--- title: Starfish | Why Starfish Outperforms Competitors description: Compare Starfish with leading competitor platforms and discover why optical retailers choose our unified commerce and practice‑growth solution --- [![Logo_Starfish_Optical](https://indigolighthouse.com/hubfs/Logo_Starfish_Optical.png)](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish?hsLang=en) ![menu](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7479797/menu.png) ![close_24px](https://7479797.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7479797/close_24px.svg) - [About Us](https://indigolighthouse.com) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Solutions](https://indigolighthouse.com/#solutions) - [Our Heritage](https://indigolighthouse.com/#heritage) - [Our Values](https://indigolighthouse.com/#values) - [Contact Us](https://indigolighthouse.com/#contact-us) - [Starfish OmniCloudCommerce](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish) Show submenu for Starfish OmniCloudCommerce - [Eye Care](https://indigolighthouse.com/eyecare) - [Veterinary](https://indigolighthouse.com/veterinary) - [Why SaaS?](https://indigolighthouse.com/eyecare#saas) - [Starfish Hub](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish-hub) - [MyVetPost](https://indigolighthouse.com/myvetpost) - [About Us](https://indigolighthouse.com) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Solutions](https://indigolighthouse.com/#solutions) - [Our Heritage](https://indigolighthouse.com/#heritage) - [Our Values](https://indigolighthouse.com/#values) - [Contact Us](https://indigolighthouse.com/#contact-us) - [Starfish OmniCloudCommerce](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish) Show submenu for Starfish OmniCloudCommerce - [Eye Care](https://indigolighthouse.com/eyecare) - [Veterinary](https://indigolighthouse.com/veterinary) - [Why SaaS?](https://indigolighthouse.com/eyecare#saas) - [Starfish Hub](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish-hub) - [MyVetPost](https://indigolighthouse.com/myvetpost) ## Capture walkouts with Continuous Customer Engagement [Book a demo](https://indigolighthouse.com/starfish-optical-vs-competitors#dnd_area-module-13) DEVELOPED BY EYECARE EXPERTS FOR EYECARE PROFESSIONALS # One Fully Integrated Intelligent Digital Solution Our bespoke Starfish OmniCloudCommerce platform built specifically for the eye care sector, transforms your web presence into one truly Omnichannel eCommerce integrated intelligent solution, empowering you to earn as much return on investment as you want.  **Discover Starfish OmniCloudCommerce vs Other Solutions** ![4cbf5137-0f80-4730-94aa-d8a53ac02542](https://indigolighthouse.com/hubfs/4cbf5137-0f80-4730-94aa-d8a53ac02542.webp) ### Starfish OmniCloud Commerce 0 /month ### Frames and Sunglasses Portal\* 0 /month ### Contact Lens Portals\*\* 0 /month ### Static Brochureware Providers\*\*\* 0 /month Starfish OmniCloud Commerce Frames and Sunglasses Portal\* Contact Lens Portals\*\* Static Brochureware Providers\*\*\* Solution Bespoke Unified Omnichannel eCommerce SaaS Solution – Full Online Presence, Enabling You to Sell Contact Lenses, Complete Glasses, Sunglasses, Eye Wellness Products & Your Services Frames and Sunglasses showroom/portal Contact Lenses portal only Brochureware site Omnichannel Yes No No No eCommerce Fully integrated—online and in-store single access—portal Portal Portal Static site ## Prescriptions Digital Prescriptions stored in Patient My Account Yes, Contact Lenses and Eye Exams prescriptions No Contact Lenses only (relies on EHR) No Other Practice Issued Prescriptions Supported Yes, with flows for verification with issuer No No No EHR Integration Yes, Starfish GraphQL Yes, most popular Yes, most popular No Data Ownership Doctor Doctor Third-party provider / Manufacturer / Distributor owned None ## Product Categories Contact Lenses Sales Support Yes No Yes No Frames and Sunglasses Sales Support Yes, full eCommerce or Showroom only Yes No No Doctor Enabled to Sell Frames or Sunglasses Beyond Their Own Stock Yes No, restricted to Doctor own stock Not supported Not supported Frames and Sunglasses Features Virtual try-on, in-store try-ons, Likes, referrals Virtual try-on, at home try-ons Not supported Not supported Frames and Sunglasses – Stock Management Yes Yes Not supported Not supported Eye Wellness Product Sales Supported Yes, automated full product catalogue, integration for automated distribution No No No Doctor Enabled to Create Own Products Yes, enabled in all product categories excl. contact lenses No No No Doctor Enabled to Create Own Services Yes No No No ## Payments Direct Integration With Premium Providers Yes Stripe only Stripe only No payments functionality Optimum Rates Yes Expensive rates Expensive rates No payments functionality Doctor Owns Merchant Account Yes Yes No No payments functionality Money flows directly to Doctors account Yes Yes No No payments functionality Automated Recurring Billing and Recurring Shipments Yes No No No payments functionality ## Distribution Automated Distribution Yes, Contact Lenses and Eye Wellness. Doctor Distributed Frames and Sunglasses No, Doctor distributed Frames and Sunglasses Yes, Contact Lenses Not supported ## Patient Engagement Key Patient Engagement Features Automated similar product suggestions (browsing and buying), automated post-purchase retargeting, lost cart reminders, patient rated in-store try-ons automated retargeting, expired prescription reminders, reorder reminders, order updates Post-purchase retargeting, lost cart reminders Retargeting contact lens patients only, reorder reminders, order updates None Patient Purchasing Options Subscription, reordering, discretionary discounts, promo codes, first purchase discount, bulk discounts, emergency orders, manufacturer rebates, and more… Discretionary discounts, promo codes, vision insurance Reordering, bulk discounts, manufacturer rebates No patient buying functionality Patient Enabled to Use Vision Insurance Yes Yes (limited providers) Yes (limited providers) No vision insurance functionality Pre-appointment Features Digital storefront (all optical product categories), try-on in-store requests, virtual try-on, patient profiling (Likes, previously viewed products) Digital storefront (frames and sunglasses), try-on session requests None None ## Marketing Digital Marketing To Support Doctors Brand SEO library, Content driven SEO, Initial SEO Boost (Optional), Local SEO (Optional), Google Business Profile (Optional), Social Media integration (back linking), Social Media Channel Graphics, 4 social media posts per month, PPC management (add-on) No Doctor digital marketing No, provider strategy is to grow their own brand Varies depending on tier chosen Content Ownership Owned by Doctor No content No content Provider owns content ## Web Presence Brand Support Fully reflects Doctor brand (logo, typeface, colors, tone of voice, ...) Doctor's logo only Distributor/manufacturer branding or Doctor's logo Brochureware site only Full Digital Presence Yes (if required) No No Brochureware site only Content Management Bespoke Content Management System for Optical, Simple and easy to use, Full control, Self-service Single banner facility only Single banner facility only Very limited, coding skills required ## Security & Support Security and Compliance Compliant with HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, ISO 27001 Compliant with HIPAA, SOC 2 Compliant with HIPAA, SOC 2 HIPPA (third party integrations only) Multi-location Support Yes, no additional charge Yes (charges may apply) Yes (charges may apply) Not applicable ## Universal Support Multilingual Yes No No Expensive Multi-currency Yes No No No ## Onboarding Onboarding Costs No costs Medium costs Independent provider — Medium; Distributor/Manufacturer — Low High costs Time to Launch Fast (days) Medium (weeks) Independent provider — Medium (weeks) ; Distributor/Manufacturer — Fast (days) Slow (Months) ## Costs and ROI Monthly Licence Cost Outstanding value for money Expensive Independent provider — Expensive; Distributor/Manufacturer — Free. Very expensive Return on Investment High Limited (one product category) Limited (one product category) Very limited (no selling ability) \* ex. Optify, MyFrameGallery, ... \*\* ex. Arrellio, Dr Contact Lens, Abby, Marlo, ... \*\*\* ex. Roya, Eyecarepro, Marketing4ECPS, ... ## Lean On The Experts **See the difference in days, not months.**  The Omnichannel eCommerce Platform every Optical Business needs. Developed by Eyecare Experts for Eyecare Professionals! Book Your Demo Today! ![starfish_Asset 1-1](https://indigolighthouse.com/hs-fs/hubfs/starfish_Asset%201-1.png?width=250&height=136&name=starfish_Asset%201-1.png "starfish_Asset 1-1") Powered by [INDIGO LIGHTHOUSE](https://www.indigolighthouse.com/?hsLang=en) The Omnichannel eCommerce Experts   © 2026 Indigo Lighthouse [Privacy Policy |](https://indigolighthouse.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) [Terms & Conditions](https://indigolighthouse.com/terms-conditions?hsLang=en)