Editorial note: Homefront (defined in the Disclosure below) may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured on our site. This commission does not influence our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Alex Hawkins is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. He has worked on consumer surveys with over 5,000 homeowners, conducted in-depth interviews with solar and windows industry experts and has experienced ride-alongs with professional window installers. His work has also been featured on This Old House, MarketWatch and Architectural Digest. Alex has a Masters in English language and literature from Texas Tech University but now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. In his free time, Alex explores the Smoky Mountains or publishes video essays and book reviews on his YouTube channel.
Enter details in under 3 minutes.
SunPower is the best choice for a solar company if you want the most optimized and high-performance solar panel system possible. SunPower has a close relationship with Maxeon, which used to be SunPower’s sister company but now operates independently. This relationship allows SunPower to provide some of the most efficient solar panels on the market.
However, this results in the company featuring higher average pricing than other top solar companies. SunPower might only be worth the cost if you prioritize getting the best performance out of your solar panel system.
We’re here to help you determine whether SunPower’s high pricing is the best option for your solar journey. We’ve interviewed solar industry experts, analyzed hundreds of customer reviews and dissected SunPower’s product specifications and warranties.
SunPower is expensive, but we find its product selection matches the price. The company earned an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars using our scoring methodology because of its massive online support network and robust warranty coverage. Its in-house financing also helped it beat other companies, such as Palmetto Solar and Sunrun.
The company is one of the largest solar installation companies in the country, as it services all 50 states in some capacity, but a larger solar provider comes with various perks and downsides. Like other large solar companies, such as Tesla, the customer service experience may vary, but the quality of technology and support is extensive.
SunPower is known for its exceptional solar panels through Maxeon. It also manufactures and offers its own solar backup battery, SunVault. This lithium-ion battery can store energy from solar panels, providing you with energy resilience and backup power. The in-house manufacturing and integration of these components also made us recognize SunPower as the best solar company for efficiency, which means you can rely on fewer parts and brands to piece together a high-efficiency system.
We love that the company provides a smartphone application to monitor and control your system from anywhere at any time, furthering your ability to make the most out of your system’s performance. Also, SunPower’s expansive network of offices and certified dealers and installers helps make access to any of its products easier, though availability varies by ZIP code.
As with any service where you deal with a large corporation, there are some downsides to customer service. Our research showed that some SunPower locations feature better customer review scores than others. This means it’s the luck of the draw whether your SunPower location has a better reputation.
We don’t like that the company features some of the highest pricing than other solar installers and that it will only agree to provide installation services for its own products. You can receive similar products and services from other, smaller companies, but SunPower does edge out many solar companies regarding efficient ratings and high-end technology.
Two of the biggest reasons SunPower outscored other solar installers are its comprehensive warranty options and flexible financing. SunPower is an excellent choice if you want financial security and plan to treat your solar panels as an investment.
SunPower offers custom solar power systems designed for optimal performance by eliminating the need for third-party components. The SunPower Equinox System is a minimalist design that uses fewer panels than standard solar systems. This makes it ideal if your home has limited roof space or if you prefer to use the minimum number of solar panels possible.
According to Will White, solar application specialist at the Fluke Corporation, this option yields better performance results. He shared that “the main situation where module efficiency should be considered is when installation space is limited.” He also mentioned considering the energy generated per year in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Access to direct sunlight, shading, dust, debris and roof orientation all impact how much energy modules can capture and their efficiency in producing electricity.
SunPower’s panels help cut back roof space in general because some of Maxeon’s panels reach as high as 30% efficiency. The company also focuses on installing microinverters, which convert solar energy into usable electricity at each panel. These specifications mean you can use less space and create a more sightly, seamless solar energy system with SunPower rather than a large, unsightly mounting system getting in the way of your home’s style.
SunPower provides solar panel installation and backup battery and electric vehicle (EV) charger installation. The company’s app, mySunPower, allows you to monitor the performance of your system.
SunPower provides full-service installation of its SunVault solar batteries, offering you an integrated and worry-free experience. A team of SunPower experts manages the entire installation, including permitting, engineering analysis to optimize system design, certified-electrician installation of batteries, integration with existing solar panels, post-installation testing and inspection.
SunPower handles all logistics and provides you a single point of contact to streamline the process. The company’s focus on safety and quality guarantees your Sunvault system is installed professionally to the highest standard. With SunPower’s installation services, you can rest assured that the SunVault solar battery is set up correctly for seamless operation and long-term reliability.
Overall, the SunVault battery allows you to capitalize even more on your solar investment and streamline any maintenance or required repairs.
SunPower has partnered with Wallbox to provide a comprehensive EV charger installation service. SunPower provides an expert team to take care of every aspect of the installation process, from permitting and site evaluation to determine the best placement to having certified electricians install and wire the Wallbox.
The installers also integrate your electrical system and any existing solar panels, configure the Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone app control, and perform post-installation inspection and testing. One thing we like about Wallbox is that it provides a simple, small and clean appearance for an EV charging station, so you don’t have to forfeit a lot of space in your garage or home.
The mySunPower app provides real-time data and control for SunPower equipment. It lets you monitor energy usage, battery level, and system production and consumption. You can track savings and environmental impact, manage battery charging and discharging, adjust EV charger settings, receive notifications and more. With its intuitive interface and detailed analytics, the app offers valuable insights into the performance of SunPower systems. The app also includes weather updates and remaining battery charges.
Active monitoring is becoming a standard for solar panel ownership and can also become a quality marker. JD Dillon, chief marketing officer at Tigo Energy, shared how useful active monitoring is for homeowners who want to get the most out of their system and solar company.
Dillon explained, “With remote monitoring, installers receive automated alerts if some part of a solar system is not performing as expected. For example, if your solar output is lower than it should be, installers can catch the issue quickly, analyze and diagnose the situation remotely, and schedule a service call before the homeowner even knows the issue is there.”
He emphasized that software and active monitoring systems are critical to ensuring solar panel installations’ safety, performance and efficiency. Because SunPower provides its own first-party active monitoring app, you can take full advantage of what active monitoring offers.
SunPower offers both digital and in-home consultations to kick-start your solar journey. We recommend you obtain an in-home estimate as it provides more accurate pricing and a better opportunity to ask questions or express concerns.
After your consultation, SunPower uses various in-house teams to handle your system’s design, manufacturing, financing and permitting. Here’s a breakdown of SunPower’s typical installation process:
SunPower offers its own Complete Confidence Warranty, a comprehensive warranty covering your entire system for 25 years. The warranty covers defects, workmanship and performance of the system. SunPower guarantees a minimum output of 92% throughout the warranty period, and if the panels’ performance drops below this level, SunPower will work to fix the issue for free.
Additionally, SunPower provides a 10-year warranty for its SunVault battery storage system and monitoring software, which are included in the comprehensive warranty. This warranty applies to any payment method you choose with SunPower.
We like that SunPower doesn’t lock its more comprehensive warranty coverage behind different payment methods, so no matter what approach you take with the company, you’ll receive peace of mind when it comes to fighting any defects from installation or manufacturing.
We surveyed more than 167 SunPower customers in October 2023 and discovered that they paid an average of $11,267 for a SunPower system. We also found that the company featured higher maximum prices than other brands we surveyed, with some homeowners paying well above $30,000 for their system. Compared to recent reports from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that show the average cost for a 6-kilowatt system as $18,960, SunPower offers decent pricing depending on your project.
If you choose to purchase or take a loan with SunPower, you can benefit from the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), which can help you save more. The ITC is an incentive the U.S. government’s Department of Energy and IRS provides for solar energy systems. It allows solar system owners to deduct a percentage of the qualified solar expenses from their federal income taxes. The ITC currently covers 26% of the system’s cost for installations.
SunPower provides access to all the major payment methods and has an in-house financing department named SunPower Financial. This benefit means you can get competitive interest rate loans as low as zero percent for 10-year loans with no prepayment penalty. Many eligible customers can receive zero money down options.
Here’s a breakdown of all of SunPower’s financing options:
The SunPower headquarter’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile features an A+ rating and accreditation from the site. It also features a high customer review score of 3.98 out of 5 stars. However, as we mentioned earlier, if you visit multiple SunPower locations, some will have lower scores than others, as well as this headquarters page. Positive reviews mention excellent system performance and quality installation builds.
The problems seem to arise with SunPower’s warranty fulfillment and general customer support. Many reviews, such as Anthony C’s on the BBB, mention long wait times on the phone and difficulty reaching anyone in management.
Many of the more recent reviews for SunPower are negative, but the company responds to 90% of the reviews on the site, showcasing a willingness to work with each customer. Compared to other companies we reviewed, this is a high response rate. As with other large companies, automated calls and long wait times are a central issue you might encounter with SunPower.
SunPower boasts panels with up to 30% efficiency, which is the highest residential solar panel efficiency we’ve encountered in our research. The company designs state-of-the-art solar energy systems with high-quality solar batteries and inverters. It then pairs it all with its active monitoring application, allowing you to transform your SunPower system into a fully integrated smart home system.
However, all the company’s tech comes at a steep price point. The company also seems to struggle with fulfilling warranty claims promptly and puts customers through long, automated wait times on the phone. If these issues don’t bother you, SunPower can be an excellent solar installation company to receive a custom, in-house, high-quality solar panel system.
We recommend you get at least three quotes from the solar installation companies you’re considering. This approach lets you compare pricing and product selection for your home.
We rate and compare solar installers using our in-depth methodology. Installers are scored out of 100, and we then divide the final score by 20 to get the 5-star rating we include in our reviews.
We evaluate solar installers on a variety of key factors, including their customer service, breadth of services, consultation process, website experience, panel quality, payment options, financing availability and warranty coverage.
BBB information is current as of May 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
Trinity Solar is our first choice for solar installations. It provides top-notch customer support networks with high-quality solar panel installations. Elevation is also among the best solar companies, with an impressive solar services catalog and comprehensive website features. If upfront cost isn’t your primary factor, you might favor SunPower for its top-performing, highly efficient solar…
Blue Raven Solar is worth considering if you can’t afford the high upfront cost of a new solar system installation. The company offers its BluePower Plus+ loan option through an in-house financing department and uses some of the highest-performing solar panels on the market, Maxeon. These benefits help you get the most out of your…
Palmetto Solar is an excellent option for going solar if you view your solar panel system as an investment and desire financial flexibility. The company provides some of the most comprehensive active monitoring and ongoing protection we’ve seen from any of the providers we ranked as the best solar companies. Unfortunately, Palmetto locks most of…
The solar industry is still relatively new, but there is a growing awareness that clean energy sources such as solar have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels. Additionally, falling equipment prices and government incentives have made solar increasingly affordable for homeowners. Solar panels are often worth it if your roof is properly oriented, and…
Even if you were to get solar panels with one of the best solar companies out there, it’s important to remember that installing solar panels can significantly decrease your utility bills and raise your property value by an average of $15,000, according to research done by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Getting the correct number…
Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.
The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.