Best Solar Inverter Brands of 2024

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Written by Tamara Jude Updated 11/05/2024

Solar inverters are the heart of a solar power system. They help convert incoming solar rays into usable energy. The right inverter can boost panel performance, improve energy production, and power your home more efficiently. Although the top tier solar panel companies will choose the ideal inverter for your system, it’s important to understand how they work and the leading residential manufacturers.

Our guide explains how solar inverters operate and their impact on system performance. We’ve also provided recommendations for some of the best solar inverter brands available.

3 Best Solar Companies of 2024

Best Solar Leasing: SunRun
Best East Coast Installer: Solar Energy World
Most Reputable: Blue Raven

What Is a Solar Inverter?

Solar inverters help convert solar energy into usable electricity for your home. Solar panels work by absorbing the sun’s energy into their solar cells. These cells generate direct current (DC) energy. This type of energy doesn’t work with your home because American homes use alternating current (AC) electricity. This is where solar inverters come into play. The inverter converts the incoming DC electricity into AC power, making it usable throughout your home.

Since inverters serve as a direct connection between your solar panels and home, they offer detailed insight into your energy production. Many solar monitoring systems use data from the inverters to monitor panel production, energy use, and performance issues. The inverter sends panel data via Wi-Fi and connects with a dedicated mobile app or web portal. Depending on the inverter type, you’ll get readings for several panels or individual panel details.

Inverters also help convert energy between solar batteries and your home. DC power flows directly from solar panels to your battery, storing the power for later use. When it’s time to power your home, the inverter converts the stored DC power to AC.

Note that solar inverters aren’t the same as charger controllers, a different component is needed for solar battery storage. An inverter converts your energy, while a charge controller regulates electrical power for distribution to your solar batteries and solar energy system. Both devices are needed for battery performance.

Types of Solar Inverters

All solar inverters function similarly but can differ in areas such as efficiency, cost, and energy monitoring capabilities. Here’s an overview of each inverter type.

String Inverters

String inverters (or central inverters) connect several solar panels and convert energy for multiple panels or a full solar array (or a group of solar panels). This inverter type is cost-effective but less efficient than others. If there’s an issue with the central inverter, it could shut down several panels at once, impacting your energy generation. String inverters are also prone to shading issues. If one panel experiences shading, the entire solar array is impacted, reducing production levels. Despite this issue, repairing string inverters is relatively cheap and easy to maintain.

String inverters have a shorter life span, typically around five to 10 years, and offer lower power production. The string inverter’s energy data also lumps all panel performance together, making it hard to determine individual panel issues.

Microinverters

Microinverters attach to the individual panels, providing maximum power output. These inverters cost more than other options due to their high efficiency and improved performance. You’ll need one microinverter per panel, increasing your solar installation costs. Despite the higher price, microinverters offer better per-panel performance and don’t have the shading issues of string inverters. If one microinverter goes down, it won’t affect the other panels in your solar project. However, since they’re located on the roof with your panels, they require more maintenance and have higher repair costs.

Microinverters have a long life span of at least 25 years. Since microinverters work with individual panels, you have more detailed system performance data.

String Inverters and Power Optimizers

Although not technically a different inverter type, this design helps boost inverter performance. Panel optimizers help maximize DC power generation and send that power to the centralized inverter. The inverter converts all the power optimizers’ collected energy into AC and sends it to your home. This panel design can be very complicated and requires additional system-optimized power, increasing overall costs. This setup provides panel-level monitoring and additional optimization options.

Hybrid Inverters

Hybrid inverters, also called battery-ready inverters, offer the benefits of both grid-tied and off-grid panels by including backup battery power for added protection. Normally, grid-tied panels stop working immediately during a blackout. But hybrid inverters draw energy from your backup battery system to power your solar inverters.

Off-Grid Inverters

Investing in an off-grid solar system requires special inverters to help keep your system constantly powered by panels and solar batteries. Just like smaller do-it-yourself (DIY) solar systems, off-grid systems aren’t tied to any grid system and solely rely on a responsive and powerful backup battery system. These systems use Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) charge controllers to protect your batteries from overcharging and improve efficiency. Off-grid inverters help charge and discharge solar batteries to keep your home running. DIY systems aren’t worth it for the average homeowner, but for those with strong electrical skills, DIY solar panels can be worth the investment.

Major Differences Among Solar Inverters

Solar inverters differ in several ways, including efficiency, cost, and warranty coverage. We’ve detailed each comparison factor below.

Cost

String inverters are the cheapest and require fewer inverters for your system. Microinverters are more expensive but offer better results. Inverters qualify for solar incentives, meaning homeowners can use the federal solar tax credit to receive up to 30% off their total solar installation cost.

Efficiency

Efficiency plays a key role in inverter performance. Inventory efficiency represents how well the component converts DC to AC power. During this conversion process, some energy is lost. The higher the energy loss, the lower the efficiency rating. Look for solar inverters with high efficiency ratings between 96% and 99%.

Power Output

Depending on the type, solar inverters will match either your system size or your panel size. The string inverters’ maximum output capacity should match your system size. If you’re using multiple string inverters, each inverter should match the connected panels’ total wattage. When using microinverters, you’ll match your panel size to the inverter’s maximum output. This size pairing is the best way to avoid clipping, which happens when solar panels produce more power than the inverters can handle, reducing your usable electricity.

Warranty

String inverters include five to 10 years of warranty coverage and require more frequent replacement. Quality microinverters typically include a 25-year warranty. Longer coverage means fewer equipment changes and protection for the duration of your solar panels’ life span.

We recommend checking inverter warranties for mentions of labor costs, shipping expenses, and full protection details. Certain elements of an inverter, such as Wi-Fi communication equipment, may have a shorter warranty than the rest of the components. If the communication goes out, you must replace the device to resume system monitoring.

Our Top Solar Company Picks

Sunrun

4.5

We like Sunrun for its four financing options, including its unique leasing options if you don’t want to own your system. This stands out to us because the other companies on this list don’t offer as many options.

Prepaid and leased systems also include a 25-year warranty with system service and maintenance, ongoing monitoring, and theft insurance. The company even offers financing plans for quality monocrystalline solar panels and products from trusted brands such as LG.

How We Scored Sunrun

Sunrun earned 4.4 out of 5 stars based on our methodology. The company gained many points for its positive reputation, comprehensive leasing options, and well-rounded warranty coverage. It lost some points for is limited service selection.

Solar Equipment and Services (15 out of 25 points): Sunrun provides solar panel and battery installation but uses third-party installers. Though this is becoming an industry standard, in-house installers typically yield better communication and quality. The company also doesn’t provide roofing services or energy audits but does offer quality active monitoring assistance.
Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): Sunrun offers quality warranties, such as its 25-year manufacturer and labor warranty, but doesn’t include a performance guarantee.
Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Sunrun has one of the higher customer BBB ratings we’ve encountered, and the company maintains an overall positive customer reputation online.
Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): The company doesn’t offer any in-house financing but provides more warranty coverage for customers interested in solar leasing than other providers, such as Palmetto.
Industry Experience (9 out of 10 points): Sunrun holds 17 years of experience in the solar industry, making it a veteran compared to a newer company such as Blue Raven Solar.
State Availability (8 out of 10 points): The company only serves 18 states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides system monitoring that signals issues with your system Offers diverse financing options to suit various budgets Provides EV and solar battery solutions Cons Limited online information on solar incentive disqualification with leases Requires added costs for the same coverage plans as leased and prepaid customers Varies solar battery availability by state

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Sunrun backs its systems with a 10-year comprehensive warranty which includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

State Availability

Available in: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Reputation and Reviews

The company earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for incorporating drone technology in its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun was recognized by Comparably with 14 awards. Its accolades include Best CEOs for Diversity 2022, Best Company Culture 2021, and Best Company for Women two years in a row.

Sunrun currently holds an A+ rating from the BBB and is accredited. Former customers praised the comprehensive coverage for leased systems but complained about delayed installations, poor customer service, and poor communication with project managers. Additionally, some customers note being confused by Sunrun’s leasing and PPA options, though they also mention Sunrun is willing to discuss and clarify these plans.

Solar Energy World

4.4

Solar Energy World (SEW) is one of the most robust and well-regarded solar installation companies. It boasts several impressive features, such as its 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its service area is limited, and it doesn’t offer energy auditing services. We like that SEW discloses what solar panels it primarily works with and that the panels are from trusted, quality brands such as Qcells and Silfab.

Roughly 11% of our surveyed solar users purchased their system from Solar Energy World.

How We Scored Solar Energy World

SEW scored 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our methodology. The company received many points because of its warranty, which is longer than most other solar companies’ warranties. SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its solar panels and inverters, whereas many providers only offer 25-year warranties.

Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): The company is an ideal option for many basic solar products and services, such as solar panels and battery installation. It lost points because it doesn’t install EV chargers or perform energy audits.
Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): SEW’s manufacturer and labor warranties are standout features, but the company doesn’t include any production guarantees with its work.
Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (15 out of 15 points): The company’s reputation is one of the best, with high BBB and Google Reviews ratings. We also found no active alerts or lawsuits.
Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): SEW offers all possible solar payment options but doesn’t provide an in-house financing department.
Industry Experience (8 out of 10 points): The company has been in business since 2009, so it received most of the points in this category.
State Availability (6 out of 10 points): SEW limits its service area to eight East Coast states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Features an extensive solar product catalog with trusted brands Includes free active monitoring Hires NABCEP-certified installers and designers Cons Reviews mention communication issues with staff Warranty coverage varies by solar panel brand Doesn’t offer a power production guarantee

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. However, coverage varies by brand, and the company doesn’t guarantee them with every panel option.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

State Availability

Available in: Washington, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia

Reputation and Reviews

The company landed on Solar Power World’s 2023 Top Solar Contractors List in the No. 10 spot.

The BBB accredits SEW, and the company holds an A+ rating. Former customers praise the company for its professionalism, assistance with applying for financial incentives, and smooth installation process. However, some reported discrepancies in finances and scheduling.

Blue Raven Solar

4.4

Blue Raven Solar has one of the best reputations for reliability and trustworthiness. It has won awards for its team and CEO, and customer reviews report great customer service and prompt installations. The company also stands out for its in-house financing, which includes 18 months of free solar energy.

Out of all solar brands in the market, 6.5% of our survey respondents chose Blue Raven.

How We Scored Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven received 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our rating system. The company scored the most points for its customer service reputation and warranty coverage. It also earned points for providing all standard solar panel services but lost some due to its limited financing options and lack of roof leak coverage.

Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): Blue Raven offers solar panel and battery installation, active monitoring services, and energy audits. However, it doesn’t offer solar roofs, EV chargers, or additional roofing services.
Warranty and Performance Guarantees (22 out of 25 points): The company offers top-of-the-line warranties, including a 25-year workmanship warranty. The company earned points fo providing a performance guarantee, but its guarantee is shorter than many other providers. However, it doesn’t provide any roof leak coverage.
Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Blue Raven has high customer review ratings on its BBB profile and other popular review sites. The company uses in-house installers but doesn’t ensure they’re NABCEP-certified, which made it lose some points in this category.
Financing Options (12 out of 15 points): Blue Raven offers some of the best in-house financing of the companies this list, but it limits this financing to solar loans. You may want to consider a different provider, such as Sunrun, if you’re looking for a lease or PPA.
Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): Blue Raven has less experience than other providers, with only 10 years in the industry.
State Availability (7 out of 10 points): The company limits its service area to 19 states.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

A Blue Raven system has a 25-year product warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a two-year production guarantee.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

State Availability

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

Reputation and Reviews

Blue Raven has won numerous awards from Comparably, a site known for its company culture and reputation reviews. It also ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.

Blue Raven is accredited by the BBB and currently holds an A+ rating. We noted that customers praised the knowledgeable staff and prompt installation but cited poor communication after completing projects. We analyzed several consumer reviews and found that some of these issues stem from the company’s financing department and third-party installers.

Read our review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.

Best Solar Inverter Brands

We’ve highlighted some of the best solar inverter brands for residential installations and what features make them stand out.

Brand	Inverter Type	Power Output	Peak Efficiency Rating	Warranty	Top Inverter Model
Enphase	Microinverter	0.24–0.366 kW	97.5%	25 years	Enphase IQ8
SolarEdge	Optimized string inverter	3–11.4 kW	99.0%	12 years	SolarEdge HD Wave
SMA	String inverter	3–11.4 kW	98.5%	10 years	SMA Sunny Boy

Enphase: Best Warranty

Founded in California in 2006, Enphase has become one of the most popular inverter brands thanks to its advanced microinverter technology. The company offers a 25-year warranty with its inverters, one of the longest available. Enphase microinverters offer output power between 0.24–0.366 kilowatts (kW) and efficiency ratings of up to 97.5%. The company also carries the popular IQ Battery specifically for use with its microinverters.

Most popular inverter model: The Enphase IQ8 series

SolarEdge: Best Efficiency

Headquartered in Israel, SolarEdge offers high-performance string inverters with some of the best efficiency ratings available. These inverters maximize panel performance but are more affordable than microinverters. They reach up to 99% efficiency, some of the solar industry’s highest ratings. SolarEdge string inverters offer 3–11.4 kW power output and come with a 12-year warranty, but you can extend it up to 25 years for an additional cost.

Most popular inverter model: The SolarEdge HD Wave inverter series

SMA: Best Value

Founded in 1981, SMA Solar Technology has expanded into a leading worldwide inverter manufacturer. The company offers affordable string inverters for residential installations. Although its inverters don’t include power optimizers, they do offer reliable performance with outputs ranging between 3–11.4 kW and maximum efficiency ratings of 98.5%. The warranty coverage is 10 years but is extendable for additional fees.

Most popular inverter model: SMA Sunny Boy series

Company	Star Rating	Warranties	Payment Options	Link
GET QUOTE	4.4	10–25 years	Full purchase, loan	GET QUOTE
GET QUOTE	4.2	25 years	Full purchase, loan, lease	GET QUOTE
GET QUOTE	4.4	25–30 years	Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA	GET QUOTE
GET QUOTE	4.5	10–25 years	Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA	GET QUOTE

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How To Choose the Best Solar Inverter

Your solar panel provider may offer several options for solar inverters. We recommend keeping the following factors in mind when choosing your preferred inverter.

Brand reputation: Look for reputable solar inverter manufacturers with high-quality products and long-term warranty coverage. Check online reviews for solar inverter brands and look for mentions of poor component quality, warranty replacement issues, or manufacturing defects.
Cost: The more inverters you install, the higher the overall cost. You’ll also pay more for microinverters than string inverters.
Customer support: Get full details about the warranty replacement process and customer support options. Depending on the solar provider’s policies, you may place a warranty claim through them or directly with the inverter manufacturer. Get clear details on their policies and contact information for the manufacturer, if needed.
Monitoring options: Your solar inverters should include options for monitoring and a dedicated app to track performance. Ensure your chosen inverter has Wi-Fi capabilities and a communication device to transmit panel data.
System compatibility: Choose solar inverters compatible with your overall panel design. Your solar installer will offer a selection of inverters that work with your system. Some providers may have their own in-house inverters for their systems.

Our Conclusion

Solar inverters are essential to both panel function and system performance. Your inverter choice impacts your energy production, system efficiency, and monitoring capabilities. Pairing quality inverters with the best solar panels will provide maximum energy efficiency and long-term savings.

We recommend getting quotes from at least three solar companies to compare their system components and inverter options.

FAQ About Solar Inverters

What type of inverter is the most efficient?

Microinverters are the most efficient option since they handle power conversion on the individual panel level. They offer higher efficiency ratings, wasting very little energy during conversion.

What is the most common residential solar panel inverter type?

String inverters are the most common inverters used in residential solar systems. These inverters connect to multiple solar panels and convert your home’s DC energy to AC electricity. String converters work best in homes with little to no shading and simple solar panel designs.

Can I replace a solar inverter myself?

Yes, you can replace a solar inverter if you have intermediate electrical and solar technology knowledge and expertise. Otherwise, you might damage your solar system, impact panel performance, or cause personal injury. We recommend contacting a professional solar installer to assist with inverter replacement.

What is the life span of a solar inverter?

String inverters can last five to 10 years before needing replacement. Microinverters offer longer life spans of 25 years or longer.

Our Rating Methodology

We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:

Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
Financing options (15%)
Experience (10%)
Availability (10%)

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at [email protected].