Best plug-in solar setup for you
If you want a lower bill, buy a simple certified plug-in kit. If you want backup power, buy a power station. If you want both, a battery system can do it, at a much higher price.
Updated October 2026
Where the market stands (October 2026). The certification most state laws require only started this year. Certified parts arrived from July 2026; complete certified kits are still rare, and California expects compliant kits in stores by spring 2027. We haven’t tested kits ourselves yet. Rather than rank products on marketing claims, this page shows what to buy now and what to wait for. We’ll add tested picks as they arrive.
The three setups
| Panel kit | Kit with battery | Power station + panels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowers your bill | Yes, automatically | Yes, a bit more | Only what you plug into it |
| Power in a blackout | No | Only if built for it | Yes |
| Price | Lowest | Highest | Middle to high |
| Payback | Fastest | Slower | Rarely pays back |
Who should buy what
- Most people: a certified 800 W panel kit.
- Bigger kit, nobody home by day, or time-of-use rates: consider a battery. The numbers.
- Outages are your worry: a power station.
Common questions
Does a power station need my utility's approval?
No. It doesn't connect to your home's wiring; your devices plug into it. Your landlord or HOA may still have rules about panels outside.
Which setup is best for renters?
A certified plug-in kit with a no-drill mount if your landlord agrees. If not, a power station with panels needs no wiring and nobody's approval for the power side.
Can I combine a kit and a battery later?
Some systems are built to add a battery later. Check before you buy, and check that the combination is certified for your state.
Is a power station better than a plug-in kit?
For backup, yes. For saving money, no: a power station only helps if you move devices onto it. A plug-in kit lowers your bill automatically.