How to compare solar quotes

You can access all of your custom solar quotes in your Marketplace Dashboard at any time.

From there, there are three different options for reviewing your proposals:

Summary view

Individual quote cards showcasing the top need-to-know comparison metrics of all your quotes, including price per watt ($/W), electricity needs met, panel quoted, and more. Your quotes are organized from top to bottom in the order received as a default, but you can sort by other metrics on the top-left of your screen.

Full quote view

Detailed quote featuring all the specifics of an individual proposal. In addition to finding all equipment, cost, and financing metrics here, you can also find any contingencies or in-depth notes from the installer, access PDFs or other attachments provided, and more. If you want to print your quotes, we recommend doing so from this view.

Comparison view

A table that allows you to compare metrics across all your quotes in a standard, side-by-side format. You can quickly access any full quotes and installer profiles from this page. Additionally, the tabs at the top allow you to quickly jump to the metrics you care about most (installer, equipment, cost & benefits, battery info).

Most important factors to compare in your quotes

Solar quotes include a lot of detail and metrics that can be difficult to sift through. Below are the top questions you’ll want to ask yourself as you compare one option to the next:

What type of solar panel will you install?

Review the proposed system size, design and equipment. Not all solar equipment is created equal – it’s important to know the quality of the solar equipment included in your quote so that you can make sure it meets your needs and that you’re paying a fair price for it.

Who do you want to install it?

Take a look at how many years the company’s been in business, their warranty offering, and reviews left from past customers. You want to move forward with an installer you like and trust to work on your home. (P.S. Don’t forget – EnergySage pre-screens and vets all installers that provide quotes on our Marketplace! More on that here).

How much will it cost?

Compare price per watt ($/W), upfront costs, and any incentives you’re eligible for. If you’re going to pay close attention to any cost metric, make sure it’s $/W: similar to evaluating a home on a dollar per square foot basis, $/W is most useful for comparing pricing across solar panel systems of different sizes.

How will you pay for it?

Look for important financing terms in your quotes, including interest rate, monthly payment amount, and term length. Don’t choose one quote based on financing alone – if you don’t like the terms or rates proposed in one offer, ask the installer about alternative financing solutions.