Vivint Solar: Products, Pricing, and Reviews

Vivint review 2023

Vivint began selling solar systems in 2011 but is more commonly known as a smart home and security company. Acquired in 2021, Vivint Solar operates under Sunrun, a solar company headquartered in California. Vivint Solar offers quality solar panels, batteries, and inverters to lower your electricity costs with green energy.

Rating methodology

The reviews on this page are not based on personal or hands-on testing because it isn’t possible for our team to test the purchasing and installation process for every installer on the market. Instead, we base our reviews on thorough research, interviews, and unbiased facts about solar installers. The standardized criteria for these reviews include the installer’s BBB rating, number of serviceable states, years of experience, financing options, and the services provided.

Explore solar options with Vivint

Vivint Solar provides a free quote detailing your customized solar energy plan based on system size and energy needs. If you choose Vivint as your solar installer, expect the following process after you sign the contract. 

1. Roof inspection. A Vivint Site Technician will survey your roof to measure and review plans to ensure your roof is prepared for solar panels. 
2. Permits. Vivint handles the permitting and approval process with your local utility.
3. Installation. Vivint’s installation process takes about four to eight hours. 
4. Inspection. Your utility company checks that your system is installed correctly.
5. Utility connection. Vivint works with your utility company for grid connection. They may install a new meter to help track energy usage.
6. Power. Vivint will apply for permission to operate, meaning you can start powering your home with solar.

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Vivint products and services

Solar panels

Vivint Solar offers two different solar panel brands and recommends them based on three pricing levels. For the lowest cost, Vivint offers Hyundai panels as a durable and efficient option. Longi panels are a middle-level option for premium performance and reliability. Vivint will work with you to find the best solar panel option for your energy needs. 

Solar batteries

The Tesla Powerwall and LG Chem RESU are the two solar batteries offered by Vivint. Solar batteries store extra energy generated by your solar system to be used when the sun is less available, like nights and the winter. Solar batteries are also helpful during power outages to keep appliances running. 

Solar batteries are required if you want a completely off-grid system. Grid-connected systems can benefit from an agreement with your utility company called net metering, where you receive energy credits by sending excess energy back to the grid. Vivint will help you explore solar battery options if they make sense for your needs.

Solar inverters

Vivint offers  two solar inverter options, including single-phase or microinverters for solar. SolarEdge offers a single-phase solar inverter where the panels are wired together and connected to one inverter allowing each panel to function with the same power level. Enphase offers microinverters connected to each individual solar panel to receive electrical currents. 

Warranty

Vivint offers a 25-year production guarantee covering the solar panels, batteries, and inverters. The warranty includes maintenance and monitoring to keep your solar system working at peak performance. If your system does not generate power as expected, Vivint will pay for the energy the system didn’t produce. 

Cost of Vivint solar panels

Vivint offers a free custom estimate to see how much you can save by switching to solar energy. The total solar system cost varies based on location, panel type, battery choice, inverter, and energy usage. According to data from the Berkeley Lab, the average cost of a U.S. solar system is $31,558 before any federal and state incentives. For example, the Residential Clean Energy Credit is a 30% federal solar tax credit for systems purchased before 2032. This tax credit alone could save nearly $9,500 on the average solar system. 

Financing solar options with Vivint

Vivint Solar provides four solar financing options, including a solar lease, cash purchase, power purchase agreement (PPA), or solar loan. A cash purchase means you pay for the solar system upfront and own your system. Cash purchases lead to the largest return on investment over time. If the upfront costs are over your budget, consider financing with a solar loan. You don’t have to pay anything upfront and pay a monthly price to the loan company, which may equal less than your current monthly electricity bill. 

Is Vivint right for you?

Vivint Solar may be a good fit if you’re interested in a national company with several financing options and strong warranties. Vivint has a questionable reputation among reviews, but the recent acquisition by Sunrun may result in a higher quality customer experience than in years past. We recommend reading recent reviews for a better understanding of customer’s experiences. Do your research on multiple solar companies before making a decision. 

If you live outside of Vivint Solar’s service area, consider a local installer or another top national solar company.