When it comes to knowing which solar panel brands are the best, there’s nobody better to ask than the people who install them for a living, which is exactly what we do each year. It’s time to reveal the 2025 SolarQuotes Installers’ Choice Awards for Best Solar Panels.
We Did Things Differently This Year
In previous years, we asked installers in our network three questions:
- What brands would you install on your home if you were on a budget?
- What if money was no object?
- What brands have the best warranty support?
This year, to make it easier for our busy installers to give feedback, we only asked one question:
If installing a system on your own house today, what brands would you use?
In total, 161 installers replied to our survey. Here are the results, with a first-time entrant as the surprise winner:
Best Solar Panels In Australia: 2025
Best Solar Panels 2025: First Place – Aiko Solar
An Aiko solar array, installed by Genr8.
Only launching in Australia in March 2024, Aiko has made a strong impression on installers and homeowners alike, thanks to some slick marketing and competitive pricing.
They’re the clear winner in this year’s voting, with 27% of the vote (compared to 16% for the runner-up, REC).
Their residential offering is the Neostar range of panels, which all carry a 25-year product warranty, and have performance specs on par with (or exceeding) premium offerings such as Sunpower and REC.
For example, their 455W Neostar 2S panel has an efficiency of 22.8%, compared to 22.6% for REC’s Alpha Pure RX – for half the price.
Aiko actively replies to customer reviews on its SolarQuotes review page, which is a good sign it takes customer service and support seriously.
Anecdotally, Aiko appears to have captured a large amount of market share from competitors, as it’s one of the most common panel brands we see on quotes homeowners ask us to review.
Regarding their slick marketing, especially around their shade performance, longstanding SolarQuotes client MC Electrical did a YouTube breakdown of Aiko’s claims.
Taken from the Aiko Neostar 2S datasheet, Aiko’s marketing department couldn’t clearly explain to us what this means in terms of real-world performance.
Best Solar Panels 2025: Second Place – REC
14 kW of REC Alpha panels on my north-facing roof
Dropping to second place from last year’s first, REC secures silver with 16% of the vote.
Known as a premium-end panel manufacturer with a price point to match, their flagship product line is their “Alpha” series of panels, with the latest and greatest being the Alpha Pure RX, which clocks in at 470 watts.
They also offer the 415-watt TwinPeak 5’s as a more budget-friendly option.
All REC panels come with a full 25-year product warranty.
One installer, who didn’t even vote for REC, conceded that they believed they’re the best choice for coastal conditions, telling us: “REC for sure if I was waterfront.”
Best Solar Panels 2025: Third Place – Jinko Solar
Jinko panels, installed by Freedom Energy Solutions Group
Taking bronze with 11% of the vote, Jinko Solar is a titan of the solar industry with a long history in Australia.
Like Aiko, they make value-for-money panels, with performance only marginally lower than higher-priced alternatives.
Their flagship Tiger Neo range of panels comes with a full 25-year product warranty.
What can you expect to pay for systems using these brands?
Awards are a nice vote of confidence, but what’s the hit to your wallet if you want to use these brands?
Pricing at the panel level can be seen on my solar panel comparison table.
Flagship panel pricing:
- Aiko Neostar 2S 455W: $160/panel, or $0.35/watt
- Jinko Tiger Neo 440W: $125/panel, or $0.30/watt
- REC Alpha Pure RX 470W: $290/panel, or $0.61/watt
To use an example, I’d expect a 10kW solar system installed on a straightforward roof in a major metro area, with a premium string inverter (like Fronius), to cost roughly:
- Aiko: $9,000-$11,000
- REC: $12,000-$14,000
- Jinko: $9,000-$11,000
Which installers use the winning panels?
Congratulations to this year’s winners – but especially Aiko for such a convincing win as a newcomer.
If you want to compare the specs of the winners and many other brands, check out our solar panel comparison table.
If you’re looking to get quotes for solar from installers who sell the winning brands, visit my cities list, choose your city, and use the filters to select only the brands you want:
Then, select up to three installers, and hit ‘Get quotes from selected companies’.
Congratulations again to this year’s winner Aiko. According to Australian solar installers, they are the best solar panels in Australia.
About Finn Peacock
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Looking at the solar comparison guide, Canadian Solar looks like it is a better buy than Aiko. How are they so far apart in the voting results?