and Warby Parker will begin to process your order.

The second option for ordering frames is to utilize Warby Parker’s Home Try-On Program. After selecting five options, they will ship the frames to your house. After selecting which frames you want, you'll send them back so Warby Parker can add your prescription.

Processing and Shipping Time

Warby Parker usually takes a few days to process your order. They verify your prescription, cut and add lenses to your frames, and then ship them. Standard shipping is free and takes 7 to 10 days. Expedited shipping costs $20.

The whole process typically takes 10 to 15 days. Keep an eye on your email for updates or additional information required for processing your order.

Using Vision Insurance, FSA, or HSA

You can also use your vision insurance, FSA, or HSA to pay for your Warby Parker prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, or eye exams. Learn more about Warby Parker and insurance.

Home Try-On Program

The Home Try-On Program is one of the pillars of Warby Parker’s success. It's what differentiates them from many other online eyewear retailers.

You can select up to five frames and have them shipped to your house for free. You’ll have five days to try on the frames (they will have non-prescription lenses in them). This allows you to test the frames for comfort and fit and not just looks.

Once you’ve tried all the frames, you can immediately mark which pair(s) you want to keep or order them online. Then you’ll ship them back to Warby Parker. They’ll add your prescription to your order and send you your new pair of glasses.

Shipping Cost for Home Try-On Program

The Home Try-On Program's shipping is free both ways, even if you decide you don’t want any of the frames. Not all frames are available for the Home Try-On Program. However, the majority of frames on their website are.

You can flip a switch while you’re browsing to add a filter so all the frames you’re looking at are available for Home Try-On.

App Pros & Cons

Pros:

Well-designed and easy to use
The quick online quiz helps you narrow down your options
Easily add frames to your favorites as you browse
Virtual Try-On feature is fun and effective
Easy to order and navigate your account
Customer service is friendly, communicative, and helpful
Offers social impact

Cons:

Only available on iPhone X or above (sorry, my fellow Android users, you’ll have to borrow a friend’s phone if you want to use the app)
The pupillary distance measurement tool can be buggy and usually takes a few tries to get right
Limited international shipping since the brand primarily sends to the US

Customer Reviews

App vs. Website

Both the Warby Parker app and website are well-designed and easy to use. You can use the website to browse and choose frames for your Home-Try On, upload your prescription, and manage your orders.

The biggest downfall of the app is that it’s only available for iOS. This makes it inaccessible to anyone using an Android phone, representing a huge percentage of cell phone users.

The main elements that set the app apart from the website are the Virtual Try-On and the favorites feature. Plus, the app will allow you to measure and upload your pupillary distance more easily.

I recommend using the app if you’re using an iPhone X or above. However, if you’re an Android user, or prefer browsing on a desktop, the website is still a great shopping experience.

Takeaways

The Warby Parker App is a great way to shop for a new pair of glasses
Unfortunately, it’s only available for iPhone X and above (sorry Android users)
The Virtual Try-On feature gives you a realistic preview of what frames will look like on your face
Their Home Try-On Program lets you try five pairs of frames
Use the app to save a list of favorites, and swipe through them to try them on virtually
The pupillary distance measurement tool works fine for some people, but others find it difficult to use
You can use your vision insurance, FSA, or HSA to pay for prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, or eye exams
The app experience is slightly better than the website, but the website also provides a great shopping experience

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