Choosing the right solar company can make or break your renewable energy investment. With thousands of solar installers across the country offering various services, equipment, and guarantees, how do you know which one deserves your business? That’s where our comprehensive review methodology comes in. This article walks you through exactly how we evaluate and rank the best solar companies in the industry so you can make an informed decision with confidence.
Solar Research Process
We don’t just skim the surface when researching solar companies. Our multilayered approach combines data analysis, secret shopping, expert consultations, and real customer feedback to give you the most accurate picture possible of what you can expect from each provider.
Customer Insights
In early 2025, we conducted an extensive survey of 1,000 recent home solar customers across the country. These homeowners shared their experiences with everything from the initial consultation to post-installation support, giving us valuable insights into customer satisfaction levels, common pain points, and what truly matters when going solar. We also cross-check these reports with reviews from previous customers on popular review sites like TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Verifying Credentials
We verify each company’s business credentials, checking everything from state licensing and insurance coverage to how long they’ve been operating in the solar industry. In addition, we make sure each company has a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification. This background check helps us identify established companies with proven track records.
Secret Shopping
Our team conducts thorough secret shopping with each solar company we review, going through the entire sales process as potential customers with varying home profiles and energy needs. We ask specific technical questions about equipment, warranties, and installation procedures. This approach allows us to experience firsthand how companies treat prospective clients, evaluate the transparency of their pricing—including whether they disclose system costs per watt—and assess the technical knowledge of their sales representatives.
We pay particular attention to whether companies use high-pressure sales tactics, how they explain financial incentives such as the federal tax credit, and whether they provide realistic production estimates rather than overpromising on savings. These real-world interactions often reveal service quality differences that aren’t apparent from marketing materials alone.
Industry Experts
We regularly consult with a panel of solar energy professionals to ensure our evaluation criteria remain relevant. Our expert network includes NABCEP-certified master installers with hands-on field experience, electrical engineers specializing in solar energy system design, energy policy analysts familiar with state-specific incentive programs (such as California’s solar programs or Texas’s local solar incentives), and former solar company executives with insider knowledge of industry practices.
Through one-on-one interviews and fact-checking our articles, these experts help us identify installation best practices and common customer pain points that might not be obvious to the average homeowner.
Factors We Evaluated When Comparing Solar Companies
When ranking solar companies, we look beyond flashy marketing to assess what really matters for a successful solar installation and long-term satisfaction with your investment.
Solar Equipment and Services
The range and quality of equipment and services offered significantly impact your solar system’s performance and your overall experience. We gauge the following factors:
- Electric vehicle (EV) chargers (2 points): Do they install EV charging infrastructure to complement your renewable energy system?
- In-house installers (6 points): Companies with their own installation teams typically offer more consistent quality control.
- Solar batteries (6 points): Does the company offer energy storage solutions to help maximize your system’s value?
- Solar roofing (3 points): Can the company provide integrated solar roof options beyond traditional panels?
- Third-party installers (3 points): Some companies outsource installation, which can affect accountability and communication.
We also check for a dedicated app or web portal to monitor your system’s performance, energy audits to help you optimize overall home efficiency, monitoring services for ongoing professional system monitoring, and roofing services for more integrated roofing and solar solutions.
Warranty and Performance Guarantees
Solar is a long-term investment, and strong warranties protect your purchase. We examine equipment warranties, noting companies that offer 25+ years of coverage (exceptional coverage), 15–20 years (standard coverage), or less (lackluster coverage). Similarly, labor warranties range from outstanding (25+ years) to standard (5–10 years) to minimal (4 years or less).
We also evaluate whether companies offer power production guarantees that ensure your system generates the promised electricity and if they provide roof leak coverage to protect against installation-related damage. These guarantees demonstrate a company’s confidence in its work and commitment to your long-term satisfaction.
Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications
A company’s reputation and professional credentials offer valuable insights into its reliability and commitment to industry standards. Here are the third-party metrics we analyze for our ratings:
- No active lawsuits (1 point): No pending legal actions against the company
- BBB accreditation (1 point): Whether the company meets BBB standards
- BBB letter grade (4 points): Rating from the Better Business Bureau
- BBB rating (4 points): Numerical rating reflecting customer satisfaction
- Review site alerts (1 point): Warnings on major review platforms
- Trustpilot rating (3 points): Customer reviews on this global platform
We also verify each company’s NABCEP Certification. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certification is the gold standard for solar professionals.
Financing Options
How you pay for your solar system significantly impacts your overall experience and financial return. We evaluate companies based on their solar payment options, including cash purchases (offering the best ROI), loans (allowing ownership with monthly payments), leases (no upfront costs but no ownership), and power purchase agreements or PPAs (where you pay for the power produced, not the equipment).
We also consider whether companies offer in-house financing solutions, which streamline the process and sometimes provide more favorable terms than third-party options.
Industry Experience
Experience matters when it comes to quality installation and long-term support capability. We categorize companies based on their years in the solar industry, from pioneers like Sunrun with 16+ years of experience to newer companies like Freedom Solar Power with 1–5 years of experience. While newer companies can provide excellent service, those with longer track records have weathered industry changes and have typically refined their processes over time.
State Availability
The breadth of a company’s service area affects both its scale and its familiarity with local regulations and rebate programs. Our evaluation considers geographic coverage ranging from nationwide providers serving all 50 states to local specialists operating in just one area. While national companies often have greater resources and standardized processes, local specialists may offer more personalized service and deeper knowledge of region-specific requirements and incentives.
Factor Weights for Rating Solar Companies
Here’s how we weigh each factor in our rating system:
| Category | Percentage of Total Score |
|---|---|
| Solar Equipment and Services | 25% |
| Warranty and Performance Guarantees | 25% |
| Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications | 15% |
| Financing Options | 15% |
| Industry Experience | 10% |
| State Availability | 10% |
How To Interpret Company Ratings
Solar companies that score between 90 and 100 points in our evaluation represent the industry’s elite providers. These companies offer exceptional equipment quality, outstanding warranties, impeccable installation practices, and comprehensive customer support. They typically feature strong financial stability, in-house installation teams, and transparent pricing that remains consistent from quote to installation.
We also consider companies scoring between 80 and 89 points as excellent choices worthy of your consideration. These solar providers may fall slightly short in certain areas. They perhaps offer good but not exceptional warranty coverage, have slightly less industry experience, or provide fewer financing options but still deliver strong overall value. For many homeowners, these installers provide a reliable, high-quality solar experience with few compromises.
Scores between 70 and 79 indicate companies that perform adequately but have notable limitations. These solar installers might have less comprehensive warranty protection, rely heavily on subcontractors, offer less responsive customer service, or have limited equipment options. While these companies don’t typically make our top recommendations, they may still be worth considering if they offer significant cost advantages or specialized services that align with your specific solar needs and budget.
How To Choose the Best Solar Company for You
Even with our comprehensive rankings and reviews, the “best” solar company ultimately comes down to what fits your specific home and energy needs. What works perfectly for someone with a large south-facing roof and high electricity bills might not be ideal for someone with a partially shaded property or different budget priorities.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options based on our ratings, here’s how to zero in on the right solar installer for your situation and make going solar worth it for you:
- Ask about equipment quality and installation standards: Does the company use tier-one solar panels and quality inverters? Do they employ NABCEP-certified installers or provide comprehensive training? Are installations done in-house or subcontracted? These details directly impact your system’s long-term performance and reliability.
- Ask about pricing transparency: The best solar companies provide detailed, itemized quotes that clearly show equipment costs, labor, permitting fees, and any additional charges. Watch out for unusually low estimates that might indicate lower-quality equipment or hidden fees later in the process.
- Check licensing and insurance: Verify that the company has all required state-specific solar contractor licenses and carries adequate insurance coverage. This protects you from liability during installation and ensures the company meets professional standards.
- Evaluate solar options and add-ons: If you’re interested in battery storage, EV charging integration, or specific panel aesthetics, make sure the company offers and has experience with these options. It’s also important to understand how different equipment choices affect your overall system price and performance.
- Look into customer reviews and the warranty claims process: Beyond star ratings, read detailed reviews about post-installation support and how the company handles warranty claims or performance issues. The true test of a solar company comes years after installation when service needs arise.
- Pay attention to communication quality: We consider good solar companies to be educational, transparent, and responsive from the first interaction. If a company uses high-pressure sales tactics, seems unwilling to explain technical details, or is slow to respond to questions, consider that a red flag.
- Understand production guarantees and monitoring: Ask how system performance is tracked, what happens if your system underproduces, and how the company handles service calls for ongoing solar maintenance. The best companies offer robust monitoring solutions and clear processes for addressing performance issues.