Best Solar Companies in 2026: How We Evaluated Them

Choosing a solar installer is the most consequential decision in the entire solar process. The panels themselves are largely commoditized — the difference between a good and bad experience comes down to who installs them, how they price the system, and whether they will still be in business when you need warranty service.

In 2026, this matters more than ever. Over 100 solar installers have gone bankrupt in the past 18 months, including major names like SunPower and Sunnova. Choosing the wrong company does not just mean a bad experience — it can mean losing your warranty entirely.

Here is how to evaluate any solar company, the questions to ask, and the platforms that make comparison shopping easy.

The 5 Factors That Actually Matter

1. Financial Stability

This is now the #1 factor. A 25-year panel warranty means nothing if the company that issued it does not exist in year 3.

How to check:

Search "[company name] financial news" and "[company name] bankruptcy" — any recent articles about layoffs, restructuring, or funding problems are red flags
Check if they are publicly traded — public companies file financial reports you can review
Ask directly: "How long have you been in business in this state? How many installations have you completed?"
Prefer companies that have been operating for 5+ years in your specific market

Red flag: A company that only started operating in your state within the last year, especially if they are aggressively hiring door-to-door sales reps.

2. Installation Quality and Workmanship Warranty

The panels come with a manufacturer warranty (typically 25 years). But the installation itself — the roof penetrations, the wiring, the inverter mounting, the electrical panel work — is covered by the installer's workmanship warranty.

What to look for:

Minimum 10-year workmanship warranty (25 years is better)
The warranty should cover roof leaks caused by the installation
Ask what happens to the workmanship warranty if the company is acquired or closes — some transfer, some do not

Red flag: Workmanship warranty under 5 years, or a warranty that explicitly excludes roof leaks.

3. Pricing Transparency

Solar pricing should be straightforward: cost per watt, before and after incentives. The national average in 2026 is approximately $2.75-$3.50 per watt before incentives, depending on your state and system size.

How to compare:

Get at least 3 quotes from different installers
Compare cost per watt (total system cost ÷ system size in watts), not total price — system sizes vary between proposals
Ask for an itemized breakdown: panels, inverter, labor, permits, interconnection
Check for dealer fees hidden in financing (some installers mark up the system 20-30% and roll it into the loan)

Red flag: A quote more than 25% above or below the local average. Too high means overpricing. Too low might mean cutting corners on equipment or labor.

4. Equipment Quality

Not all panels and inverters are equal. Tier 1 panels from established manufacturers (REC, Canadian Solar, Qcells, Panasonic) are the safest bet. Inverters from Enphase (microinverters) or SolarEdge (optimizers) dominate the residential market for good reason.

What to ask:

What brand and model of panels will be installed?
What inverter system (microinverters vs string inverter with optimizers)?
What is the panel efficiency and degradation rate?
Is the equipment covered by the manufacturer's warranty separate from the installer's warranty?

Red flag: An installer who will not specify exact equipment models before you sign, or who uses unrecognizable panel brands to cut costs.

5. Customer Reviews and Reputation

Where to check:

Google Reviews (look for 4.0+ with at least 50 reviews)
BBB rating and complaint history
EnergySage installer profiles (include verified customer reviews)
SolarReviews.com (dedicated solar installer review platform)
State contractor licensing board (verify their license is active)

What to look for in reviews:

Consistent praise or complaints about the same things (patterns matter more than outliers)
How the company responds to negative reviews (professionalism under criticism)
Recent reviews (a company with great reviews from 2022 but complaints in 2025 may have changed)

Red flag: No online reviews at all, or a pattern of complaints about unexpected costs, delayed installations, or unresponsive customer service.

How to Get and Compare Quotes

The most efficient way to compare solar companies is through a marketplace platform that connects you with multiple pre-vetted installers at once.

EnergySage is the largest solar marketplace in the US. You enter your address and electricity bill, and receive quotes from multiple installers competing for your business. All installers on the platform are pre-screened for licensing, insurance, and customer satisfaction. You can compare quotes side by side on cost per watt, equipment, and estimated savings.

This is dramatically better than calling individual companies one by one — you get competitive pricing because the installers know they are being compared, and the platform standardizes the quote format so you can compare apples to apples.

Compare pre-vetted solar installers in your area

EnergySage lets you compare quotes from pre-vetted local installers. See pricing, incentives, and estimated savings — no pressure, no commitment.

Learn More

The Questions to Ask Every Installer

Before signing with anyone, ask these 10 questions:

How long have you been installing solar in this state?
How many residential installations have you completed?
What specific panels and inverter will be used?
What is the total cost per watt before and after incentives?
What is your workmanship warranty and what does it cover?
Are there any dealer fees or markups in the financing?
What happens to my warranty if your company is sold or closes?
Who handles the permit application and utility interconnection?
What is the estimated timeline from signing to system activation?
Can I speak with 2-3 recent customers as references?

A good installer will answer all 10 without hesitation. Evasive or vague answers to any of them are a reason to get another quote.

Key Takeaways

Financial stability is now the #1 factor — over 100 installers went bankrupt in 2025-2026
Get at least 3 quotes and compare cost per watt, not total price
Verify workmanship warranty covers at least 10 years including roof leaks
Check reviews on multiple platforms — Google, BBB, EnergySage, SolarReviews
Ask all 10 questions before signing anything
Use a marketplace platform to get competitive quotes from pre-vetted installers

The right installer makes solar a great investment. The wrong one turns it into a decade-long headache. Take the time to compare — your future self will thank you.