Pay one fixed monthly amount to use the system. The installer owns it and handles repairs and upkeep.
Pay a rate for the electricity your system produces, then compare it with your utility rate.
Buy your system with cash or a solar loan and own it from day one. Compare price, payback and which incentives still apply.
At A Glance
One quick view of how the five options differ. Terms vary by offer.
The federal homeowner tax credit ended after 2025, so ask how any incentives are reflected in each price.
Not sure which fits? Get your solar quote and we compare them for you.
Every option answers the same five questions differently. Ask them about each offer before you decide, and we will do the comparing with you. See the solar PPA, solar lease, solar loan, cash purchase and prepaid PPA pages for the details.
Some options start at $0 down, while a cash purchase needs the full price.
A payment, a per kWh rate, or none after a prepaid or cash purchase.
Who owns the system decides who maintains it and who keeps ownership benefits.
PPAs and leases often run 20 to 25 years, and loans run for the term you choose.
Ask whether the agreement transfers or has to be bought out.
How To Choose
A starting point, not a rule. Your numbers decide.
Look at a solar PPA or a solar lease. Many start with no money down.
A solar lease or a solar loan gives you a payment you know. Check yearly increases and fees.
Compare a solar loan and a cash purchase, then check payback and warranties.
Look at a prepaid PPA. You pay once and the installer owns and maintains the system.
Here is what happens after you ask for a comparison, from your first question to an offer you chose yourself. Ready to start? Get your solar quote.
Compare the payment or rate, the term, who owns the system and who maintains it for each option.
Collective Power showed me my options side by side and answered every question I had.
There are five main paths. With a solar PPA you pay a rate for the power the system produces. With a prepaid PPA you pay for that power upfront. With a solar lease you pay a fixed monthly amount. With a solar loan or a cash purchase you own the system. We compare them for your address when you request a quote.
Buy if you want ownership, have cash or can finance and plan to stay in your home. Lease if you want a predictable payment and less to look after. A cash purchase or loan means you own the system, while a lease means the installer does. Compare the total cost over the term, not just the first payment.
A solar loan builds toward owning the system, while a lease has no ownership and no equipment to maintain. A loan may fit you if ownership matters and your credit qualifies. A lease may fit you if you want less responsibility. See the details on each page, or ask our team.
With a PPA you pay for the electricity the system produces, so the cost follows production. With a lease you pay a fixed amount to use the system. In both, the installer owns and maintains it. A prepaid PPA is the same idea as a PPA, paid upfront.
It depends on your utility rate, the PPA rate and its yearly increase, the loan APR and how long you stay. A PPA has no ownership or debt, and a loan makes you the owner. We compare both for your home when you get your solar quote.
Often, yes, but not always. Many PPA and lease offers start with no money down, while a cash purchase needs the full price and some loans need a down payment. Availability depends on your address, credit and installer partner, so ask each offer what is due at signing.
Often, yes. Third party owned options like a solar PPA or lease are common in California and many start with no money down. Your utility, roof and credit all play a role. See our California solar page or request a quote.
Solar is not truly free. Some offers have no upfront cost, but you still pay either a monthly rate, a fixed payment or a loan payment. The questions to ask are the total cost, the yearly increase, the term and what happens if you sell. Read the details on our PPA and lease pages, or contact us.
With a cash purchase you sell a home with panels. With a loan the balance is paid at closing. With a PPA, a lease or a prepaid PPA, the agreement may transfer to the buyer or be bought out, and the buyer's lender may want to review it. Ask before you sign.
No single option wins. A high bill usually means more savings potential, so compare a PPA rate with your utility rate, a loan payment with your bill and the full price of a cash purchase. We do the math for your home when you start your quote. Learn how we work.
A prepaid PPA is a PPA where you pay for the system's power upfront, so there is no monthly solar bill. The installer still owns and maintains the system. It can suit homeowners with cash who do not want to own equipment. Compare it with a standard PPA and a cash purchase.
It depends on your address, utility and installer partner, so we confirm what applies before you spend time on a quote. We compare the options that are actually available to you. See our Massachusetts page, our California page or all areas we serve.
Next Step
Share your address and a recent electric bill. We compare every option available to you and show you the numbers, with no obligation.
Read about a solar PPA, a prepaid PPA, a lease, a loan or a cash purchase, browse California and Massachusetts, or contact us.
