Buy Windows Online: Wacky Window Woman's 2026 Price & Energy Ratings Guide
- The Wacky Window Woman
- Jan 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Are you dreading the thought of allowing the high-pressure 'buy today' discount window reps into your home for two to three hours? Only to gain access to the pricing that comes if you agree to an in-home demo? Those days are gone. I've done the work for you. It is possible to buy a great quality window online.
Inside This Guide:
The 2026 Price Comparison Chart - See who takes the #1 spot.
High Quality Vs. High Value Convenience - Can you really buy premium windows online?
The Alside Mezzo Series - Why this is our top online pick for 2026
Decoding the Warranty - Why you need two warranties, not just one
Price vs. Energy Ratings - Find the "Sweet Spot" for your home.
The Final Verdict - Which window should you actually buy?
The Wacky Window Woman Price Comparison Chart (2026 Edition)
When my husband and I finally decided it was time for us to begin shopping around to replace the twelve builder-grade windows in our 2016 home, we were not looking forward to it. But after calling around and attempting to get pricing online or via email, we realized, we were going to have to sit through the painful two-hour demos.
But then, we found Virtual View Windows which can service most of the United States. They allow you to complete the entire window purchasing process from quote to contract, virtually. Finally, a company who gets it.
What happened over the next few months is why the chart and my website and YouTube Channel exist. I become very intrigued by each company's process and over time I invited ten different window companies into our home to gain their pricing, learn how they conduct business and soak in as much as I could as it pertained to window manufacturing and energy ratings.
I named myself the Wacky Window Woman and the rest is history as they say!
Can You Really Purchase High-Quality Windows Online?
You've likely never heard of Virtual View Windows. I hadn't either until I discovered them by accident. Virtual View was the third window company that provided a quote for our 12 replacement window project. They are powered by McCloud Windows in Columbus, Ohio. They are a nationwide Alside dealer that can service most of the US.
The process is actually pretty slick. You reach out to Joe at Virtual View. If you haven't already, send to him:
Number of Windows and approximate sizes
Exterior Material of your home
Year your home was built
Let him know if any of the windows are close to an operating door, within proximity of a tub/shower or within' 18" to the floor
Pictures from inside and out
If you want any color other than white, let him know that as well
He'll use your information to put together a detailed quote and email that to you. You'll likely have follow up questions which can be handled via a Zoom call or a phone call, whichever you prefer. Joe can also do a quick demo of the Alside Mezzo Window, how it operates, discuss energy ratings, demo the "magic" of the memory mesh screen and give you tips on how to care and clean your new windows. Virtual View can help with financing as well.
If you chose to move forward, ISS a division of Alside will send out a certified tech to precision measure and then place your order. If you were thinking, you would need to provide exact measurements, you don't! When the window order comes in, they'll call you to schedule a day to install. It's easy peasy!
Buy Alside Mezzo Windows Online: Getting the Best Value
You'll note on the Wacky Window Woman chart that Window World and their 4000 series window is in the number #1 spot, base on price alone. But, once I really sat down and compared the energy ratings and performance of Virtual View's Alside Mezzo to the budget-friendly 4000 series offered by Window World, it was a no brainer.
Sure, Virtual View was a few hundred dollars more, but those extra dollars bought us the 'Gold Standard': an Energy Star 7.0 Most Efficient rating and air infiltration numbers that the budget series just can’t touch. Plus, there’s the 'Sanity Factor.' We conducted the entire process virtually, which meant no 'weird window dudes' lingering on my white couch for hours. For my husband and me, the peace of mind (and the clean couch) was worth every penny.
Window Warranties: What’s Actually Covered?
Here is another strong selling point for Alside over any of the other brands. Alside has two divisions. The window/product side of the house and then they have an installation arm they call ISS (Installed Sales Solutions). When you choose Alside you get two warranties, one specifically for the window product and one for installation. No finger pointing.
The same company who manufactures your window will be doing the precision measure and then installation. No chance of you, the homeowner getting caught in the middle of the manufacturer saying it was a faulty install and the installer saying it was a bad product. Plus, you have Joe at Virtual View to act as your homeowner advocate should you have any questions or need assistance with warranty work after installation.
Window Prices vs. Energy Ratings: Finding the Sweet Spot
You'll note on the Wacky Window Woman Price Comparison Chart, that as you work your way down the chart and the quoted price becomes higher and higher. You'll see that the energy ratings and warranty options are pretty fantastic, but they come with a higher price tag.
Personally, I wasn't willing to pay three-times the cost just to have Renewal by Andersen's Fibrex frame/sash that can last for the next 50 years (I won't be alive in 50 years) or for a warranty that can be transferred to the next two homeowners.
The Final Verdict: Is the Alside 4000 or Mezzo Right for You?
When all the numbers were in, the affordability of Virtual View's Alside Mezzo triple-pane window which comes with higher energy performance numbers, Energy Star 7.0 Most Efficient rating along with their virtual process made it a very easy decision for my husband and I.
