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Our research team compared 31 solar companies and chose our top 6 picks based on ratings and reviews, equipment options, warranties and other factors in our full methodology. Our picks may be Authorized Partners who compensate us — this doesn’t affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies are listed.
We’ve talked to more than 100,000 verified solar customers since 2018. A couple of things we know for sure: People like powering their homes with a reliable source of cheap, clean energy. People don’t like getting into solar contracts that don’t meet their expectations.
Our top solar company picks
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Want savings but don’t know much about solar? SunPower figures it all out for you. Already know what you need for a DIY project? Start with ShopSolar. Sunlux, Blue Raven, Freedom Solar Power and Sunrun are all worth considering for residential installations — we suggest comparing a few quotes to see who has the best deal in your area.
SunPower uses high-efficiency solar panels and has a strong reputation from an equipment standpoint. Its manufacturing company, Maxeon, makes one of our favorite black roof panels. They are reliably efficient and durable, built on a solid copper foundation.
We like that SunPower takes care of almost everything: evaluating your electricity needs, customizing a solar panel system, figuring out financing, helping with permits and coordinating the installation team.
After installation, SunPower’s monitoring and maintenance services help maximize your solar system’s efficiency and, if necessary, can diagnose any issues. There’s also solar battery servicing and energy auditing to help you see how your power usage changes over time.
SunPower’s “Complete Confidence Warranty” covers all components — including the panels, inverter, racking and monitoring — plus performance for 25 years. The company repairs or replaces equipment at no cost to you (including labor and shipping). It also covers rust damage for seaside installations.
SunPower might not be the best fit if you’re on a tight budget or a tight deadline. Some customers have experienced issues with installation delays.
Happy SunPower customers often tell us about a seamless installation process and significant savings on energy bills.
One customer, Darren in New Jersey, thought the rep’s estimate “sounded too good to be true” at first. “We were wrong! The numbers were true and the install was perfect. The entire process was as promised and now (5 months in) my electricity bills are a fraction of what they used to be,” Darren told us.
Edward in Colorado said his SunPower solar panel system generates “an annual surplus of power that the local utility company pays me for at the end of each year. The panels and included inverters have worked flawlessly since they were installed. I especially like that my electricity costs are now fixed as I expect utility costs to increase significantly in the future.”
Douglas in Connecticut is a first-time homeowner who wanted to save on electricity costs. “I did a good amount of research, met with other companies and ended up with SunPower panels,” he said. “Their industry-leading warranty lets me keep peace of mind, and industry-leading efficiency lets me know I have the best product.”
Blue Raven Solar specializes in installing solar panels with a low-profile racking system. Installers typically run the conduit on the interior of the house, which gives your home a sleek, modern look. It also has an affordable financing option that combines aspects of a solar lease (or PPA) with solar panel ownership.
Installers use various monocrystalline, black-on-black, tier-1 solar panels and Enphase microinverters. As for storage batteries, it offers lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries from Enphase, FranklinWH, Tesla and SunPower.
Installations come with a standard 25-year warranty on solar panels and a 10-year workmanship warranty. Storage battery warranties vary by manufacturer. Blue Raven offers the FranklinWH aPower Battery (12-year warranty), SunPower SunVault (10-year warranty), the Enphase IQ5P Battery (15-year warranty) and the Tesla Powerwall 2 (10-year warranty).
Blue Raven doesn’t have as wide a range of brand partners as some of our other picks. It also has relatively few locations.
We hear a lot of positive feedback about value. “They gave us top-rated materials, good price, (an) honest timeline that was fair and quality installation. The site supervisor was experienced and expected quality work,” Terry in Illinois said.
Other reviewers highlight Blue Raven Solar’s efficient installations and helpful customer service. “Blue Raven has been 5-star all the way since we had our first meet! They are punctual, informative, patient, and experienced,” Jim in Colorado said.
Marsi in Washington put it more simply: “Best crew ever. Very fast. Very clean. Not much noise.” Another customer, Helen in Missouri, liked that the staff was “courteous,” “friendly” and “respectful of our property. They were on time and everything went smoothly from beginning to completion of installation.”
“They handled everything from start to finish. Great quality work and very professional,” Dan in Oregon told us. “Installation only took one day, and they cleaned up afterward perfectly. I highly recommend them if you want to save money on energy costs, as it's only going to go up.”
Freedom Solar Power specializes in residential and commercial solar panel installation, including battery backup systems and ground-mounted solar energy systems. Ground-mounted solar panels are a good option if you don’t have a south-facing roof or want to avoid having panels on top of your house. .
The company stands out for its professional installation and customer service. It offers energy monitoring and ongoing support for repairs, maintenance and upgrades.
We also like that Freedom Solar’s app is helpful for keeping track of your energy production in real time. On average, customers spend $138 per month when they finance an 8-kilowatt (kW) residential system.
Freedom Solar Power’s 25-year warranty covers the product, performance and workmanship. If any issues come up, the company replaces equipment on behalf of the manufacturer. The company has Tesla Powerwall and SunPower SunVault backup power systems, which both come with 10-year warranties.
Financing: Most customers finance their solar system through a loan. Interest rates start at 0%, and there are $0 down payment options. Freedom Solar does not have a leasing option.
Freedom Solar Power generally receives positive reviews from customers. However, we have heard some complaints about installation delays and confusion about costs. (These are common themes in many solar companies’ reviews.) A couple more considerations:
Happy Freedom Solar Power customers tell us about smart sales reps and smooth installations. One customer, Phillip in Texas, told us he talked to seven different solar companies, and the Freedom Solar representaive seemed the most knowledgeable.
“Freedom Solar Power should keep doing what they're doing,” another customer, Hugh in Texas, told us. “Their reps were excellent. And the installation was seamless.” Hugh also likes that “Freedom Solar monitors my solar for me, and they tell me if there are any problems.”
“I couldn't have been more pleased with how Freedom Solar Power performed, both from a company standpoint, as well as from an installation in the solar panel function,” Keith in Texas said.
Others highlight the app — “they have a really good product with a really good app that you can easily follow,” according to Cory in Texas. Some, like Ian in Texas, are just happy that their “utility bill went down a lot” since having the system.
Some solar companies use their own proprietary equipment (like Tesla), but Sunlux stands out for its high-quality brand partners. It offers Panasonic and Qcells for solar panels; Tesla Powerwall, Enphase AC Battery and LG Chem RESU for batteries; and SolarEdge inverters and Enphase microinverters.
We also like that Sunlux can take care of any necessary roof repairs or replacements before installing your system (for an additional charge).
Sunlux has two tiers of warranty options. The standard warranty covers installation, parts and maintenance for 25 years. With Platinum Protection, Sunlux also covers labor for repairs and guarantees the amount of energy your system generates.
A few customers we talked to were annoyed by supply chain delays (a common theme in many solar company reviews). A couple more things to keep in mind:
Happy customers appreciate Sunlux’s helpful reps and straightforward process.
“I spoke to other companies. They were somewhat pushy,” Daniel in California told us. “But with Sunlux, it was nothing like that. I asked for a quote. They gave me a quote and left me alone.” Daniel said the roof leak prevention process was another selling point.
Similarly, Bill in California told us, “I've been in sales long enough to know when somebody's telling me a lie and somebody's not telling me the whole truth. But Sunlux's integrity was what I wanted. Communication is everything to me and they've been very communicative.”
Solar reps have gotten a bad reputation for focusing too much on “the sale,” so it’s nice to hear positive feedback about Sunlux’s marketing tactics.
Another verified customer, Keone in California, liked that “there was less dealing with middlemen, and I felt more comfortable. Everything was great during the signup, and Edison came out and did their thing, which was all good.”
Sunrun’s leasing program is for homeowners who want solar panels without the expensive upfront investment.
The lease agreement gives Sunrun permission to install solar panels on your house. You don’t have to pay for the equipment, installation, permitting or financing. Sunrun owns the system, and you pay Sunrun a fixed monthly fee. Sunrun leases typically last 25 years.
We also like that Sunrun uses a cool automated site modeling tool to customize systems based on your roof characteristics like shading, pitch and sun exposure, energy usage history and design preferences.
Leased systems typically come with free maintenance and repairs. For homeowners who purchase their systems, Sunrun’s comprehensive warranty covers the system’s performance for 25 years. Workmanship and equipment are covered for 10 years.
Leasing is cheaper upfront, but those monthly payments add up over time, sometimes coming to more than the system is worth. You’re also disqualified from some of the best financial incentives, like the 30% federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), and it can make it harder to sell your house. A couple more considerations:
Happy Sunrun customers like saving on electric bills. Dale in Orlando told us, “My electric bill has only been between $35 and $40 all summer long with the solar. So I'm happy with it because I'd be paying a lot more for electricity right now without it, even with the lease payment I'm making to Sunrun.”
Another customer, Pamela in New Jersey, had thought about going solar for years before finding Sunrun’s leasing program. “You put out nothing upfront. It's been a win-win for us,” she said. “Our bills are $5 or $6 a month, and there have been months where we had credits, so we had no bills.”
“Best investment I’ve ever made,” Ronald in Massachusetts said. “I’ve driven a Chevy Bolt EV since 2019, charging from my roof solar, essentially costing me nothing and saving two tons of CO2 by not using fossil fuel."
ShopSolar is best for DIYers who want off-grid or hybrid energy systems and for homes, RVs and outbuildings. You can buy new and used solar panels, solar storage batteries, inverters, charge controllers, cabling and hardware, mounts and racks — everything you need for an off-grid or hybrid setup.
The online company stocks brands like REC, Renogy, Panasonic, Canadian Solar and EcoFlow and also sells custom solar kits. ShopSolar ships throughout the continental United States. Orders typically arrive within five to 10 business days.
ShopSolar equipment is covered by individual manufacturers’ warranties. You get the full manufacturer warranty since the company is an authorized distributor of all the brands it sells. If you run into a warranty issue, ShopSolar reps can help you get in touch with your equipment manufacturer.
The installation process is generally easy, but you need to have experience with electrical work for this kind of DIY project to make sense. A couple of things to think about before buying:
People like ShopSolar’s product quality, reasonable prices and helpful customer service.
“They have a great product and it's good value,” according to Deana in Virginia.
Another customer, Tyler in Texas, appreciated ShopSolar helping them work through an issue. “This company is not only helpful, but they actually care about their customers,” Tyler told us. “I have spent over $11k with this company, and I will be spending more in the future.”
“My experience with them has been fantastic,” Gerald in Florida, who lives totally off the grid, said. “We told them what we were looking for, what we wanted the unit to do, and they did all the calculations and told us exactly what we needed, and that's what we went with.”
Similarly, Kevin in Illinois liked that “the numbers were straightforward. You didn't have to sign up for anything or have somebody call you back. It was just right there on their site.”
Barbara in Arizona was impressed by the sturdy packaging: “The solar panels were packed (so) that you could take a sledgehammer to that package and it wouldn't affect the solar panels.” She also liked the video instructions: “It helped me. I'm 76 and I set it all up myself. So, I really appreciate them. The system does everything it said it would.”
This guide is for homeowners like you: forward-thinkers who are curious about investing in the future of renewable energy production.
You'll learn what to consider when selecting a company, how to think about solar costs and what to expect during and after the solar panel installation process.
Photovoltaic solar panels work by harnessing the power of the sun and converting it into usable electricity. The three most common types of PV solar panels — monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film — are made of silicon cells, which easily absorb photons from the sun.
If your solar panel system is connected to the grid, any excess energy generated during the day can be fed into the grid and credited to your account through net metering. At night, the system can draw energy from the grid to power devices and appliances in the home.
» LEARN: Types of solar grid systems
Going solar is an awesome idea for many homeowners. Despite the high upfront costs, "the energy savings can offset the initial investment with a great (return on investment)," according to Warren Matthews, co-founder and head editor at Helius Hub.
Like a lot of solar customers, Donald in Illinois told us they "went solar to save money, and to help keep our power bill down, and to also help our environment." It's a win-win.
The primary benefit of going solar is the reduced cost of electricity. Most homeowners see significant savings on monthly bills even while making payments on the system. For example, a solar customer in Nevada said their bill went from over $300 per month to about $100, and that includes all their financing payments and connection fees. Solar panels can also increase your home’s value by 4.1%.
But the high upfront cost and ongoing maintenance can be a drawback. "Based on my experience, people often overlook when buying/installing solar panels the importance of proper installation and maintenance of the panels," Matthews said.
» MORE: Solar energy pros and cons
Not every household benefits from solar panels in the same way. High levels of sunshine and minimal shading are ideal for maximum energy production. The other big factor is your roof. Here's what else to think about before you make the commitment:
Devin in California told us that when the company "came to inspect our roof to make sure it was suitable to install the panels, they said everything was ok. One year later, with the recent rainstorms, we noticed several leaks in our roof. We decided to replace our roof," and it cost $5,000 to remove the panels and reinstall them again.
» GOING SOLAR: Is it really worth it?
Smart Power Inverter Think about how much it costs to go solar the way you shop for a car. Just like cars have "miles per gallon" (MPG) to show how efficient they are with fuel, solar panels have "cost per watt" to show how much energy you get for each dollar you spend.