Canadian Solar vs REC:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Canadian Solar had more branded searches than REC among solar panel brands worldwide. Canadian Solar had about 27,100 branded searches, while REC had 6,800. Canadian Solar made up 19.5% of all solar panel brand searches we track, and REC accounted for 4.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about solar panel brands, Canadian Solar and REC each appeared in three of the five answers. REC was mentioned before Canadian Solar in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Canadian Solar, about 4 searches for every 1 for REC
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
REC, named ahead of Canadian Solar in every answer
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Top solar panel brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Canadian Solar and REC were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. REC was listed before Canadian Solar in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- REC1st
- Qcells2nd
- Maxeon3rd
- Canadian Solar4th
Jinko Solar–
SunPower–- Trina Solar–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Canadian Solar3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Qcells3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- REC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Maxeon3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Jinko Solar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SunPower0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Trina Solar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about solar panel brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which solar panel brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best solar panel brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best solar panel brand for home solar systems?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“monocrystalline solar panels”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“solar panels for home”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Canadian Solar or REC more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Canadian Solar and REC by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven solar panel brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Canadian Solar, REC. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jinko Solar | Canadian Solar | SunPower | Trina Solar | Qcells | REC | Maxeon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 19.6% | 23.9% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 8.7% | 5.5% | 3.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.7% | 24.1% | 16.1% | 24.1% | 8.8% | 4.5% | 2.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 20% | 16.4% | 29.9% | 20% | 7.3% | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 22% | 18% | 26.9% | 18% | 8% | 4.6% | 2.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 24.6% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 2.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.6% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 21.8% | 8% | 5.6% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 26% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 21.2% | 7.8% | 6.8% | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 23.5% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.1% | 18.8% | 15.4% | 18.8% | 10.3% | 6.1% | 2.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.5% | 22.5% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 10.1% | 5.6% | 2.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.7% | 19.4% | 19.4% | 19.4% | 10.6% | 5.4% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.8% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 19.5% | 10.7% | 4.9% | 2.1% |
How has the Canadian Solar and REC comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Canadian Solar was ahead of REC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Canadian Solar’s share of searches among solar panel brands worldwide moved from 23.9% to 19.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, REC’s share of searches among solar panel brands worldwide moved from 5.5% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.3K to 6.8K.
How did search popularity change for solar panel brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
REC’s share of searches among solar panel brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 6.1% to 4.9% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Canadian Solar worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 27.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Canadian Solar’s and REC’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Canadian Solar
1 branded search term
- canadian solar
REC
3 branded search terms
- rec group
- rec solar
- rec solar panels
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