7 Best Solar Installation Companies in 2024

By Jessica Wimmer | July 20, 2023

All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Solar energy is one of the most innovative industries paving the future. Not only does it help you reduce your environmental impact, but it also saves you money on your electric bills and boosts your home value.

There are many solar companies to choose from, and you may not be sure where to start. We carefully researched more than 20 of the best solar companies to see how they compared on product selection and performance, price, customer service, availability, financing options, and warranties. We also read more than 100 customer reviews for each provider to see what real customers had to say about doing business with the company. Here are the seven solar providers that came out on top.

Compare Solar Companies

Star Rating Location Presence BBB Rating Link
SunPower SunPower
50 States A+ Get Free Quote
ADT Solar ADT Solar
23 States A+ Get Free Quote
Sunrun Sunrun
21 States A+ Get Free Quote
Blue Raven Solar Blue Raven Solar
18 States A+ Get Free Quote
Palmetto Solar Palmetto Solar
20 States A+ Get Free Quote
Momentum Solar Momentum Solar
11 States A+ Get Free Quote
Tesla Solar Tesla Solar
50 States A+ Get Free Quote
SunPower
Logo SunPower
Star Rating
Location Presence 50 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
ADT Solar
Logo ADT Solar
Star Rating
Location Presence 23 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Sunrun
Logo Sunrun
Star Rating
Location Presence 21 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Blue Raven Solar
Logo Blue Raven Solar
Star Rating
Location Presence 18 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Palmetto Solar
Logo Palmetto Solar
Star Rating
Location Presence 20 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Momentum Solar
Logo Momentum Solar
Star Rating
Location Presence 11 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Tesla Solar
Logo Tesla Solar
Star Rating
Location Presence 50 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Free Quote
Providers
Star Rating
Best For
Location Presence
BBB Rating
Most Experienced
50 States
A+
Best Comprehensive Coverage
23 States
A+
Best for Home Builders
21 States
A+
Best In-House Financing
18 States
A+
Most Protection
20 States
A+
Best for Guided Services
11 States
A+
Most Aesthetic
50 States
A+

The 7 Top Solar Installation Companies of 2024

Consider these top solar installation companies if you’re thinking about going solar:

 


 

Our Top Solar Installation Company Picks

SunPower Most Experienced
4

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 50
  • Warranty options: 25-year system and labor warranty
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (Maxeon)

Read more: Sunpower Solar Review

What We Like

SunPower is one of the first solar panel companies and holds the most experience of any installer on this list. It was founded in 1985 and provides some of the highest-efficiency solar panel systems available, with efficiency rates up to 22.8%.

The company’s SunPower Design Studio allows you to design a custom solar system created specifically for your home. It offers monocrystalline solar panels from Maxeon, which started as its own manufacturing company but has since become its own brand. SunPower’s solar components are all produced in-house, meaning your solar system is fully integrated with all parts designed to work together. SunPower offers an above-average combination system-and-labor warranty.

Homeowner Reviews

The 100 most recent Google customer reviews for SunPower’s headquarters in San Jose, California, are overwhelmingly positive. Only 5% of reviews are less than four stars and were critical. However, these reviews call attention to SunPower’s high leasing rates or scheduling difficulties.

Other reviews mention long waiting periods to get a SunPower solar system up and running, but they find the savings and easy monitoring through the mySunPower Monitoring App worth the wait.

ADT Solar Best Comprehensive Coverage
4

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 23*
  • Warranty options: 25-year Power Production Guarantee
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (LG)

Read more: ADT Solar Reviews

What We Like

ADT Solar partners with electronics industry giant LG to offer high-quality, efficient solar panels backed by a comprehensive warranty. It includes a 25-year labor warranty, a 25-year energy production guarantee, a 25-year solar panel manufacturer warranty, and a 25-year Enphase microinverter warranty.

ADT Solar also provides free home-energy audits, and it connects you with roof replacement experts if any roofing needs arise. Additionally, the company promises that if another solar company offers comparable products and benefits for less than ADT’s price, it will refund the difference and then some.

Homeowner Reviews

We analyzed the 100 most recent Google Reviews from ADT Solar’s Tampa branch and found that 82% of reviews were positive. Its overall score from more than 230 reviews was 4.1 out of 5 stars. Many customers noted the company’s professionalism and said that it resolved issues with little to no hassle if something was wrong.

The few complaints focused on how long and noisy the installation process was or that their electricity bill did not decrease as much as expected.

Participating States

*Available in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Sunrun Best for Home Builders
3.9

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 21*
  • Warranty options: 25-year product and workmanship warranty
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)

Read more: Sunrun Solar Review

What We Like

Building a new home or installing a new roof is the perfect time to invest in a solar system. Sunrun features perks for both commercial and residential home builders. For example, the company helps install solar systems for new construction homes through its BuilderChoice New Homes Program.

This program is designed for code compliance and features a dedicated team to handle all complicated paperwork required to interconnect with local utilities. It also works with your roofers to subcontract labor and activate the system before permission to operate (PTO).

Homeowner Reviews

While analyzing the 100 most recent Google reviews for Sunrun’s San Francisco and Austin locations, we noted that Sunrun’s customer experiences are mixed. The company has an average rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars from approximately 185 customer reviews. Many people were critical of the company’s customer service and said it was difficult to get in touch.

We called Sunrun to ask about responsiveness issues and why it emphasizes solar leases despite the fact that this disqualifies customers from accessing incentives. We were transferred twice, and representatives were unable to provide an answer. The final transfer did not answer the call.

Other reviews noted Sunrun was highly detail-oriented and was an excellent option for new roof installations paired with solar. Since the majority of negative reviews are isolated to a period between the end of 2022 and early 2023, we still featured the company on our list due to its mostly positive reviews outside of this time frame.

Participating States

*Available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Blue Raven Solar Best In-House Financing
4

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 18*
  • Warranty options: 25-year manufacturer warranty
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)

Read more: Blue Raven Solar Review

What We Like

Blue Raven Solar understands that switching to solar is a long-term investment. While many companies partner with a lending institution, Blue Raven offers in-house financing through its BluePower Plus program to make the process easier. You can receive 18 months of free solar with no money down, depending on your credit score.

Blue Raven relies on manufacturer warranties, so your warranty may differ based on the manufacturer that Blue Raven uses in your ZIP code. However, you can most likely expect a 25-year warranty on solar panels.

Blue Raven also provides a slick, user-friendly website. Its SmartStart program allows you to speak directly to an expert or calculate your savings with various supplementary materials to help you learn more about renewable energy.

Homeowner Reviews

We analyzed the 100 most recent Google reviews for Blue Raven’s Charlotte, North Carolina, location and found that the majority of customers had a positive experience. It has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating from over 300 reviews. Many praised the company’s BluePower Plus financing program and timely installation process. The few negative reviews mention aggressive sales tactics and high pricing.

Participating States

*Available in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Palmetto Solar Most Protection
4.3

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 20*
  • Warranty options: 25-year manufacturer warranty
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (Q Cells)

Read more: Palmetto Solar Review

What We Like

Palmetto Solar offers an optional Palmetto Peace of Mind Plan. This $12-per-month plan includes active system monitoring and discounts on various services, such as panel cleaning or battery services. Palmetto also provides 25-year manufacturer warranties for high-quality Q Cells monocrystalline solar panels.

For further convenience and clarity, Palmetto offers The Palmetto App. This smartphone app lets you track your system’s performance by day, week, and month. It also allows you to set goals for spending and access one-click customer support.

Homeowner Reviews

We analyzed the 100 most recent Google reviews for Palmetto Solar’s headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, and found that customers had a generally positive experience. The company has a 4.1 out of 5 score across more than 1,300 reviews. More than 70% of customers mentioned that Palmetto helped them cut back on their electricity bills and found the customer service staff helpful, patient, and kind.

Critical reviews pointed out long waiting periods to activate their system, sometimes as long as six months. This time frame is longer than the average (three months) for solar panel installation and activation.

Participating States

*Available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Momentum Solar Best for Guided Services
4.3

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 11*
  • Warranty options: 25-year workmanship and equipment warranty
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (various manufacturers)

Read more: Momentum Solar Review

What We Like

Momentum Solar is available in fewer states than other companies on this list, but that’s because it purposefully limits its availability to states with well-established net-metering programs. When you enroll in a net-metering program, a utility company tracks the surplus energy your solar panels produce and subtracts that metered amount from your power bill, saving you money long-term.

Momentum also only operates in states with solar rebates and incentive programs. The company’s limited availability allows it to focus on service and quality more than other solar providers.

Momentum offers solar panels from various manufacturers to fit your specific solar needs. It has the highest warranty options of the companies on this list, with a 25-year workmanship and solar equipment warranty. Momentum conducts virtual consultations via Zoom for added convenience.

Homeowner Reviews

We analyzed the 100 most recent customer Google reviews for Momentum Solar at its headquarters in South Plainfield, New Jersey. We found that Momentum had overall positive reviews, with 3.6 out of 5 stars from over 1,100 customer reviews.

Many customers praise Momentum Solar for its thoroughness and transparency, while the few critical reviews point to spam calls and other aggressive sales tactics.

Participating States

*Available in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Tesla Solar Most Aesthetic
4.2

Fast Facts:

  • State availability: 50
  • Warranty options: 25-year performance guarantee
  • Panel options: Monocrystalline (Hanwha)

Read more: Tesla Solar Panels Review

What We Like

One of the biggest names in renewable energy, Tesla provides innovative solar energy products. Namely, it offers solar shingles to make a solar roof. Solar shingles are panels that mimic the appearance of roof shingles instead of using a distracting mounting system on top your roof. Solar shingles are low-profile and have more aesthetically pleasing designs.

Tesla Solar services all 50 states. However, its service areas vary by ZIP code. We recommend checking with Tesla to see what options are available for your home.

Homeowner Reviews

We analyzed the 100 most recent Google Reviews for Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto, California and noted that customers had mixed experiences. Approximately 47% stated issues with reaching the company and feeling misguided by its promises.

More positive reviews mention the quality of Tesla’s products, namely its solar roofs and the Tesla Powerwall backup solar battery.


 

Our Recommendation

Working toward energy independence is a long-term project that requires various products and services. It’s important to assess your specific needs and priorities to choose the best solar installer for your home.

We recommend SunPower as one of our top companies due to its experience and high-efficiency systems. We also like Momentum, which provides excellent services integrated with established net-metering programs, high-quality solar energy systems, and a comprehensive warranty.  Finally, Blue Raven Solar has more locations than our other top choices and is the best option if you’re looking for a clear and established financing program. 

We recommend getting quotes from at least three solar installers in your area to compare offerings. Use our tool below to get started.

Homeowners Save $20,000 to $97,000 with Solar Panels on Average Over Typical System Life Span
Get a Quote on Your Solar Installation in 30 Seconds

 


 

What to Expect From Your Solar Installation Inspection

Each solar installation requires a home inspection, which helps the solar installer know what rigging system is required and what kind of panels, inverters, energy storage systems, and other vital components you will need. Overall, the purpose of the solar inspection is to ensure all the details are right for your home’s solar panels to work for the next 25 to 30 years. 

An extra step you can take to streamline the solar inspection process is reaching out to your local government to vet an installer before having them come to your home. Astrawatt Solar’s director of marketing, Tyler Adams, says:

“Your county government can tell you if a solar installer is licensed and is in good standing with the local government.” He also recommends contacting your local utility company about going solar. “Many local utility companies will provide homeowners with a list of questions to ask a solar installer. Any good solar installer will be able to answer those questions and can use those as a guide for what to expect as you convert your home to using solar energy.

Solar installation inspections tend to follow these steps:

 


 

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels

Solar panels help your home and the environment in numerous ways. Here are some of the key benefits:

 


 

How Much Does a Solar Installation Cost?

Various factors influence solar panel costs. EnergySage estimates the average cost for a typical 6-kilowatt (kW, or 6,000 watts) residential rooftop solar system is approximately $16,600. After factoring in the 30% federal tax credit, that’s roughly $12,300 before applying any other solar incentives.

Solar Panel Pricing

The type of solar panel you order influences your total price. For example, the average cost for monocrystalline solar panels is $1 to $1.50 per watt, so a standard 6 kW system costs $6,000 to $9,000. The average cost for polycrystalline solar panels is $0.90 to $1 per watt, making it $5,400 to $6,000 total.

Type of Panel

Cost Per Watt

Total Cost

Monocrystalline

$1—$1.50

$6,000–$9,000

Polycrystalline

$0.90–$1

$5,400–$6,000

Thin-film

$1–$1.50

$6,000–$9,000

Other Cost Factors

Below are some other factors to consider when determining how much a solar system might cost. 

 


 

Get a Quote on Your Solar Installation

Solar panels on the gable roof of a modern white house

 

How Do I Get a Solar Quote?

We went through the quote process with each provider on our list to see what the experience was at each company. All installers except for Blue Raven Solar, Palmetto Solar, and Tesla include a Get a Quote option in the top right corner of their webiste’s homepage. Clicking this link takes you to a form to fill out with information about your home. Most forms ask for basic contact information, location, and home size. Providers ask for your location and home size to gauge how suitable your home is for a solar system. Some providers ask for more detailed home information, such as how shaded your roof is. The online quote process takes just a few minutes. 

The remaining companies have a clearly listed phone number at the top of the home page you can call to get a quote. Tesla also features the option to get a free virtual consultation in which you can discuss your project and get a quote. When we called Blue Raven Solar, we were asked for similar information, such as location and roof size and orientation in regard to the sun. We were given a quote in less than 10 minutes over the phone.

 


 

Best Solar Companies FAQ

How long do solar panels last?

On average, solar panels tend to last between 25 and 30 years.

On what types of roofs can solar panels be installed?

Solar panels can be installed on almost any type of roof. Panels are attached to your roof with a racking system. Your solar installer will recommend the racking system that is most appropriate for your property based on your roofing material and design.

Do backup batteries make money like a solar system does?

Because electricity rate structures incentivize giving energy back to the power grid and not battery storage in a home, backup batteries do not help you earn money like solar panels do.

Does going solar affect my insurance?

A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) states that most solar systems should be covered as part of a standard homeowners insurance policy. However, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider before you install your solar energy system, so you can know how the change may influence your coverage.

What is the process to get my system permitted?

The process to get your system permitted varies based on location, as it’s handled by local municipalities. However, you shouldn’t need to file any local permits yourself unless you do a do-it-yourself (DIY) installation. If you hire a professional installation team, your solar energy company should handle all the permitting. “60 days is a pretty good average from the contract-signing to installation,” says Tyler Tucker, the chief development officer of Astrawatt Solar. He adds that this process may take longer if your solar installation requires HOA approval.

 


 

Other Helpful Solar Guides

 


 

How We Chose the Top Solar Companies

We researched and analyzed dozens of solar panels and solar installation companies. We then formulated a rating system based on each solar installer or manufacturer’s services and products on several significant factors. Factors include the types of solar panels they offer and their quality, customer support network, warranty lengths and limitations, and additional benefits for homeowners, such as mobile apps for monitoring and customer service. 

Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined how each solar company personalizes its solar panel installation for each home. We also analyzed each company’s warranty options to ensure their product and performance guarantees match or exceed industry standards. 

We evaluated each provider based on their rating and history with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine reputation. In addition, we analyzed the 100 most recent Google Reviews for each provider across various locations and branches.

Read more: Our Methodology