Cash, Loan, Lease or Subscription: Which Is Right for You?

The short answer

There is no single best way to pay for solar. Each option has a real strength:

• Cash saves the most over the life of the system.
• A solar loan lets you own it with little or nothing down.
• A lease gives you $0 down and 25 years of hands-off solar.
• A subscription is the easiest way to start, with guaranteed savings and a short term.

The right one depends on what matters most to you.

Which one fits you?

Cash: the most savings over time

• No interest and no payment. Every dollar the system saves stays with you.
• You own it. The panels, the power they make and the warranties are yours.
• No property tax increase. Florida excludes the value solar adds from your home’s assessment.
• Simple when you sell. The system transfers with the house.

Best for homeowners who have the cash and plan to stay. The federal tax credit for buying solar ended after 2025, so a purchase today is priced without it. See Florida solar tax facts.

Solar loan: own it without paying upfront

• Little or nothing down. Your monthly payment takes the place of much of your electric bill.
• You own it. You get the same ownership benefits as cash, including Florida’s property tax exclusion.
• Long terms keep payments low. Most solar loans run 25 years, and our lending partner also offers 30.
• No dealer fee with our lending partner. Many solar loans quietly add a dealer fee to what you borrow. Ours doesn’t. There is an origination fee, and it is shown in your loan documents.

Best for homeowners who want to own the system and keep their savings in the bank.

Lease: $0 down and hands-off for 25 years

• $0 down. You pay a monthly rate for the system instead of buying it.
• Maintenance is covered. The leasing company owns, maintains and repairs the system for the full 25 years.
• The tax credit still works for you. The leasing company can claim a federal credit on equipment it owns, and that can lower your rate.
• Pick how your rate works. Most leases offer a fixed rate that never changes for 25 years, or a lower starting rate that rises about 2.9% a year.
• Batteries are available.
• Easy to hand off. A buyer can usually take over the lease, and a locked rate looks better every year utility rates go up. See Can I sell my home with solar panels?

Best for homeowners who want solar with no upfront cost and nothing to maintain.

Solar subscription: the easiest way to start

• Guaranteed savings. You save 30% compared with your utility bill. If you don’t, the provider pays you the difference, with no cap.
• A short term. 3 or 5 years instead of 25.
• Nothing to maintain. The provider owns, maintains and repairs the system.
• New roof covered. Removal and reinstall for a roof replacement is included at no extra cost.
• Selling is simple. A buyer can take it over, and if they don’t want solar, the panels come off at no cost to you.
• Your choice at the end. Renew at the rates then, with 30% savings still guaranteed, or have the system removed.

Batteries aren’t offered with the subscription yet. Best for homeowners who want savings now without a long commitment.

Side by side

More on the roof question in What happens to my solar panels when I replace my roof?

What to compare in any proposal

• Ask for the cash price and the financed price for the same system, and compare the total of payments, not just the monthly number.
• On a lease, look at every year of the rate schedule.
• Make sure a 2026 purchase proposal isn’t subtracting a 30% federal credit that no longer applies.

Common questions

Which option saves the most? Over 25 years, buying with cash usually does, because there is no interest. A loan comes next. Leases and subscriptions trade some long-term savings for $0 down and no maintenance.

Do I still get a federal tax credit? Not for buying solar in 2026. Leasing and subscription companies can still claim a credit on equipment they own, which can lower what you pay.

Can I add a battery? Yes, with cash, a loan or a lease. Not yet with the subscription. See the Florida solar battery guide.

Which one does Sunstorm recommend? The one that fits your goals. We price your home every way you’re interested in, side by side, so you can see the difference.