Are Custom Insoles Worth It? An Honest Look at Custom vs. Store-Bought

Custom insoles cost more than the ones hanging at the pharmacy, so it is fair to ask what the extra money buys. The honest answer has two parts: what custom insoles can do well, and what they are not. This guide covers both, with sources you can check.

First, “custom” means three different things

A lot of confusion comes from one word being used for very different products.

Prescription custom orthotics

These are made after a podiatrist examines your feet, ankles and legs and prescribes a device for a specific condition. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) describes them as devices “crafted for you and no one else” after a complete evaluation. They usually cost several hundred dollars, and insurance sometimes helps pay.

Scan-based custom insoles

This is what CustomSole makes. You scan your feet with your phone, and the arch of each insole is shaped from that scan. There is no exam and no prescription. APMA is clear on this point: insoles you order online are shoe inserts, not custom orthotics, “despite what the ads might say.” We agree, and we don’t call our insoles orthotics.

Store-bought (prefabricated) insoles

These come in one shape per size, sometimes with a choice of low, medium or high arch. Some are soft foam or gel for cushioning; others have a firmer plastic shell for support.

	Store-bought	Scan-based custom	Prescription orthotic
Shape comes from	A standard size	A 3D scan of each foot	A clinical exam and a scan or cast
Who designs it	The manufacturer	The insole maker, from your scan	Your podiatrist
Where you get it	Store or online	Online	A podiatrist’s office
Best for	Extra cushioning, trying insoles for the first time	Comfort and an arch that follows your own feet	Diagnosed foot problems

What the research actually says

If you are wondering whether custom insoles work better for foot pain, the evidence is less exciting than the marketing.

A 2019 review by CADTH, the Canadian health technology agency, compared custom-made and prefabricated foot orthoses in adults with heel pain. It found no difference in pain or function at 6 weeks, 12 weeks or 12 months, and called the evidence on comfort mixed. A broader 2025 systematic review of 3D-printed orthoses found that 3D-printed insoles often improved pressure distribution, comfort and fit, but some studies showed little difference compared with prefabricated devices.

APMA’s consumer guidance lands in the same place. Shoe inserts “can cushion your feet, provide comfort, and support your arches, but they can’t correct biomechanical foot problems or cure long-standing foot issues.”

So here is our take: buy custom insoles for fit and comfort, not as treatment. If your main goal is to fix pain, a professional who can examine you is the right first step.

What a scan-based custom insole actually gives you

An arch shaped to each foot

Most people’s feet are not identical. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes that one foot may be slightly larger than the other. A store-bought pair uses one mirrored shape. A scan-based pair can give your left and right foot different arches, because each one is measured on its own. Our scan partner, Volumental, measures length, width and arch height for each foot.

No guessing between sizes or arch heights

With store-bought insoles you pick a size and, if you are lucky, an arch height, then hope it lines up with your foot. With a scan, the arch position comes from your measurements. You don’t pick a size at all. If you are curious how the numbers compare, our size guide shows the chart we use for reference.

A structured shell, not just padding

The arch of a CustomSole insole is a 3D-printed nylon shell, with cushioning layers on top. Its shape comes from the printed structure rather than from foam that is meant to squish. You can read more in our guide to how 3D printed insoles are made.

What it doesn’t do

It is not a medical device, there is no gait analysis, and it can’t rescue a shoe that doesn’t fit you. An insole works with your shoe, so start with shoes that are the right length and width.

When store-bought insoles are probably enough

• You mostly want a softer feel underfoot.
• Standard arch shapes already feel fine on you.
• You are trying insoles for the first time and want a low-cost experiment.
• You need something today, not in two weeks.
• The insole is for shoes you only wear now and then.

APMA suggests that if you are simply looking for extra cushioning or support, you may want to try an over-the-counter insert first. That is good advice.

When to see a podiatrist first

• You have diabetes, circulation problems or reduced feeling in your feet. APMA specifically recommends seeing a podiatrist before choosing an insert.
• You have pain that is serious, keeps coming back or changes how you walk.
• You have swelling, numbness or an injury.

An insole is not a substitute for a diagnosis. If something hurts, get it checked.

The cost math

Prices vary, but as a rough guide: drugstore gel and foam insoles often cost under $25, and popular semi-rigid store-bought insoles commonly run about $40 to $65. Prescription orthotics usually cost several hundred dollars.

A CustomSole pair is $69.99, in Full Length or 3/4 Length. If you wear one pair every day for a year, that is about 19 cents a day. How long a pair lasts depends on how you use it; our guide on how long insoles last covers the signs to watch for.

Two things to know before you buy. We don’t accept HSA or FSA cards at this time. And because every pair is made for one person, orders can be changed or canceled within 24 hours of checkout; after that, sales are final, and we replace any pair that arrives damaged or incorrectly made.

A quick self-check

A scan-based custom pair is more likely to be worth it if you answer yes to most of these:

• Store-bought insoles have felt like the arch is in the wrong place.
• You stand or walk a lot and wear the same few pairs of shoes most days.
• You want each foot’s arch to follow that foot.
• You don’t have a condition that needs a professional’s care.
• You are happy to wait about two weeks for a made-to-order pair.

If that sounds like you, see how the scan and printing work, or browse the 16 designs. Not sure which length you need? Read 3/4 length vs full length insoles.