Sunrun vs. SunPower: Which is Better?

Tori Barrington

Sunrun vs. SunPower: Which is better?

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Q&A
Do customers like Sunrun or SunPower better? Over 1,800 reviews have given Sunrun a 3.6/5 star rating and over 3,000 reviews have given SunPower a 4.5/5 star rating. Overall, customers like SunPower better.
Does Sunrun or SunPower have higher quality solar panels? Sunrun’s best quality panel is 440W and can operate at up to 22.3% efficiency, while SunPower’s best quality panel is 440W and can operate at up to 22.8% efficiency. Though very similar, SunPower’s best panel is slightly more efficient.
Who installs better home batteries, Sunrun or SunPower? Sunrun is a certified installer of the Tesla Powerwall and SunPower installs their own battery called SunVault. They have the same ability to store energy for later use. The Tesla Powerwall has 13.5 kWh of energy capacity and the SunVault storage system has 13 kWh of energy capacity. The Tesla Powerwall is barely better in terms of the amount of energy it can store.
Are payment options better through Sunrun or SunPower? Sunrun has several financing options: monthly lease, full lease, full purchase, and monthly loan. SunPower allows customers to make monthly payments to buy the system or pay for the power. Sunrun’s payment options are better. Because of the variety, they can fit more homeowners’ circumstances.
Who offers better warranties, Sunrun or SunPower? Sunrun offers a 10-year replacement and repair warranty. SunPower offers a 25-year Complete Confidence warranty to cover the whole solar system. SunPower warranty is longer and offers more coverage.

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About

Sunrun

Sunrun was founded in 2007 and has become the largest solar installer in the United States, now servicing 22 different states. They are known as the first solar company to offer a lease option to their customers. Sunrun’s mission is “to create a planet run by the sun,” and they strive to create a sustainable future where everyone is energy independent.

SunPower

SunPower was founded in 1985 and now services all 50 states. Over 35 years of experience in the industry have earned them over 1,000 solar innovation patents and various awards, like the 2019 Sustainability Award from pv magazine. SunPower’s purpose is “to change the way our world is powered.”

Customer Reviews

Sunrun

Sunrun has earned a 3.6/5 star rating from over 1,800 verified customer reviews.

62% of those reviews are 4- or 5-stars. Positive reviews highlight:

  • Informative sales representatives
  • Smooth installation process
  • Significant savings on utility bills
  • Great customer service

Of those reviews, 24% are 1-star. Negative reviews mention:

  • Long installation preparation time
  • Unresponsive tech team
  • Malfunctioning equipment
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SunPower

SunPower has earned a 4.5/5 star rating from over 3,000 verified customer reviews.

88% of those reviews are 4- or 5-stars. Happy customers refer to:

  • Efficient and professional staff
  • Useful monitoring system
  • High quality equipment and panels
  • Responsive customer service

Of those reviews, 8% are 1-star. Unsatisfied customers comment on:

  • Slow installation process
  • Poor customer service experiences
  • Malfunctioning equipment
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Solar Panels

Sunrun

Sunrun partners with LG to install their high quality solar panels. They offer a variety of panels that differ in efficiency and cost to fit each homeowner’s individual needs.

LG manufactures the Neon R series, which consists of panels with some of the highest efficiencies in the industry. The series ranges in watts and efficiency, but the model with the highest efficiency operates at 22.3%, and the model with the highest wattage is 440W.

The less expensive LG panels still operate at a respectable efficiency of 15-20%.

SunPower

SunPower designs and produces their own panels through Maxeon Solar Technologies. They manufacture a Maxeon 3 and Maxeon 6 series which vary in wattage between 355W and 440W and in efficiency between 22% and 22.8%.

The Maxeon 6 DC 440W and Maxeon 6 AC 440W can be up to 22.8% efficient, making these models the most efficient solar panels in the industry.

Home Batteries

Home batteries provide homeowners with a clear conscience, knowing that they will have power in the case of an emergency, like a blackout or severe storm.

Sunrun

Sunrun is a certified installer of the Tesla Powerwall. This battery has an energy capacity of 13.5 kWh.

SunPower

SunPower has developed a battery as part of their solar products called SunVault storage. Their battery has an energy capacity of 13 kWh.

Solar System Monitoring

Sunrun

Sunrun provides its customers with the ability to track their energy production through the MySunrun website and app.

SunPower

The mySunPower app allows homeowners to monitor energy performance and savings.

Financing Options

Sunrun

Sunrun offers four different financing options to work around any homeowner’s needs and budget.

First, Sunrun offers a monthly lease. There can be $0 down, and a monthly payment is made to Sunrun each month. Even though Sunrun owns the system in this option, it is their customers’ favorite option for the low upfront cost.

The next option Sunrun offers is a full lease. This means you pay one upfront payment to Sunrun, which would be the equivalent of 25 years of energy cost. This option can be beneficial for a homeowner who doesn’t want to make a monthly payment and isn’t ready to buy the whole system yet.

Next, there is a full purchase option. You would pay Sunrun to own the entire system, which would make you the owner of your system and allow you to avoid any monthly payments.

The last option available is a monthly loan. This payment would be made monthly to a loan provider, but you would own the system as the homeowner and it would cost $0 upfront.

SunPower

SunPower also offers a couple of different financing options. If you cannot afford to purchase the system upfront, they have two other options: buy your system or buy your power.

In the buy your system option, you can make low payments during the course of your contract with SunPower. This can be started for as low as $0 upfront. If you are looking to increase the value of your home, this could be a good option for you.

The buy your power system option is a bit different, because you do not own the system yet. If as you are making low monthly payments during your contract you decide you want to purchase the system, you can always pay it off early.

Warranties

Sunrun

Sunrun’s warranties differ depending on which financing option you choose. They generally offer 10-year warranties, which includes replacement and repairs on equipment, parts, and labor.

However, if you choose the lease payment option, the warranty will last 25 years and includes monitoring, insurance coverage, and roof penetration on top of the maintenance, replacement, and repairs.

SunPower

SunPower has a 25-year Complete Confidence warranty that covers the entire solar system. They will repair and replace parts with no additional cost to the homeowner.

Our Recommendation

Sunrun and SunPower are both high quality solar companies.

If you are focused on the quality of solar panels and home batteries, they are very similar in both companies. Sunrun’s home batteries store slightly more energy while SunPower’s solar panels operate at a slightly higher efficiency, but they are close enough that you couldn’t go wrong choosing either company.

If your top priority is flexible payment options, Sunrun could be the better choice for you. Whereas if you want a longer warranty that covers your entire solar system, SunPower is better.

When taking into consideration all mentioned qualities and customer reviews, we recommend SunPower.

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