Alternatives to the Tesla Powerwall in 2025: What Are Your Options in Australia?

Last Updated: 14th Apr 2025 By Finn Peacock, Chartered Electrical Engineer

It’s 2025, and for a lot of Aussies thinking about solar batteries, the question isn’t just technical: it’s personal. Can you love Tesla’s Powerwall while loathing what Elon Musk has become?

For years, the Powerwall was the go-to choice. It still performs brilliantly. But as Musk veers further into political chaos and eyebrow-raising outbursts, more people are quietly stepping away from the Tesla brand. Not because the product is bad, but because buying one doesn’t feel as good as it used to.

And the timing couldn’t be better. This year, for the first time ever, Tesla no longer stands alone at the top. In our annual SolarQuotes installer survey, which asked 161 experienced professionals which battery they’d install on their own home, Sungrow tied with Tesla for first place. Sigenergy, the new kid on the block, surged into second. And BYD, a dependable favourite (especially for Fronius users), landed third.

So if you’re feeling conflicted — appreciating Tesla’s innovation but uncomfortable with the CEO’s antics — you’re not alone. And now, more than ever, you’ve got real, high-quality alternatives.

Best Home Batteries in 2025 – Installer Picks

1st Place (tie): Tesla Powerwall & Sungrow SBR HV

Sungrow had only 10% of the votes last year and now matches Tesla.

Tesla has finally met its match. After dominating every year since 2021, the Powerwall now shares gold with Sungrow. The gap has closed fast – Sungrow’s modular, stackable battery is reliable, competitively priced, and easy to install. And while Tesla still wins points for its slick app and plug-and-play simplicity, some bugs (like a broken Charge-on-Solar feature) have dulled the shine a bit. Elon might be drifting into loony land, but the Powerwall still delivers at home.

2nd Place: Sigenergy Sigenstor

A 32 kWh Sigenergy battery stack – with a hybrid inverter module and an in-built DC EV charger.

A dark horse no more, Sigenergy has burst onto the scene with its Sigenstor all-in-one battery system. Installers love its slick integration, optional 25 kW EV charging module, and flawless commissioning experience. It’s showing up in more quotes than ever and looks poised to keep climbing the charts in 2026.

3rd Place: BYD Battery-Box HVM

A BYD remains a good choice for those with Fronius inverters. Image credit: DJM Electrical

BYD drops to third this year but still earns solid respect. It remains a no-brainer for anyone using a Fronius Gen24 inverter, with excellent compatibility and DC-coupled efficiency. If you’re in that camp, you’d need a pretty good reason to look elsewhere.

Best Non-Tesla Home Batteries According to Australian Reviewers

We now know what battery installers would get, but what non-Tesla brands does the average Aussie homeowner like? When looking at ‘Most Good Reviews‘ in the last 6 months for our top battery brands, it looks like this when you filter out any Tesla results:

Sungrow (4.8 stars based on 542 ratings)
Sigenergy (4.9 stars based on 89 ratings)
Alpha-ESS (4.3 stars based on 242 ratings)

This reflects the Installers Choice, except for Alpha-ESS. With 13.3 kWh storage, their Smile5 is liked by plenty of homeowners who consider it good value for money.

Image Credit: Harris Electrical and Solar Pty Ltd

What Do These Batteries Cost?

Want to know how much the top contenders will set you back? Here’s a rough price guide for 13–14 kWh of storage (excluding installation):

Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh): $13,600
Sungrow SBR HV (12.8 kWh): $9,500
Sigenergy Sigenstor (13 kWh): $11,500
BYD HVM (13.8 kWh): $10,600
Alpha-ESS Smile5 (13.3 kWh): $9,372

Add around $2,000 for installation, and potentially more if your setup is tricky or you need a hybrid inverter (required for BYD and Sungrow).

The Final Word:

2025’s results prove it: Tesla’s not the only game in town. Yes, the Powerwall still rocks—but Sungrow is neck-and-neck on installer preference, and significantly cheaper. Sigenergy is the new rising star, and BYD remains a trusted pick, especially for Fronius fans. Plenty of users find the Alpha-ESS a solid choice for the price as well.

Whether you want premium polish, unbeatable value, or modular flexibility, there’s a battery brand to suit your setup and budget.

Need help comparing features? Our frequently updated Battery Storage Comparison Table lays everything out side-by-side. Or dig into real-world insights in our battery brand review section.