Which solar inverter is best?

CNET experts have compared the most popular solar inverters' specs, warranties, prices and more. The SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter is our top pick in 2025. It was the most efficient inverter we looked at, letting you use a larger percentage of the energy your solar panels generate. This translates to less and more power to use around the house.

How do I choose the right solar inverter type?

There are two categories to consider when deciding on the right solar inverter type: the solar inverter technology, and the type of solar power system the inverter is for. String inverter: A string inverter is a single, standalone unit that converts power from a whole string (or strings) of solar panels.

What are the different types of solar inverters?

When it comes to home solar installation, homeowners have three types of solar inverters to consider: string inverters, string inverters with DC power optimizers and microinverters. Each inverter setup comes with upsides and downsides. Here's what you should know.

How do I compare inverters?

Once you've added the desired inverters to the compare tool, simply click on the "Compare" button to get a detailed comparison. You get to see a seamless comparison list in which all the inverter models are listed side-by-side so that you can easily compare between the models.

Are solar inverters expensive?

They’re good at dealing with shade (like power optimizers), and have the additional advantage of making your solar system easy to expand. They are, however, the most expensive type of inverter. Learn more: Inverter types compared

Who makes the best solar string inverter?

We review the best grid-connect solar inverters from the worlds leading manufacturers Fronius, SMA, SolarEdge, Fimer, Sungrow, Huawei, Goodwe, Solis and many more to decide who offers the highest quality and most reliable solar string inverters for residential and commercial solar.