Why National Solar Rankings Exists
Built by engineers who believe solar is the future, and that consumers deserve honest data to navigate it.
Independent Research for Every Homeowner
We believe every homeowner deserves access to unbiased, comprehensive information when choosing a solar installer. Our mission is to be the most trusted, independent source of solar company rankings in the United States.
50
States Researched
Dozens
Data Points Per Company
$0
Paid by Ranked Companies
What Makes Us Different
Most solar ranking sites are lead generation businesses in disguise. We are fundamentally different.
Not a Lead Generation Site
We do not collect or sell your personal information to solar contractors. When you visit our site, you are reading independent research — not filling out a form that gets sent to a dozen salespeople.
Not Funded by Contractors
Our revenue comes from industry sponsors — solar software companies, equipment manufacturers, and service providers. The companies we rank never pay us, ensuring our rankings remain truly independent.
Transparent Methodology
Every aspect of our ranking process is documented and publicly available. We publish our scoring formula, weights, data sources, and disqualification criteria so you can understand exactly how our rankings work.
Comprehensive Research
We evaluate solar companies across dozens of variables including equipment quality, certifications, warranties, installation practices, energy storage solutions, legal records, and community involvement — plus anonymous secret shopping of top candidates.
Our Approach
Every ranking is the result of a rigorous, three-phase research process that combines quantitative data analysis, in-depth qualitative research, and anonymous secret shopping.
Data-Driven Qualification
We evaluate every solar company in a state using Google ratings, review volume, BBB complaint records, and years in business. This objective, data-driven approach identifies the strongest performers without any human bias.
Deep Dive Research
Top-scoring companies undergo comprehensive manual research across equipment quality, certifications, warranties, installation practices, energy storage capabilities, commercial and utility-scale offerings, legal records, financing options, and community involvement.
Secret Shopping
The top 10 candidates in each state are anonymously contacted to evaluate their real-world customer experience, including response quality, professionalism, quote turnaround time, and pricing transparency.
Composite Ranking
The final ranking is a weighted composite of all research factors, updated quarterly to reflect the latest data. Rankings are published alongside detailed company profiles so homeowners can make fully informed decisions.
Solar Is No Longer a Niche Alternative
Solar isn’t a niche alternative anymore — it’s becoming the backbone of global energy infrastructure. As artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and data centers accelerate energy demand worldwide, the question isn’t whether solar will dominate — it’s simply how fast.
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and CEO of Tesla, has been unequivocal. He’s publicly stated: “Once you understand Kardashev Scale, it becomes utterly obvious that essentially all energy generation will be solar.” He’s also correctly noted that the Earth receives more energy from the sun in a single hour than humanity consumes in an entire year, and that solar could power a civilization over 100 times larger than ours. In June 2025, he put it plainly: “Solar power is so obviously the future for anyone who can do elementary math.”
We agree. And we believe that as this industry scales to meet the energy demands of tomorrow, consumers need a trustworthy way to separate the best installers from the rest.
Rankings Should Not Be Advertisements
The solar installation industry has exploded. In most states, homeowners face hundreds of companies competing for their business. Some are exceptional. Some are not. And the most prominent “ranking” sites in the industry — like EnergySage, SolarReviews, and others — are all funded directly by the contractors they rank. They operate as paid lead generation platforms, where contractors pay to appear, pay for leads, and pay for placement.
That’s not a ranking. That’s an advertisement.
National Solar Rankings was built to fix this. We evaluate every solar contractor we can identify in all 50 states using a rigorous, multi-variable methodology that includes Google review ratings, review volume, BBB complaint history, years in business, equipment quality, certifications, warranties, and more. No contractor can pay to be listed. No contractor can pay to improve their rank. The data speaks for itself.
Engineers Solving a Consumer Problem
National Solar Rankings was developed by a team of engineers and energy industry professionals who recognized a gap in the market: consumers had no truly independent resource for evaluating solar installers. The founders funded the initial build out of their own pockets. Not with venture capital, not with contractor money, and not with lead generation revenue.
We’re based in San Francisco, California, and our rankings cover all 50 states.
How We Keep the Lights On
In the interest of full transparency: running a research operation across 50 states is not free. National Solar Rankings sustains itself through industry sponsorships and advertisements from solar software companies, equipment manufacturers, and other service providers whose audience is solar contractors — not homeowners.
You may notice small, clearly labeled sponsor placements on our site from companies like Solar ERP or RoofERP. These are tools built for installers and contractors who visit the site to check their own rankings, and who may find them useful. These sponsorships have absolutely zero impact on our rankings. That is the entire point.
If a sponsor’s product were also a solar installation company, they would be ranked by the same formula as everyone else. No exceptions, no favoritism, no asterisks.
Consumer Trust Powers the Solar Industry
We believe solar energy’s continued expansion is critical for the nation. But that expansion depends on consumer trust. Every bad installation, every misleading sales pitch, every fly-by-night contractor that disappears after cashing a check damages the reputation of an industry that the world genuinely needs.
By helping homeowners identify the most reputable, highest-quality solar installers in their state, we’re not just building a ranking website — we’re helping protect the credibility of the entire solar industry. When consumers can trust the companies they hire, the industry grows stronger.
Solar Rankings
San Francisco, CA
Independent solar company rankings for every US state. Published quarterly with transparent methodology.
Get in Touch
Have a question about our rankings, methodology, or want to report an error? We would love to hear from you.
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