Choosing high-quality solar panels is very important if you’re considering a photovoltaic (PV) system for your home. However, hiring a qualified installation company is equally important. Even the best solar panels can give you trouble if they are not installed properly, and manufacturers will normally void their warranties if there is evidence of an incorrect installation.
You should look for a solar installation company who is technically qualified for residential PV installations, and ideally certified by NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners).
- Many companies offer additional products such as battery systems and EV chargers, or services such as solar panel cleaning and 24/7 monitoring.
- Having access to financing options is also great: you can go solar at zero upfront cost, and your power bill savings can pay off the loan over time.
- If your state government or utility company offers solar incentive programs, you should look for an installation company who is familiarized with their requirements.
In this guide, we will review 10 solar companies who have been consistently ranked among the best in sites like MarketWatch, Forbes and CNET. As of May 2023, all companies in this list are accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a score of A+.
Choosing a Solar Company: General Recommendations
Your home solar system should have a fair price. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and EnergySage, you can expect to pay around $2.95 per watt when installing solar panels in a US home. Higher and lower prices can be expected depending on your location, but beware offers that are are excessively expensive or cheap:
- EnergySage calculates average solar installation costs by state, based on thousands of quotes from US-based installers.
- According to their latest data as of May 2023, Arizona has the lowest average cost ($2.44 per watt) while Michigan has the highest average cost ($3.78 per watt).
Any solar offers that fall outside of the expected price range should be met with suspicion. If you get a very low price such as $7,500 for a 5-kW solar system ($1.50/watt), ask the provider if they are subtracting any solar incentives. On the other hand, if you get a very high price such as $25,000 for a 5-kW system ($5.00/watt), ask if they are including additional features such as a solar battery or an energy monitoring system.
The following are some “red flags” to watch out for when comparing solar companies:
- High-pressure sales tactics: Watch out for companies who want to make you sign an agreement ASAP, without giving you time to check other options.
- Not offering an initial consultation: A home solar system can only be designed properly with an assessment of your energy bills, roof layout and sunshine conditions. If you accept a premade solar design, it may end up being oversized for your home. In this case, you pay for extra kilowatts of capacity that are not used.
- Offering “free solar panels”: Solar installers who offer free panels are not necessarily scammers, but they are not being fully honest. Generally, they are offering a solar lease with another name. You pay $0 upfront, but you commit to monthly payments for up to 25 years. Reputable solar companies are more transparent with their language, and they will clearly state that you are signing a lease agreement.
- Solar offers that don’t specify equipment brands: There are many solar manufacturers in the market, and not all of them offer the same quality. If a solar company does not specify equipment in their offers, they are probably using low-tier brands.
In the following sections, we will compare 10 solar installation companies who have an excellent track record in the US. We will discuss their product and services, and their pros and cons from an unbiased point of view.
1) SunPower
| BBB Score | A+ (4.22 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 1985 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan Solar lease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year warranty Covers product, workmanship and power production |
| US States Covered | All 50 states |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, EV charging stations, virtual consultations, energy monitoring app, energy efficiency audits (in some states) |
| Website | https://us.sunpower.com/ |
SunPower is both a solar panel manufacturer and an installation company. They make the most efficient PV modules in the industry, with a rated efficiency of up to 22.8%. Only Canadian Solar has developed panels of the same efficiency, but unlike SunPower they are fully dedicated to manufacturing.
SunPower is one of the most expensive solar brands, with a typical cost of $3.48 – $4.10 per watt according to EnergySage. However, they make up for this with superior module efficiency and their 25-year warranty. There are many other installation companies who work with SunPower panels due to their high quality.
In case you want to add energy storage to your solar panels, SunPower also offers the SunVault home battery. This energy storage system is covered by a 10-year warranty.
2) Blue Raven Solar
| BBB Score | A+ (4.45 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2014, acquired by SunPower in 2021 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan options: SmartStart, BluePower+ |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year manufacturer warranty 10-year workmanship warranty Two-year productivity warranty: If your solar system does not reach Blue Raven’s estimated production, you get a free upgrade. |
| US States Covered | 21 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, energy monitoring |
| Website | https://blueravensolar.com/ |
Blue Raven focuses on making home solar systems easier to purchase, by providing user-friendly financing options.
- Their BluePower+ and SmartStart solar loans both offer 18 months of no payments after installing your PV system.
- The BluePower+ loan offers fixed payments and interest rates for its entire term, while the SmartStart loan offers fixed payments for the first five years.
Blue Raven has a referral program with rewards: the incentive is $500 for your 1st successful referral, $1,000 for your 2nd referral, and $1,500 for any additional referrals. However, some customers have reported that the company often uses aggressive sales tactics.
SunPower has owned Blue Raven Solar since 2021. Both companies offer a 25-year product warranty, but you only get a 25-year workmanship warranty directly from SunPower (Blue Raven offers 10-year coverage). As you might guess, most solar systems offered by Blue Raven use SunPower panels, but they also work with other brands such as Canadian Solar and Trina.
3) Sunrun
| BBB Score | A+ (3.76 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2007 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loans in select areas Solar lease: prepaid and monthly options |
| Warranty Terms | 10-year equipment warranty, covers theft and damage 25-year performance warranty 10-year workmanship warranty |
| US States Covered | 21 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin Other US locations: Washington DC, Puerto Rico |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, EV chargers, energy monitoring |
| Website | https://www.sunrun.com/ |
Sunrun has specialized in solar leasing, and they have a prepaid option where you can lock in your price for 25 years. They also offer cash purchases and solar loans, in case you prefer to own the PV system directly. However, their lease options include free maintenance.
If you want energy storage, Sunrun offers both the Tesla Powerwall and the LG Chem, which are widely regarded as two of the best solar batteries in the market. The Sunrun website provides limited information about the solar panels used in their systems, but you can request this information before making a purchase or signing a lease.
Sunrun offers a decent warranty that covers equipment theft and roof damage, and they offer 24/7 customer support via chat. However, their warranty term is only 10 years, while there are competitors who offer 25 years.
4) Green Home Systems
| BBB Score | A+ (4.76 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2017 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan, interest rates as low as 0.99% |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year product and performance warranty |
| US States Covered | 10 states: California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar roof shingles, solar roof tiles, battery systems, backup generators, energy efficiency audits, energy monitoring |
| Website | https://greenhomesystems.com/ |
Green Home Systems (GHS) installs solar panels like all other companies in this list. However, they also offer solar roof shingles or tiles with built-in PV cells. This is an excellent option for homeowners who want to generate their own electricity, but don’t like the appearance of traditional solar panels.
GHS offers a wide selection of renewable energy equipment. Their solar panel brands include Panasonic and LONGi, and their inverter brands include Enphase and SolarEdge. GHS has good reviews and a high BBB score, but unfortunately they only operate in 10 states.
5) Solar Energy World (SEW)
| BBB Score | A+ (4.49 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2009 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar lease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) |
| Warranty Terms | Up to 30-year manufacturer and labor warranty (applies for cash purchase) One-year productivity warranty: If your solar system does not reach at least 90% of their estimated production, you get a financial compensation. |
| US States Covered | Eight states: Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia Other US locations: Washington DC |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, energy monitoring |
| Website | https://www.solarenergyworld.com/ |
Solar Energy World (SEW) offers one of the longest warranties in the industry (30 years), and it can be transferred to another homeowner if you sell your property. During the first 10 years, their warranty also includes a solar panel removal and reinstallation service in case you need to replace your roof. However, the SEW website does not specify if the 30-year warranty applies for solar panels and inverters with a shorter manufacturer’s warranty.
SEW uses equipment from several leading brands in their projects. Their solar panel brands include Silfab, LONGi and Q Cells. Their inverter brands include Fronius, SolarEdge and Enphase. Unfortunately, they only operate in eight states and Washington DC.
6) Elevation Solar
| BBB Score | A+ (3.95 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2014 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year product and labor warranty |
| US States Covered | Five states: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Texas |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, EV chargers, Curb energy monitoring app, professional energy audits, whole-house energy solutions |
| Website | https://www.poweredbyelevation.com/ |
Elevation focuses on improving the energy performance of your home as a whole. They install solar panel systems with a 25-year warranty, but they also provide home energy audits and energy efficiency solutions. They have an energy monitoring app called Curb, which was developed in-house.
Solar panels can achieve a higher return on investment when combined with energy efficiency measures. You are not only generating your own electricity, but also reducing the energy consumption that is not covered by your panels. For example, a home energy audit from Elevation can detect air leaks, which increase your air conditioning costs if left unattended.
Elevation’s customer service is one of their weak areas, since they are not available 24/7. Another downside is their limited service area, which only covers five states.
7) Palmetto Solar
| BBB Score | A+ (3.91 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2009 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan Solar lease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year product, workmanship and performance warranty |
| US States Covered | 20 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, EV chargers, home energy audits, energy monitoring, roof leak inspection and repair, solar panel cleaning |
| Website | https://palmetto.com/ |
Palmetto Solar offers all four purchasing options: cash payment, loan financing, solar lease and PPA. They install monocrystalline solar panels from Q Cells, which is widely regarded as one of the best brands in the industry. Palmetto also offers roof inspection and repair services, making sure that your solar panels are not installed on a damaged structure.
Palmetto offers tiered protection and energy monitoring plans for their solar systems, but you must pay a monthly fee. Their website does not provide cost information, but MarketWatch reports a price range of $8 to $49 per month, depending on the plan you choose. They have a basic monitoring service offered for free, but you must pay for advanced monitoring.
Their customer service is not available 24/7, and you get reduced priority if you don’t have a paid protection plan. Also, Palmetto does not offer free solar consultations like many competitors.
8) Momentum Solar
| BBB Score | A+ (3.32 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2009 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan Solar lease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year equipment and workmanship |
| US States Covered | 11 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems (some states), energy monitoring app |
| Website | https://www.momentumsolar.com/ |
Momentum Solar installs a wide selection of solar panels from Tier 1 manufacturers. These include Q Cells, REC, Canadian Solar, Jinko and Trina. They also install Enphase battery systems, but only in some states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
Momentum focuses on states who offer financial incentives for solar panels and battery systems. They have ample experience with program requirements and PV system permitting, and they can also help you enroll in net metering programs.
Momentum offers a 25-year product and workmanship warranty, but no power production warranty is mentioned. This means you don’t get coverage for low productivity. The company has positive reviews in general, but some customers have mentioned aggressive sales tactics.
9) Freedom Solar Power
| BBB Score | A+ (2.84 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 2007 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year warranty: product, workmanship and performance |
| US States Covered | Five states: Colorado, Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, energy monitoring, home generators, off-grid solar systems, solar panel removal and reinstallation for roof repairs/replacements |
| Website | https://freedomsolarpower.com/ |
Freedom Solar is a certified SunPower installer, which means you get top-efficiency solar panels with a 25-year warranty. Freedom Solar also has ample experience with off-grid systems, which makes them a great option for homeowners who want to become fully independent from the local power grid. They install Tesla Powerwall batteries and Kohler generators.
SunPower panels are expensive, and this means Freedom Solar has above-average prices. However, you get high-efficiency panels and solid warranty coverage. In case you need to repair or replace your roof, Freedom Solar also offers a panel removal and reinstallation service. Unfortunately, the company only operates in five states.
10) Trinity Solar
| BBB Score | A+ (2.73 / 5.00 customer score) |
| Foundation Year | 1994 |
| Purchasing Options | Cash purchase Solar loan Solar lease Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) |
| Warranty Terms | 25-year solar panel warranty 12-year inverter warranty, can be extended for price 5-year workmanship warranty |
| US States Covered | Nine states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island |
| Additional Products and Services | Solar battery systems, energy monitoring |
| Website | https://www.trinity-solar.com/ |
Trinity Solar focuses on the East Coast, and they install high-quality solar panels from Q Cells. They also install energy storage systems from Tesla, SolarEdge and Generac. The solar panels installed by Trinity are covered by a 25-year product warranty, but their workmanship warranty is only five years long. They offer a 12-year basic inverter warranty, but it can be extended to 25 years at an additional cost.
Trinity Solar has ample experience in the East Coast solar industry. They are the second oldest company on this list after SunPower.
Top 10 Solar Companies: Comparing their Strongest Points
The solar installation companies discussed in this guide have pros and cons, but they are all BBB Accredited companies with a favorable track record in general.
The following table lists the main benefits offered by each company:
| Solar Company | Strongest Point |
| 1) SunPower | They make the most efficient solar panels in the industry. |
| 2) Blue Raven Solar | Solar loans with no payments during the first 18 months. |
| 3) Sunrun | Two solar lease options: monthly payment or prepaid for 25 years. |
| 4) Green Home Systems | Choose between solar roof shingles/tiles or traditional PV panels. |
| 5) Solar Energy World | 30-year warranty, can be transferred if you sell your home. |
| 6) Powered by Elevation | Solar panel systems + home energy efficiency improvements. |
| 7) Palmetto Solar | Multiple purchasing options and tiered protection plans. |
| 8) Momentum Solar | Experience with solar incentive and net metering programs. |
| 9) Freedom Solar Power | Experience with off-grid solar power systems. |
| 10) Trinity Solar | Nearly 30 years of experience with solar power in the East Coast. |
