SolarCity vs Sungevity

Availability
Both SolarCity and Sungevity operate in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C.

In addition to the states listed above, SolarCity offers solar services in Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, while Sungevity does not.

However, Sungevity’s services are also available in Kansas and Missouri, while SolarCity’s are not.

Payment Options
SolarCity and Sungevity both offer a variety of ways to pay for a solar energy system, including outright purchases, loans, leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Equipment
SolarCity manufactures its own solar equipment, while Sungevity does not. Instead, Sungevity utilizes high quality materials, including black-on-black solar panels and low impact mounting hardware, from well-respected manufacturers such as LG and SolarEdge.

Installations
Neither SolarCity nor Sungevity outsources installations to third parties. Both companies have teams of professionals in house to install solar energy systems.

Warranties
SolarCity provides its customers with a 20-year equipment warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a 25-year performance warranty.

Sungevity matches SolarCity with a 20-year equipment warranty and a 25-year performance warranty, but Sungevity’s workmanship warranty is double that of SolarCity at 20 years.

Battery Storage
SolarCity’s solar systems are designed to work with Tesla Powerwall batteries, which are compact, stackable, and have a built-in inverter.

Sungevity’s solar systems have the ability to accommodate multiple battery storage options, including sonnenBatterie, as well as other functionalities such as EV chargers.

Referral Program
SolarCity pays customers $250 for each friend or family member they refer who chooses to install a solar energy system.

Sungevity offers up to $2,000 for every referred homeowner who makes the switch to solar.

Recommendation
SolarCity and Sungevity are on par in terms of payment options and installations. While SolarCity’s service area is larger, Sungevity offers a much longer workmanship warranty on its labor, as well as a larger referral bonus. Additionally, Sungevity’s proprietary remote solar design tool may make the solar process quicker and simpler for customers. 

For those who live within its areas of operation, Sungevity is recommended over SolarCity.