Contact lens retailers in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, 1-800 Contacts was the most searched contact lens retailer in the United States, accounting for 67.8% of all searches among the six retailers we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, 1-800 Contacts, Costco and Contacts Direct showed up in every answer. 1-800 Contacts was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five responses.
1-800 ContactsShare of searches 67.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
CostcoShare of searches 19.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Contacts DirectShare of searches 4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
HubbleShare of searches 4%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
LensDirectShare of searches 2.7%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top contact lens retailers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, 1-800 Contacts, Costco and Contacts Direct appeared every time. 1-800 Contacts was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five answers. Costco was second, and Contacts Direct was third. Hubble, which ranked fourth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- 1-800 Contacts5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Costco5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Contacts Direct5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- LensDirect3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Contact Lens King3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Hubble0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about contact lens retailers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I order contact lenses online in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best places to buy contacts online in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest place to buy contact lenses online in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“contact lenses online”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“buy contacts online”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which contact lens retailers do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each contact lens retailer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six contact lens retailers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for 1-800 Contacts, Costco, Contacts Direct, Hubble, LensDirect, Contact Lens King. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | 1-800 Contacts | Costco | Contacts Direct | Hubble | LensDirect | Contact Lens King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 64.8% | 20.5% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 65.4% | 20.7% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 65.6% | 20.7% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.4% | 20.6% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 68.7% | 18.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 70.3% | 18.1% | 4% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 67.9% | 20.4% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2% |
| May 2026 | 69.8% | 18.1% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 2.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 70.4% | 17.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Jul 2026 | 68.8% | 19.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 70.8% | 18.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 67.8% | 19.3% | 4% | 4% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 67.8% | 560K | -21.7% | -3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 19.3% | 160K | -13.6% | +1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 4% | 33.1K | 0% | +0.7 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 4% | 33.1K | 0% | +0.7 points | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 2.7% | 22.2K | 0% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 2.2% | 18.1K | -18.5% | 0 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th |
67.8%
Held 1st. 560K estimated branded searches, -21.7% vs prior month. Share -3 points.
2.
Costco19.3%
Held 2nd. 160K estimated branded searches, -13.6% vs prior month. Share +1 points.
4%
Held 3rd. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
4.
Hubble4%
Held 4th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
2.7%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
2.2%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among contact lens retailers in the United States?
6 brands
In September 2026, 1-800 Contacts was the most searched among contact lens retailers in the United States, with an estimated 560K branded searches, 67.8% of all searches for the six we track. Costco is in 2nd place, 48.5 percentage points behind at 19.3%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-800 Contacts | 64.8% → 67.8% | 70.8%Aug 2026 | 64.8%Oct 2025 | 1st |
| Costco | 20.5% → 19.3% | 20.7%Nov 2025 | 17.3%Jun 2026 | 2nd |
| Contacts Direct | 4.3% → 4% | 5.5%Dec 2025 | 3.3%Aug 2026 | 4th → 3rd |
| Hubble | 5.2% → 4% | 5.2%Oct 2025 | 3.3%Mar 2026 | 3rd → 4th |
| LensDirect | 2.9% → 2.7% | 2.9%Nov 2025 | 2.2%Mar 2026 | 5th |
| Contact Lens King | 2.3% → 2.2% | 2.5%Jan 2026 | 2%Jun 2026 | 6th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 1-800 Contacts’ share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States increased from 64.8% to 67.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States decreased from 20.5% to 19.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hubble’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States decreased from 5.2% to 4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 1-800 Contacts’ share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States peaked at 70.8% in August 2026 and was lowest at 64.8% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States peaked at 20.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 17.3% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contacts Direct’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States peaked at 5.5% in December 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hubble’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States peaked at 5.2% in October 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contacts Direct rose from 4th to 3rd among contact lens retailers in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hubble fell from 3rd to 4th among contact lens retailers in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LensDirect and Contact Lens King held steady: their share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States contact lens retailers in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Costco gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 18.3% to 19.3%.
In September 2026, Contacts Direct gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 3.3% to 4%.
In September 2026, Hubble gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 3.3% to 4%.
In September 2026, 1-800 Contacts lost share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 70.8% to 67.8%.
In September 2026, LensDirect rose from 6th to 5th among contact lens retailers in the United States.
In September 2026, Contact Lens King fell from 5th to 6th among contact lens retailers in the United States.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- 1-800 Contacts vs Costco: compare popularity
- 1-800 Contacts vs Contacts Direct: compare popularity
- 1-800 Contacts vs Hubble: compare popularity
- 1-800 Contacts vs LensDirect: compare popularity
- Costco vs Contacts Direct: compare popularity
- Costco vs Hubble: compare popularity
- Costco vs LensDirect: compare popularity
- Contacts Direct vs Hubble: compare popularity
- Contacts Direct vs LensDirect: compare popularity
- Hubble vs LensDirect: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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