Top 6 Best Solar Companies (2022 Reviews & Rankings)

Jump to Section:

1. Reviews of Top 6 Solar Companies
2. Bottom Line
3. What Should You Look For When Hiring a Solar Panel Company?
4. How Do You Find the Right Solar Panel Installation Company for Your Home?
5. How Did We Select Our Top Solar Companies?
6. FAQs: Solar Energy

The solar business is booming; with over 10,000 solar energy companies across the nation looking for a competitive edge in a developing market, each has something different to offer.

In our decade-plus of covering renewable energy here at EcoWatch, we’ve reviewed hundreds of solar companies and know the ins and outs of which will serve the average American homeowner best. This guide will help you compare the top national solar energy companies in order to find the best provider for your energy needs.

Watch Below: If you are new to solar panels, you may want to spend a few minutes with below video to learn how they even work.

Recommended National Provider: SunPower

San Jose, California-based SunPower offers the largest solar coverage in the nation, the most advanced equipment and unbeatable warranty coverage throughout the entire U.S.

Why We Chose SunPower

SunPower designs and installs industry-leading residential solar and storage solutions across all 50 states. With a storied history of innovation dating back to 1985, no other company on this list can match SunPower’s experience and expertise.

SunPower earns its position as the best national installer on our list for a handful of reasons: It installs the most efficient solar technology on the residential market, offers the most expansive service area and backs its installations with a warranty well above the industry standard. All the while, SunPower pioneers sustainability efforts within the industry.

If that weren’t enough, SunPower systems come packaged with products all manufactured in-house by its sister company, Maxeon. This means that your panels, solar cells, inverters, battery and EV chargers are designed to work together and are all covered under the same warranty.

SunPower’s biggest downside? Its high-efficiency panels are considerably more expensive than most of its competitors’ products. However, its powerful panels are workhorses that make up for the initial cost with more backend production (think about this like spending more money for a car that gets more miles per gallon).

SunPower Pros

• Offers the most efficient solar panels on the market
• National coverage
• Each part of system is covered by the same, all-inclusive 25-year warranty

SunPower Cons

• SunPower systems carry the highest initial price tag
• Limited to SunPower/Maxeon technology only

Facts and Figures: SunPower

Read More: Arizona State University’s SunPower Solar Farm

Best National Provider

5/5

Get Free Quotes

Nationwide Service

Best Regional Provider: Momentum Solar

Momentum Solar focuses its efforts on making the switch to clean energy as accessible, practical and effective for homeowners as possible. With simple services and an easy process, it’s hard to find a better provider if you live in Momentum’s region.

Why We Chose Momentum Solar

Though Momentum’s service area seems small in comparison to the other names on this list, it restricts its growth intentionally, choosing to operate in states with favorable net metering programs and other effective solar incentives. By doing so, it ensures that customers within its service area are sure to secure a favorable and speedy return on investment (ROI), along with a smooth installation process.

It can also then focus more of its energy on service and quality than competitors with a wider national reach. Momentum offers a wide variety of financing options, virtual consultations and a start-to-finish process that remains in-house, rounding it out as one of the most effective and accessible companies for those who live in its regional coverage area.

Momentum Solar Pros

• Prioritizes enrollment of customers in the best government solar programs available in the country
• Wide variety of solar financing plans
• Offers excellent selection of the best solar panels and energy storage systems

Momentum Solar Cons

• Limited coverage area
• Some critical customer reviews cite overzealous sales techniques

Facts and Figures: Momentum Solar

Read More: It Seemed Like a Model Green Energy Firm. But Black Workers Paint a Different Picture.

Best Regional Coverage

4.5/5

Is Solar Worth It?

Get Free Quotes

Regional Service

Most Flexible Solar Financing: Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar offers unique and innovative payment plans that sets it apart from other solar providers with similar services.

Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar

We like Blue Raven Solar because it understands that, for most homeowners, the cost of solar presents the biggest barrier to entry.

For that reason, Blue Raven Solar developed an innovative solar financing plan that offers in-house, flexible, zero-money-down options. The results speak for themselves, as Blue Raven Solar is now one of the fastest-growing solar companies in the nation and was recently acquired by SunPower.  Its BluePower Plus+ plan (exclusive to Blue Raven) mimics the flexible structure of a lease while still providing the best benefits of owning your system.

Eligible homeowners enjoy 18 months of solar power before having to pay their first bill. When coupled with the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), the initial energy savings can offset more than a third of the overall cost of a system before requiring a dollar down.

In contrast, other installers can only offer similar financing through solar leases, PPAs or third-party providers (such as Mosaic or Sunlight). Third-party loan providers can complicate the process, while opting for a loan or PPA will disqualify you from some of solar’s biggest benefits (additional property value, federal solar tax credit and local solar incentives).

Blue Raven Solar Pros

• Offers innovative financing for budget-conscious homeowners
• Competitive prices
• Recently acquired by SunPower, bolstering its product offerings

Blue Raven Solar Cons

• Limited services (does not offer widespread energy storage products just yet)
• Some critical customer reviews cite overzealous sales techniques

Facts and Figures: Blue Raven Solar

Read More: SunPower Acquires Blue Raven Solar, One of the Fastest Growing Residential Solar Providers in the U.S.

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

Get Free Quotes

Regional Service

Best Customer Service: Palmetto

Palmetto’s breadth of services, coupled with its Peace of Mind Protection Plan, provides unparalleled support to homeowners making the switch to solar.

Why We Chose Palmetto

Palmetto earns a spot on our list of the best solar companies because it knows that an investment in solar is complex, and it focuses on ensuring a customer understands what they’re purchasing and feels supported by its installer.  It provides excellent customer service with a Peace of Mind Protection Plan, which includes real-time monitoring and responsive customer support.

Its accurate solar savings calculator lets you budget confidently for the future, and a 25-year output warranty (covering the performance of your entire system, rather than each of its individual parts) guarantees your system will perform as advertised.

Of all the companies highlighted in this article, Palmetto may also offer the most comprehensive services spanning from roof leak protection to pest abatement. Owning a home or business can be unpredictable, but Palmetto ensures that your energy needs are supported for decades after installation.

Palmetto Pros

• Large variety of services and support options
• Wide service area covers 24 states
• Makes charitable contributions to community organizations

Palmetto Cons

• Limited solar financing options
• Decentralized network of installers will vary in quality depending on location

Facts and Figures: Palmetto Solar

Read More: Palmetto Raises $375 Million to Accelerate Residential Clean Energy Independence

Best Social Impact

4/5

Is Solar Worth It?

Get Free Quotes

Regional Service

Superior Warranty Coverage: ADT Solar

ADT Solar (formerly Sunpro Solar) is an established name in the solar industry, raising the bar for what a solar warranty should cover.

Why We Chose ADT Solar

ADT Solar sets the industry standard for warranty coverage by including a multifaceted guarantee, making it one of the best installers for homeowners who want added peace of mind.

Its warranty coverage includes all of the following for 25 years:

• Power Production Guarantee: Also known as a performance guarantee, this ensures your solar system will produce the amount of electricity that’s outlined in your proposal, or ADT will write you a check for the difference.
• Labor Guarantee: This covers any issues with the installation of your system and is also known as a workmanship warranty.
• Panel Module Performance Guarantee: This is what ADT Solar refers to the manufacturer warranty as, and it ensures that any manufacturing defects are repaired or your ineffective panels replaced.
• Enphase Microinverters Guarantee: This backs the performance of your inverters.

Though in recent years other solar companies have started to offer similar guarantees, ADT Solar has been at it since 2008, performing over 30,000 installations across the country.

ADT Solar Pros

• Industry-leading warranty coverage
• Wide service area that covers 21 states
• Offers price-match guarantee for equal products and benefits

ADT Solar Cons

• Limited solar financing options
• Has run into issues with communication as a result of its size

Facts and Figures: ADT Solar

*Partnership with LG set to expire this year

Read More: ADT Completes Acquisition of Sunpro Solar

Best Warranty Coverage

4/5

Read Review

Get Free Quotes

Regional Service

Solar Veteran: Trinity Solar

Family-owned and -operated, Trinity Solar has been installing solar, supporting community partnerships and building its reputation as a veteran in the space for 28 years.

Why We Chose Trinity Solar

Trinity Solar has been providing energy with integrity since 1994. As the largest family-owned solar provider in the industry, Trinity Solar has one of the more recognizable names in the game. It has nearly 30 years of experience, with over 80,000 installations under its belt.

Trinity has chosen to keep its service area limited to just nine states in the Northeast.  This way, it can remain invested in its community and consistently deliver reliable, experienced and effective customer service.

To back this community-oriented approach, Trinity offers an excellent referral program. It pledges to contribute $100 to a charitable organization of your choice when a referral sits with a Trinity consultant; $1,000 to that organization if a referral installs solar with Trinity.

Trinity Solar Pros

• Family-owned and -operated business
• Flexible, $0-down financing options
• Partners with various community nonprofit organizations

Trinity Solar Cons

• Limited service area of just nine states
• Workmanship warranty only covers five years (standard is 10+)

Facts and Figures: Trinity Solar

Read More: NFLA Teams Up With Trinity Solar To Continue Its Mission of “Caring for Our Own & Caring for Kids”

Solar Veteran

4/5

Is Solar Worth It?

Get Free Quotes

Regional Service

Bottom Line

Each of the top solar companies offers slightly different services, coverage areas and customer support. SunPower may have earned the top spot on our list, but that by no means makes it the best solar company for every homeowner.

The right installer for your needs will depend on your location, budget and your unique energy needs.

What Should You Look For When Hiring a Solar Panel Company?

So, what are the qualities you should look for when selecting the best solar installer for your home? Here’s what we recommend paying attention to:

Warranty Quality

Your warranty is one of the most important aspects of your solar energy system; each company will offer slightly different coverage.

Most installations will consist of solar products from a handful of different panel manufacturers (think one for your panels, one for your inverters and one for your battery storage, if applicable). Some of the most reputable companies will include an additional all-inclusive warranty that covers the performance of your system as a whole, rather than the functionality of each specific part.

For this reason, we encourage our readers to pay special attention to the types of warranties offered.

For more context, here’s a rundown of each type of warranty you might see, as well as what we consider to be the industry-standard length for each.

• Manufacturer’s warranty: This covers an individual part of the system against defects. For example, if you purchase REC solar panels via your installer, your panels will come with REC’s 25-year product warranty. If there is an issue with the panels, it’ll be handled by REC rather than your installer.
• Workmanship warranty: This covers the installation of the system in case of poor workmanship or a faulty installation.
• Performance warranty (also called output guarantee): This ensures your solar power system will produce the same amount of electricity estimated in your solar proposal and contract. For example, ADT Solar offers a 25-year power production guarantee.

The most reputable companies will offer manufacturer and workmanship coverage, but we recommend choosing a company that offers at least a 25-year performance guarantee as well. With this type of coverage, issues with performance can’t be offloaded to equipment manufacturers to troubleshoot, leading to costly delays.

Company Product Offerings

Solar installers rarely manufacture their own equipment. Rather, companies will offer a handful of options and types of panels from the top solar brands (Q Cells, Silfab, Canadian Solar, etc), usually making a recommendation based on your needs.

Part of finding the right installer for you is to ask what type of solar equipment a company offers.

The most reputable solar companies will offer Tier 1, low-profile monocrystalline solar panels and at least one of the leading solar batteries (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase Encharge, LG Chem). Some companies may even offer solar roof shingles.

Knowing what products you have in mind can help narrow down your list. For example, SunPower only offers one choice of brand. If options are important to you, or you have a specific brand of panel in mind, this can help you rule it out.

Customer Service and Reviews

There’s no better way to assess the quality of a solar provider than to hear straight from the customers it has served. Read as many customer reviews as you can find online, and ask friends, neighbors or colleagues about their experiences if they’ve installed solar.

In fact, many solar providers find new business primarily through referral networks. A strong network can be a good indicator that a company values its relationships and customer satisfaction.

Pro tip: Make sure the reviews you’re reading reference the production of the system. Some customers will post reviews after their system has been installed, but prior to when it’s actually turned on.

Accreditation and Reputation

A company’s reputation and accreditations can be helpful indicators of trustworthiness in the industry. Sadly, a few solar companies drag the name of the industry due to aggressive or deceptive sales tactics (Vivint Solar being a prime example).

The most reputable solar companies will hold certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), which are earned through a rigorous examination of industry knowledge and safety protocols. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) may also offer insight into a company’s reputation. Keep an eye out for alerts or low response rates to complaints.

How Do You Find the Right Solar Panel Installation Company for Your Home?

Before you go searching for company reviews and certifications, you’ll want to narrow down your options by looking at a few basic factors. These can help you disqualify companies that won’t work for your home solar installation:

Availability in Your State

This first step is the simplest. Most solar companies only offer service in about 25 states at most (with the exception of SunPower). Before you reach out to a provider, make sure it covers your area.

If you live in a state where the solar industry has a larger footprint (California, Texas, Arizona, etc.), the odds are higher that you’ll have a better selection of companies to choose from. If you live in an area where the market is still developing, you’ll probably have fewer options.

Solar Costs and Financing

Each company will offer slightly different solar financing options to its customers. Though these can vary in scope, the most common ways to pay for solar will fall into these categories:

Solar leases and PPAs, popularized by large companies like Sunrun, can be enticing but provide less value over time. Many solar installers choose not to offer leases or PPAs, citing that they don’t closely enough meet the customer’s best interests.

When looking for the right company for you, it’s best to have an idea of how you’d like to pay for your system. That can help you narrow it down, as not all companies offer all payment options.

Check out our guide to solar financing to learn more about solar loans, leases and PPAs.

Get Free Consultations Before You Buy

We mentioned that not every company on this list will offer free consultations, but all will at least offer you some form of a free estimate. We always recommend reaching out to a handful of solar companies in order to find the right one for you.

In addition to learning more about the options that are available to you, shopping around can help you save on overall costs. You never know what companies might offer sales, discounts or special deals to help secure your business.

How Did We Select Our Top Solar Companies?

Curious about how we landed on these six providers as the best in the nation? To stay impartial, our solar experts evaluated the hundreds of solar companies in our database based on the same range of criteria and assigned scores to each category, using the results to rank them and find the top six.  For a more in depth look, visit our solar rankings methodology page.

The main factors we assessed include:

• Experience (15%): Companies with less than 10 years of experience are docked in this category. Most with less than five were deemed not eligible for ranking.
• Availability (15%): Providers with larger service areas score higher.
• Reputation (15%): We analyze reviews and trends on Google reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and similar review sites and assign scores accordingly.
• Warranty coverage (15%): Companies offering longer, more comprehensive warranties performed better in this category.
• Ease of purchase (20%): Companies with the most transparent, economical and practical financing options scored highest in this category.
• Solar services (20%): Providers with more comprehensive service offerings perform better in this category. We also assess the quality of the products that the provider installs.

Related Topics: