The solar panel brands SunPower Maxeon and REC top CNET’s list of best solar panels. Both brands of solar panel are highly efficient and come with strong production guarantees over a 25-year span. Both brands are available from multiple major solar installation companies.

If you’re interested in going solar to reduce your energy bill, green up your electricity consumption or even go off-grid, you may not need the best solar panels to achieve your goals. I’ve spent hours reading solar panel spec sheets and devising a scoring methodology that measures what matters most to solar customers (more on that below). While there are differences among solar panels, most experts have told me that finding the best installer is likely more important than getting the very best equipment. The best solar panels for you are the ones that fit your energy goals and budget.

Why go solar now?

Given recent price volatility and inflation, some people are adopting solar panels to lock in predictable energy prices for the next two decades and more. While solar panels cost a lot upfront, they can lock in energy savings for years.