Best Solar Energy Companies of 2024

• “I interviewed several people and Sunlux had the best price and their solar energy system looked like a good product. … They have people behind them who know what they're doing. They did a nice job and worked well with the power company.” — James in California
• “I have the best-looking panels on the block. I like the low profile, the black panels. The installers put a skirt on the front. They put some rodent prevention and showed me how to work the system. ... So, I'm pleased with knowing that Sunlux not only gave me a good deal, but also good equipment.” — Adolfo in California
• “My experience with the SunLux reps was fantastic. They were knowledgeable and professional. ... The process with Sunlux was quick, easy and painless. We had a flat roof with a foam top, which was a problem for the other company. But Sunlux was able to do it. It has rained, but there had been no leaks.” — Robert in California
• “Their presentation was much better than some of the other folks we talked to. They had a better sense of what they were talking about and were able to portray that to me, who did not know anything about solar. The installation went really well, and really, really quickly.” — Jeremy in Texas

Including materials and labor, John in California paid $20,000 for his system. How much your system costs depends on how much energy your house uses, the condition of your roof and other factors.

Many customers finance, like Christian in California. “Instead of paying $100 or $200 for the electric bill, if I use the same amount of energy or less, I will end up paying just the financing, which is $150,” Christian told us. “But only for six years, and then after that, the panels will be mine and I don't have to pay anymore.”

Since going solar with Sunlux, Ana in California and Michael in California both only pay their utilities about $20 per month, mostly minimum service fees.

If direct, in-person communication is important to you, consider working with a small local operation. Keone in California, who still recommends Sunlux overall, told us, “The only thing is I'm old school so I don't always like email stuff but everybody goes through email. I would rather they call me. But for the most part, I'm fine with it.”

Another thing to consider is availability: Sunlux currently only operates in Southern California and Central Texas.

Sunlux installs Panasonic and Qcells solar panels. Tesla Powerwall, Enphase AC Battery and LG Chem RESU batteries are available. Systems incorporate SolarEdge inverters and Enphase microinverters.

• Energy services: Sunlux specializes in solar panel installations with storage batteries. Roofing, EV charging and smart home solutions are also available.
• Payment options: Sunlux offers unsecured loans through third-party solar loan partners. You can also lease a system with no upfront costs. Lease agreements last 25 years.
• Warranties and guarantees: 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 how much energy your system generates for 25 years. It also covers equipment degradation plus parts and labor costs for maintaining your system during this time.

• “The price of the product considering the brand name, the kind of materials that they use for their products, and the quality was considerably better value than other options available. It's really good value for really good components. Also, I liked their no-salesperson sign-up process. It was easy and simple.” — Franklin in Texas
• “Project Solar is practical. They're well-priced, and they work with their customers … It performed like they said or better than what they claimed that it would. We are so satisfied with this thing.” — Janet in Wyoming
• “The system gives the same features that other big companies give, and it's cost-efficient. For the same amount of kilowatts, my friend installed a higher rate, whereas I am done with $13,000 and he paid $24,000. We both are producing the same amount of energy now. If you know how to install things, it's even cheaper.” — Praveen in Florida
• “They did it very fast and they really know what they were doing. After that, they installed things properly. Also, I have compared their price with other companies with similar configuration and going with Project Solar saved me around $5,000 to $10,000.” — Lenin in Texas

Bill in Utah considered more than six solar companies. Each quoted him nearly $30,000, but Project Solar was less than half of that. “I jumped on it,” Bill told us. Now, he pays less than $15 per month for power (that’s his minimum utility subscription fee).

Similarly, Joe in Florida spent $14,000 on his Project Solar installation, and Gary in Colorado only has to pay a $10 monthly fee to his utility since his project was complete.

“I paid $20,000 more or less for everything,” Dion in Nevada told us. “That's including the cost of my own install and the electrician that came out that wasn't part of Project Solar. Then I got a six-plus-thousand-dollar refund from taxes. The entire system, over 10-kilowatt, is $14,000 which is great.”

The focus on streamlining might mean fewer customization options or solutions for complex roof situations. For instance, John in Arizona said no one mentioned getting critter guards, which is fencing that keeps animals from nesting in solar panels. He had to have contractors come back and add them later.

Another customer, Stan in California, mentioned installation delays and inconsistent communication. His initial system design didn’t account for the electricity needed for his pool pump, and there was a delay in relaying that information to the installers. “But with everything else, the job was good,” Stan told us. The main reason he went with Project Solar was the price.

Project Solar systems incorporate equipment from reputable brands like Qcells, Canadian Solar, Jinko and Enphase. As part of the full-service installation, it offers Enphase IQ 5P or Tesla Powerwall batteries. DIY projects only have the Enphase IQ 5P option. It currently operates in multiple states across the U.S.

• Energy services: Project Solar specializes in system design and equipment procurement for professional and DIY solar panel installations.
• Payment options: Project Solar partners with a few lenders to offer two main financing options for professional solar installations:
  • Option A is cheaper overall: It has a higher interest rate, but any extra payments go directly towards reducing the principal amount. If you pay off the loan early, this can save you from paying excess interest.
  • Option B has a lower monthly payment: It has a consistent payment over a longer term. The interest rate is lower, but there may be prepayment penalties.
• Warranties and guarantees: Project Solar provides two main warranties: a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 10-year workmanship warranty. There’s an 84% production level guarantee for 25 years, which provides reimbursements if production levels are unmet.

• “Since getting the solar panels installed, we've gotten cheaper bills. They're saving us money, and I'm satisfied with Freedom. If you're interested in solar, they're a good company to get the job accomplished fast.” — Michael in Ohio
• “They handled all of the stuff with the enrollment process. We just filled out whatever the forms were, and it all worked out perfectly. They did the installation really quick. It all went pretty well. Our electric bill has been about $3. It's been great. It worked out exactly what we expected. It was well-managed. The customer service was great. They checked on us. I couldn't ask for anything more.” — Lynda in Texas
• “When I first reached out to Freedom Solar, the rep was very nice, explanatory, and respectful and he had answers to any question I had… Since having the system, I'm glad with the dollar amount that comes in my bill. In the summer, I would get $400 and $500 bills but now, I'm getting $30. The most I've gotten is a $50 bill. It's a big difference, and I'm 100% satisfied with going solar.” — Virginia in Texas

Freedom Solar is not the cheapest, according to Penny in Texas. Her quote was about $4,000 more than another company she considered. “But in addition to the fact that they are larger and have been around longer, the level of service was outstanding,” she said.

Joel in Texas said his system cost $32,000. On the high end, Russell in Texas spent over $120,000 on a system, including the Tesla battery.

The return on your investment depends on where you live and how much energy you use. Anecdotally, John in Texas said his electric bill went from over $100 to about $5; Michelle in Florida said their monthly bill went from $150 to $35.95.

“I'm saving anywhere from $150 to $300 a month, depending on the month,” Lynn in Texas told us.

The installation process is generally smooth and efficient, though a few customers seemed annoyed by supply chain delays (a common theme in many solar company reviews).

“They also didn't mention that twice a year, you have to pay to have the panels washed and it's a $600 to $800 expense,” Julie in Fort Worth said. “That was a total surprise to me and they didn't tell me that at all until I was closing up.”

Freedom Solar Power installs American-designed solar panels built to last at least 25 years. The company specializes in rooftop solar panels and ground-mounted systems. Battery options include SunVault backup power systems and Tesla Powerwalls. It currently operates in Texas, Florida, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

• Energy services: Besides solar panel installations, Freedom Solar Power offers Deinstallation and reinstallation for roof repairs, energy monitoring, repairs, maintenance and upgrade services.
• Payment options: Freedom Solar systems are available for cash purchase. There are also financing options with low interest rates, no money down and 12 months of same-as-cash, which end up costing around $1 per day. It does not currently offer a leasing plan.
• Warranties: Freedom Solar Power has a 25-year lifetime warranty on equipment and installations. If problems arise, the company replaces equipment on behalf of the manufacturer and covers 100% of repair or replacement costs. System performance is guaranteed between 84% and 92% of original production for 25 years.

• “Blue Raven has been 5 star all the way since we had our first meet! They are punctual, informative, patient, and experienced! I am so happy we were referred to them and would refer them to any and everybody who is even thinking about adding solar panels to improve their home. Excellent service and knowledge!” — Jim in Colorado
• “Blue Raven did a great job laying out the cost/benefit analysis and return on investment. And they have made it really easy to get going (paperwork, etc.) and installation went great. Everybody has been really friendly and nice to work with. And, there’s been very limited work on my end throughout. Certainly recommend!” — Anthony in Michigan
• “When we first had a representative at our door about the solar system, we knew it would be a good purchase. Everything was explained very professionally, and nothing felt like it was being forced towards purchase. When we decided to go for it, everything from the contract to the installation was very fast and on time! Everybody did an awesome job!” — Dong Min in Michigan
• “I am very happy with Blue Raven team and Lorenzo especially. Very seamless experience, amazing sales person and very professional installation crew. Very happy with the experience so far. The whole process took less than 45 days from start to finish and I was kept informed at every step. They provided the best design and cost recommendations based on my needs and the best in class panels and inverter.” — Kaushik in Illinois

Jason in Washington put it this way: “The cost of having solar is expensive, however, paying a monthly electricity bill is also expensive. In the end, they cancel each other out, you pay for the installation of solar panels, but you pay less on your electricity bill.” On the high end, James in North Carolina told us their Blue Raven Solar system cost $100,000.

“Even running the air conditioning my bill is $0,” Paul in Michigan told us, “so they delivered on everything they promised.”

Not everyone is as satisfied, unfortunately. Lyubov in Washington spent $51,000 going solar with Blue Raven. Depending on the time of year, they save between $35 and $113 monthly. Lyubov estimates it will take 100 years or more to break even.

Kevin in Minnesota said his only issue was that there wasn’t a clear timeline to get the system activated after installation, which took several months. “Also, there was no communication on the ‘consumption meter,’ which tells you on the app how much power your household is consuming versus how much the solar panels are generating,” Kevin told us. “Other than that, it’s been a great experience.”

Blue Raven Solar offers homeowners a simple and affordable way to go solar. The company is currently available in 21 states.

• Energy services: Solar advisors use proprietary software to design custom systems that maximize annual energy output, and its installers employ low-profile panel mounting and sleek cabling for visual appeal.
• Payment options: Eligible customers can pay $0 upfront, get 18 months of free solar power and make fixed monthly payments after that. You own the system and are responsible for maintenance. It also offers a fixed monthly payment option — no prepayment penalty, and the plan is transferable to a new homeowner if you ever sell your house.
• Warranties: All systems have a 25-year panel and a two-year production guarantee. Storage battery warranties vary between 10 and 15 years. Workmanship is guaranteed for 10 years.

• “We were looking for an off-grid solar kit deal and started looking around, and ShopSolarKits was the most reasonably priced… I put up everything myself. It was super easy.” — Kevin in Missouri
• “Finding what I needed was easy. I use my Titan Solar Generator every day. I have it in an RV, and I run the air conditioner for six to eight hours. Also, customer support was great. We had trouble with the chargers, and we've had two that went bad. They covered them all. Also, one of the charges that were in the cigarette lighter went bad. They covered that as well. They were very attentive to that.” — James in Arizona
• ”My experience with them has been fantastic. I'm very happy with them. The process was very easy. 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…” — Gerald in Florida
• “This company is not only helpful but they actually care about their customers. I had a situation that they could have easily Just wrote me off and instead worked side by side with me to fix the issue. I have spent over $11k with this company and I will be spending more in the future.” — Tyler in Texas

Patrick in Missouri spent $6,000 on a kit in 2023. As of publishing, ShopSolar’s best-selling complete solar power system kit costs $2,889. On the high end, its 75.8kW Solar Power System costs $180,989. Individual solar panels cost anywhere from around $45 to almost $10,000.

“I've had the kit installed for about eight months, and I don't have a bill,” Jordan in Oregon told us. “It was cheaper for me by about $20,000 to go with ShopSolar and I can expand the system as I need to.” Carlos in Florida told us he’s saving $200 each month with his kit.

ShopSolar does not provide professional solar panel installation services. So, it’s best to know a little about solar panels and electrical work. You might get frustrated with the process or install something incorrectly otherwise.

For instance, T. in Colorado said, “Installing the panels was initially not so easy ‘cause I didn't have experience, but having conversations with a couple of folks at ShopSolarKits, I was able to do it myself and it was easy. I bought a big battery, and I would have bought some higher wattage panels had I had a little more information. Other than that, their follow-up service was exceptional.”

» DIY SOLAR PANELS: Pros, cons and installation guide

ShopSolar is an online retailer that sells custom solar kits and stocks brands like Panasonic, REC, Renogy, Canadian Solar and EcoFlow. Equipment is available in full kits containing everything you need for self-installation or professional setup. Orders typically arrive within 10 business days.

• Energy products: It offers a variety of solar solutions, including new and used solar panels, generators, batteries, inverters, cables and racks. Additional hardware and accessories are also available.
• Payment options: ShopSolar accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, Shop Pay and Diners Club International. It also partners with Affirm on financing. Customers can make payments every two weeks or once a month for up to 36 months. Rates range from 0% to 36% APR.
• Warranties: ShopSolar is an authorized distributor of all the brands it sells, so all solar equipment is covered by the individual manufacturers’ warranties. If you run into a warranty issue, reps can help you contact the equipment manufacturer.