What is the best solar company in 2026?

No single solar company is best for every homeowner. For national installers, Palmetto Solar earns the highest consistent customer satisfaction scores, especially for installation quality and post-install support. Sunrun is the best choice if you want a solar lease with zero upfront cost. For the most competitive pricing on a purchased system, vetted local installers found through EnergySage typically beat national chains by 15–25%. The right answer depends on your state, whether you want to own or lease, and what your local options are.

How do I find the best solar company in my area?

The most reliable method: use EnergySage to get competing quotes from pre-vetted local installers, then independently verify each installer's reviews on Google, BBB, and Yelp under their own company name. Check that they have been in business at least 5 years, hold a current contractor's license in your state, and carry both general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Solar company referrals from neighbors who have owned their systems for 2+ years are also highly reliable.

Are national solar companies better than local installers?

Not necessarily. Local installers consistently outperform national chains on customer satisfaction, pricing, and responsiveness in post-install service. The main advantages of national companies are financial stability and geographic coverage. The main advantages of local installers are lower price, better accountability, and faster service response. In markets where quality local installers exist, they are typically the better choice for purchased systems. National companies have an edge for leases and PPAs.

Which solar companies have the best warranties?

The best warranty packages in 2026 come from companies that offer their own workmanship warranties of 10+ years combined with high-quality panel manufacturer warranties. Palmetto Solar's combination of in-house crews and 10-year workmanship warranty is among the best nationally. For panels, SunPower Maxeon panels carry a 40-year product warranty (25-year performance), while REC, Panasonic, and Qcells offer strong 25-year guarantees. Be aware: the workmanship warranty is only as good as the company backing it — verify financial stability.

Which solar companies went out of business recently?

Between 2023 and 2026, over 100 solar installation companies filed for bankruptcy or ceased operations. Major names include SunPower Corporation (filed Chapter 11 in 2023), Sunnova (2024), Titan Solar Power, Pink Energy, and ADT Solar (Sunpro). This wave of failures underlines the importance of choosing a financially stable installer — not just the lowest price. Companies that exited the market left customers without workmanship warranty coverage.

Best Solar Companies 2026: Ranked by Real Customer Satisfaction

The solar installation industry lost over 100 companies between 2023 and 2026 — including some of the biggest national names. Choosing the right solar company today means looking beyond marketing claims to evaluate financial stability, installation quality, and real customer experiences.

Here is a ranked guide to the best solar companies in 2026, based on aggregated customer satisfaction data, pricing analysis, and warranty assessment.

The Rankings: Best Solar Companies 2026

#1 — Palmetto Solar (Best National Installer Overall)

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 22 states | Mid-range pricing

Palmetto earns the top spot among national installers for consistent customer satisfaction, transparent pricing, and strong post-install support. They are not the largest or cheapest option — but they consistently deliver what they promise.

Why Palmetto ranks #1:

In-house installation crews in most markets — the single biggest driver of installation quality
Protect monitoring plan — proactive performance tracking catches problems before the homeowner notices
Itemized, transparent quotes — they name the specific panel and inverter models before you sign
No high-pressure sales — consistently cited in reviews as a differentiator

Palmetto limitations:

Geographic coverage limited to 22 states (not available nationwide)
Slower quote-to-installation timeline (3–5 months)
Ongoing Protect plan is an optional monthly cost

Best for: Homeowners who want a national installer with high service accountability and plan to own their system.

Get a Palmetto Solar quote →

#2 — Sunrun (Best for Leases and PPAs)

⭐⭐⭐ | 22 states | Mid-to-high pricing for purchases

Sunrun is the largest residential solar company in the United States and the clear leader for solar lease and PPA products. Their purchase pricing is above average, but for no-upfront-cost solar, their lease product is the industry benchmark.

Why Sunrun ranks #2:

Best-in-class lease/PPA product — most polished execution of no-money-down solar
BrightPath battery integration — competitive bundled storage option
Virtual Power Plant programs — earn payments from grid services in California, Illinois, and New England
Financial stability — publicly traded, survived the industry shakeout

Sunrun limitations:

Purchase pricing is 15–25% above local market averages
Lease agreements are complex 20–25 year contracts with annual escalators
Leases can complicate home sales
Customer service inconsistency in large markets

Best for: Homeowners who want zero upfront cost and are comfortable with a long-term lease structure.

Compare Sunrun with alternatives →

#3 — Tesla Energy (Best for Integrated Solar + Battery)

⭐⭐⭐ | Select markets | Premium pricing

Tesla Energy installs solar panels and Powerwall 3 batteries as an integrated system. The hardware is excellent; the experience getting there is inconsistent.

Why Tesla Energy ranks #3:

Powerwall 3 integration — DC-coupled efficiency, single-app management that no competitor matches
Long-term product support — Powerwall firmware updates continuously
Tesla app — sets the standard for home energy management
Brand durability — Tesla's scale means the ecosystem will be supported for decades

Tesla limitations:

Installation wait times of 6–9 months in many markets
Customer service is frequently criticized for slow response times
Premium pricing
Limited geographic coverage for direct installation (uses third-party installers in many markets)

Best for: Homeowners specifically committed to the Powerwall 3 ecosystem and willing to wait for the integration.

#4 — Local Installers via EnergySage (Best Value for Purchased Systems)

The best-kept secret in solar pricing: vetted local installers, found through a platform like EnergySage, consistently produce the most competitive quotes and the highest customer satisfaction ratings for purchased systems.

Why local installers rank highly:

10–25% lower pricing than comparable national quotes
Better customer accountability — a local company has reputation at stake in your community
Faster service response — post-install issues get local attention, not call center tickets
In-house crews — most reputable local installers use their own employees, not subcontractors

Local installer risks:

Financial stability varies — more local installers failed in 2023–2026 than national ones
Geographic limitation — quality options vary significantly by market
Harder to vet without independent research

How to use local installers safely: Request quotes through EnergySage (which vets their network), then verify the specific installer's reviews independently, confirm 5+ years in business, and verify licensing and insurance.

Find the best-priced solar company in your area

EnergySage collects competing quotes from vetted local and national installers — then shows you all of them side by side in a standardized format. Most homeowners who compare save $5,000–$10,000.

Learn More

Companies to Avoid in 2026

SunPower (Direct Installation)

SunPower filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023. While the company has restructured, they no longer perform direct residential installations in most markets. Today's "SunPower" quotes come from an authorized dealer network whose quality varies independently from the SunPower brand. The Maxeon panels are still excellent — but your experience depends on which specific dealer you work with, not on SunPower's standards.

If you want Maxeon panels, vet your specific dealer, not just the brand name.

ADT Solar (Sunpro)

ADT Solar exited the residential solar business entirely in January 2024. If you are an existing ADT Solar customer, your installer warranty is no longer backed by the company. Contact a local installer for service on your existing system.

Sunnova

Sunnova filed for bankruptcy in 2024. Existing customers' panels continue operating, but installer warranty coverage is in question. Finance-only servicing has transitioned to a third-party servicer.

How the Best Solar Companies Stack Up

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The Five Questions to Ask Any Solar Company Before Signing

How long have you been in business in this market? Look for 5+ years of local presence — not just the company's founding date.
Who performs the actual installation — your employees or subcontractors? In-house crews consistently produce better installation quality.
What specific panels and inverter will you install? Get the model names before signing, not after.
What is your workmanship warranty and who backs it? A 10-year warranty is meaningless if the company closes in year 3.
Can I speak with two homeowners whose systems you installed 3+ years ago? Reputable installers can provide references. Those who cannot are a flag.

Finding the Best Solar Company in Your State

The best solar company in California is not the best solar company in Texas. Markets differ by utility rates, net metering policies, state incentives, and which installers have established local operations. Your state guide has market-specific information:

California solar guide — NEM 3.0 changes everything
Texas solar guide — No state incentives, but high-volume competitive market
New York solar guide — Strong state credits and NY-Sun program
Florida solar guide — Net metering at risk, act before changes take effect
Massachusetts solar guide — One of the best incentive stacks in the country

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