Solar panels are a great way to make your home more environmentally friendly while reducing your energy bill. Once you decide to go solar, however, your next step involves finding the best solar panel installer.

If you have a specific manufacturer in mind, then the process is pretty straightforward: just contact them. On the other hand, if you need help finding full-service companies that provide installations, consultations, and more, you’ve come to the right place.

To save you from searching Google for the “best solar installers near me” and having to do your own research, we’ve scoured reviews for the top solar companies and have come up with the best solar panel installers you can get.

Things to Consider In Selecting the Best Solar Panel Installer

When you’re looking for a solar panel installer, you’ll want to consider a number of factors. That could include what services the installation company provides, whether they make their own solar panels or source them from third-party manufacturers, and how good their warranties are.

As you might expect, outfitting a house with solar panels can also range in cost. Many companies provide pricing information, while others don’t. You’ll need to contact these solar panel installer companies yourself to get a personalized quote.

With that in mind, it’s also helpful to consider some of the alternatives to solar. While a great way to reduce energy bills and increase your home’s environmental friendliness, solar technology isn’t the only way to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you’re just looking to get away from fossil fuels, then you might consider a different option like an ECap Rack, which is a self-contained turbine rack that creates kilowatts of power with no gas, no steam and no fumes. 

The ECap Rack can be placed:

Next to a single family homeNext to a single family home

On top of a building

Next to a building

Inside the building

These carry a number of benefits over solar, including that they’re quick and easy to install and don’t take long for you to see a return on your investment. See an ROI in 3-5 years. Additionally, they don’t contain toxic chemicals like solar panels do, and they work in any climate.

Interested? You can get a free consultation with Alternative Sustainability.

12 Best Solar Panel Installers

If you’ve decided on solar energy, then that’s great—any effort to reduce your carbon footprint and become sustainable. Below you’ll find the best solar panel installers in the U.S. in 2021.

SunPower

Sunpower is a solar energy company that provides a full line of both residential and commercial solar systems. They can upgrade a home or business with some of the most efficient and highest-wattage Sunpower solar panels available.

During the installation process, you can expect a quick and speedy retrofit because of the company’s factory-integrated microinverters. They also offer both rail-based mounting systems as well as roof-integrated mounting systems for new homes.

• Features: Comprehensive list of solar products, excellent service, great warranties
• Pricing: Between $3.20 and $4.50 per watt

Vivint Solar

As a full-service solar company, Vivint Solar offers a range of solar energy solutions to the residential market. All of its solar panels feature a customized fit at no extra cost, and its low-profile panels are known for withstanding extreme weather.

In addition to sleek and high-efficiency solar panels, the company also offers solar energy storage solutions and built-in performance monitoring. You can expect the installation process to take four to eight hours after technicians verify that the bespoke panels and infrastructure will work on your home.

• Features: Excellent warranty, a broad network of U.S. dealers, financing options
• Pricing: Varies between homes, though financing options are available.

Sunpro Solar

Sunpro Solar offers grid-integrated solar panel solutions and installation in 22 different states in the U.S. The company handles all aspects of the installation process, including permitting, inspections, electrical work, and grid connection.

The company offers free estimates and energy audits to users, as well as free consultations. It also provides free lifetime online monitoring to track each system’s performance, and you can get 100% free in-house repair and maintenance.

• Features: Full-service installation process, in-house roofing division
• Pricing: $11,000 to $25,000 for solar panel installation.

Tesla

Although known for producing all-electric vehicles, Tesla also operates an energy division that provides solar panels and installation services to residences. The company has a range of innovative products, including solar panels, inverters, and proprietary storage solutions like the Tesla Powerwall.

Tesla Energy is known for its sleek and unobtrusive Solarglass roof tiles that offer consumers a seamless fit with the aesthetic of their house. All Tesla Energy products are covered by a solid warranty and feature enhanced durability for weathering the elements.

• Features: Sleek aesthetics, high-quality solar products
• Pricing: Pricing can vary from $6,000 to $24,000

Palmetto Solar

Palmetto Solar offers sustainable energy solutions and solar systems directly to consumers in 15 different states. They have a wide and extensive range of solar offerings, ensuring that you’ll be able to find a good fit for your specific needs.

The company provides at-home consultations and a speedy installation process that you can expect to last a couple of days. All of their panel solutions are customized to a home. In addition, their Peace of Mind Protection Plan can help cover your solar panel service and support needs.

• Features: Customized solar panel solutions, Peace of Mind Protection Plan
• Pricing: Pricing can vary from $2.51 to $3.31 per watt

Sunrun

Sunrun is a U.S. company that sells or leases custom solar solutions. It operates in 20 states in the U.S. and has already equipped 250,000 homes with solar systems, which can include its Brightbox battery storage system that provides up to 12 hours of backup electricity in case of an outage.

All of their solar systems feature a “bumper-to-bumper” warranty that includes free repairs and replacement. The company uses a proprietary system called BrightPath to analyze your house and its specific energy needs. From there, it handles all of the installation and paperwork involved.

• Features: Free energy consultations and quotes, buy or lease a system with $0 down
• Pricing: Averages between $15,000 to $29,000

LG Solar

LG Solar is among the most popular manufacturers of solar panels and systems on the market. In addition to manufacturing some of the most efficient panels on the market, LG Solar also provides residential installation services for interested customers.

The company maintains a network of LG Pro installers across the U.S., so you can handle any solar project with one firm. LG offers an industry-leading warranty on all of its products and can also provide financing options.

• Features: Popular solar panel manufacturer, excellent warranty, large network of pro installation providers
• Pricing: Between $14,220 to $18,780 for a 6kW system

Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar is known as a company that can provide simple and affordable solar panel solutions and other solar technologies. The company uses the latest in solar panel innovation, and certain plans can also include a smart thermostat and LED lighting for a home.

The company’s installation process includes a custom design for each home, and well as a service that helps you obtain all of the permits involved in going solar. Most installations are completed in a single day, and customers with qualifying credit scores can get up to 18 months of free power.

• Features: Fast installation, free power and no upfront installation costs for customers with qualifying credit
• Pricing: No pricing listed, but consultations are free

Trinity Solar

For customers in the Northeast United States, Trinity Solar offers a range of different solar panel solutions for residences — including design and installation services. Most installation projects can be completed in a day.

Trinity Solar can help customers obtain permits for their solar systems, and also offers financing options with $0 in upfront costs. The company maintains a referral bonus program so that customers can earn money from referring their friends and family to the service.

• Features: One-day installations, referral program
• Pricing: No pricing listed, but quotes are free

Go Solar Group

Go Solar Group is a Utah-based company that was originally founded to provide solar solutions to off-grid communities in Africa. Since then, the company has expanded to offer its solar panel solutions to U.S. homeowners.

You can expect to receive a free home consultation and solar system quote for the company. In addition, Go Solar Group provides design and engineering, installation, and tax credit preparation services. Better yet, each system bought will also allow Go Solar to provide solar products to those in need.

• Features: Free home assessments, tax credit preparation services, buy-one-give-one business model
• Pricing: No pricing listed, but quotes are free

Sunlux

Sunlux is a solar company that provides its services to customers in Southern California and Central Texas. If you live in one of those areas, you can purchase customized solar energy systems that fit your individual needs and circumstances.

Through partnerships with companies like Tesla, LG, and Panasonic, Sunlux provides a range of cost-effective solar systems to customers. It also features fast one- or two-day installation services, an industry-standard 25-year warranty, and several different financing or leasing options.

• Features: Customized solar solutions, one- or two-day installation, financing options
• Pricing: Prices range from $24,900 to $35,000

Zenernet

Zenernet can help U.S. homeowners go solar with a range of design, installation, and other services. The company’s goal is to accelerate the adoption of solar technology by making it affordable and practical for a wide range of customers.

The company focuses on transparency and efficiency with its range of products, and works with a network of locally-based installation providers. That way, customers can rest assured that some of their costs are going toward members of their own community. 

• Features: Locally based installation technicians, fully virtual consultations
• Pricing: No prices listed, but they offer modular pricing

Selecting the Right Solar Panel Installer for Your Needs

The best solar panel installer for you will come down to your own requirements and circumstances. You should consider cost, time of installation, the aesthetics of the solar panel, and how good the manufacturer warranty is.

Of course, solar isn’t right for everyone, which is why options like the ECap Rack from Alternative Sustainability should be considered by those who decide against solar panels. They don’t have any of the toxic chemicals found in solar panels that could be harmful to human health. They’re also guaranteed to be cheaper than solar, produce more energy as well as smaller and simpler to install. As far as cost, users will see a return-on-investment much more quickly, in 3-5 years, especially if they live in an environment that isn’t sunny all the time.

Of course, no matter the option you choose, any effort to increase your home’s sustainability is a win — both for you and the planet.