GlassesShop vs 39DollarGlasses for a cheap backup pair under $40
GlassesShop vs 39DollarGlasses for a backup pair: real all-in checkout total with lenses, shipping speed, and the quality you can expect under $40.
GlassesShop vs 39DollarGlasses: which gets you a real backup pair under $40?
You don't need a backup pair of glasses to be beautiful. You need it to exist — in the car, in a desk drawer, in a gym bag — for the morning you sit on your main frames or a lens pops out the day before a meeting. The whole point of a second pair is that losing or scratching it shouldn't hurt. That makes price the headline spec, and two of the cheapest legit prescription-glasses sites online are GlassesShop and 39DollarGlasses.com.
This is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on lab test. We did not physically order or bench-test frames from either retailer. Everything below is drawn from each company's published pricing and specs, their stated shipping and return policies, and patterns in widely reported user reviews. Where we describe quality, we are summarizing what specs and customer feedback consistently report — and we flag what you can verify yourself at checkout before you spend a cent.
Affiliate disclosure: LensVerdict may earn a commission when you buy through our links via Commission Junction (CJ), at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change our rankings — those are based on price, selection, return terms, and shopper fit. The retailer links below are placeholders pending CJ program approval, so treat them as "where to compare," not live deals.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Not medical advice. LensVerdict is not an eye-care provider, and this is general consumer-shopping information, not optometric advice. You still need a valid prescription from a licensed eye doctor — including an up-to-date PD (pupillary distance) — before ordering glasses online from anyone.
The honest answer up front
Both retailers can land a complete single-vision pair — frame plus basic prescription lenses — under $40, which most "from $X" frame sites cannot once lenses go in. Based on published pricing:
- 39DollarGlasses.com is the predictable "$39-ish, lenses included" play. Its name is its promise: a large slice of the catalog is sold as a finished single-vision pair at one flat price, so the sticker is closer to the real checkout total than almost anywhere online.
- GlassesShop is the play if you want cheap plus choice — a bigger, more fashion-forward frame range and aggressive coupon pricing that frequently pushes complete pairs into the sub-$40 zone, especially on first orders.
Pick on what matters more: a flat, no-math price (39DollarGlasses) or more frame styles and coupon-driven deals (GlassesShop). Below is the head-to-head, then how to get under $40 at each.
GlassesShop vs 39DollarGlasses: head-to-head
The table compares the two on the dimensions that decide a backup-pair purchase. Figures are based on each retailer's published pricing and policies and reflect typical complete single-vision pairs; treat them as illustrative estimates, not quotes — your final total depends on the exact frame, lens, and any coupon at checkout.
| Dimension | 39DollarGlasses.com | GlassesShop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat "complete pair" pricing — many frames sold at one price with single-vision lenses included | Low frame stickers (often $9–$19) + lens add-ons, heavily discounted by site-wide coupons |
| Real all-in for a basic pair | Commonly around $39 for a finished single-vision pair (frame + standard lenses) | Frequently under $40 complete after a first-order/coupon code; varies by frame |
| Frame selection | Smaller, practical catalog skewing classic/value | Larger, more style-driven range with frequent new arrivals |
| Basic lenses included? | Typically yes — single-vision in the headline price | Usually an add-on, but the cheapest tier is inexpensive and coupons offset it |
| Shipping speed | Standard shipping with paid expedite options; build time for Rx lenses applies | Standard economy free over a threshold; paid faster tiers; Rx build time applies |
| Returns / remakes | Stated satisfaction/return policy with a remake path for Rx errors | Stated return window plus a first-pair guarantee on many orders |
Check current options: 39DollarGlasses.com · GlassesShop
Two practical caveats that apply to both, regardless of the table: (1) the rock-bottom price assumes the standard 1.50-index plastic lens with no premium add-ons — start bolting on high-index, progressives, photochromic, or premium anti-reflective coatings and you leave the under-$40 tier fast at either site; and (2) shipping is not instant. Prescription lenses are cut to order, so plan on roughly one to two weeks door-to-door with standard shipping. A backup pair is something you buy before you need it, not the night your main pair breaks.
How to actually get under $40 at 39DollarGlasses
39DollarGlasses leans on simplicity, which is exactly what you want for a throwaway-priced spare. The flat-rate model means the frame you see is generally sold as a complete single-vision pair, so the "$39" you read is much closer to the "$39" you pay than the frame-only stickers you'll meet elsewhere. To keep it genuinely under $40 based on published pricing:
- Stay on standard single-vision, 1.50-index lenses — the tier the flat price is built around, and plenty for a low-to-moderate backup pair.
- Skip the premium coating upsells unless you truly want them; a basic scratch-resistant/AR layer is fine for a spare, and the fancy tiers are where budgets quietly break.
- Mind shipping at the bottom of the range. If the frame total is right at $39, expedited shipping can push you over $40 — choose standard to stay under the line.
- Have your PD ready. An off pupillary distance is the single most common reason a budget pair feels "wrong."
Where 39DollarGlasses suits you: you want one predictable number and you'd rather not do coupon math. Confirm today's complete-pair total at 39DollarGlasses.com before ordering.
How to actually get under $40 at GlassesShop
GlassesShop plays a different game: very low frame stickers plus near-constant promotional codes. That's a strength for a backup pair because it widens your style choice without leaving the budget tier — but it means the complete price is coupon-dependent, so always read the cart total, not the frame tag. To land under $40 based on published pricing:
- Start from the cheapest frame tier (often around $9–$19) and add the standard 1.50-index single-vision lens, the inexpensive default.
- Apply a current first-order or site-wide code. Sub-$40 complete pairs almost always assume a coupon; without one, the add-ons nudge you past the line.
- Watch the free-shipping threshold. A code that includes free shipping can be the difference on a small spare order.
- Skip "2 pairs" bundles unless you want two — they lower the per-pair price but raise the total.
Where GlassesShop suits you: you want a backup pair you don't mind being seen in, with real style options, and you're fine applying a code at checkout. Browse frames and promos at GlassesShop, and let the cart total be your guide.
What "quality under $40" honestly looks like
Set expectations correctly and a sub-$40 pair is a genuinely useful object. Based on widely reported user feedback, the budget tier at both retailers is typically acetate or basic metal frames with standard CR-39 (1.50) plastic lenses — light, serviceable, and accurate to prescription when your numbers (including PD) are entered correctly. What you are not buying at this price is premium hinges, designer materials, ultra-thin high-index lenses, or top-tier coatings, and reported weak points cluster around exactly that: a frame that feels lighter than a boutique pair, basic coatings, and the occasional remake when a measurement is off. None of that is disqualifying for a backup pair — it's arguably the point of buying cheap.
The smart move is to treat your first sub-$40 order as a low-stakes test of their lens accuracy and your prescription entry. If the spare comes out clear and comfortable, you've found your reliable backup source; if not, the remake/return policy above is your safety net — read the current terms before ordering, since policies change.
The bottom line
For a no-stress second pair under $40, both are legitimately cheap and both can include lenses in that total — already ahead of frame-sticker sites that quietly add lens costs later. Choose 39DollarGlasses.com when you want one flat, lenses-included price and no coupon math. Choose GlassesShop when you want more frame styles and don't mind applying a code to hit the same budget. Either way, confirm the complete cart total on the retailer's own page, keep your prescription and PD current, and remember our links are "where to compare" pending CJ approval — not live deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really get prescription glasses for under $40 at these sites?
Based on each retailer's published pricing, yes — both can produce a complete single-vision pair (frame plus basic 1.50-index lenses) under $40 if you stay on the standard lens tier and skip premium add-ons. At 39DollarGlasses.com the flat "complete pair" price already includes single-vision lenses; at GlassesShop the sub-$40 complete price usually assumes a current coupon, so read the cart total, not the frame tag. These are illustrative estimates, not quotes — confirm today's price on the retailer's own site.
Are 39DollarGlasses and GlassesShop legit, or a scam?
Both are established online prescription-glasses retailers with published return and remake policies, not fly-by-night sellers. The most common complaints in reported user reviews involve prescription-entry errors (especially an incorrect PD) and the limits of basic frames and coatings — not fraud. Enter your prescription carefully and review the current return window before you buy.
Which is cheaper for a single backup pair, GlassesShop or 39DollarGlasses?
It is close and it depends on the frame. 39DollarGlasses tends to win on predictability — its flat lenses-included price means fewer surprises and less math. GlassesShop can match or beat it on the cheapest frames once a coupon is applied, and offers more style choice. If you want a guaranteed number with no coupon hunting, lean 39DollarGlasses; if you want more frame options at a similar price, lean GlassesShop. Compare both carts before deciding.
How long does shipping take, and can I get a backup pair overnight?
Not realistically. Prescription lenses are cut to order at both retailers, so expect roughly one to two weeks door-to-door with standard shipping. Paid expedited tiers speed transit, not lens fabrication — which is why a backup pair is something to order before your main pair breaks, not the night you need it.
Do I need anything besides my prescription to order from these sites?
Yes — a valid, current glasses prescription from a licensed eye doctor plus your pupillary distance (PD). Many prescriptions do not list PD, so you may need to ask your optometrist or measure it carefully at home, since an incorrect PD is the leading cause of a budget pair feeling "off." This is general shopping information, not medical advice; an eye exam and accurate prescription should come from a licensed professional.
Affiliate Disclosure