SunPower vs Tesla Solar:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Tesla Solar had more branded searches than SunPower among solar installers in the United States. Tesla Solar had about 18,100 branded searches, while SunPower had 11,800. Tesla Solar made up 13.4% of all solar installer searches we track, and SunPower accounted for 8.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about solar installers, SunPower and Tesla Solar each appeared in two of the four answers. Tesla Solar was mentioned before SunPower in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Tesla Solar, about 53% more searches than SunPower
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 4 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Tesla Solar, named ahead of SunPower in 2 of 3 answers
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Top solar installers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, SunPower was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Tesla Solar was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Tesla Solar was listed before SunPower in two out of three answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Sunrun4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- Tesla Solar2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
SunPower2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Palmetto2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Momentum Solar1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Trinity Solar0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Freedom Forever0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about solar installers
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which solar company should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best solar installers in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best solar company in the US for solar panels with a battery?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“solar companies”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best solar companies”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is SunPower or Tesla Solar more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for SunPower and Tesla Solar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven solar installers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Tesla Solar, SunPower. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Sunrun | Tesla Solar | Trinity Solar | SunPower | Momentum Solar | Freedom Forever | Palmetto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 41.1% | 15.1% | 10.1% | 9.5% | 8.2% | 12.3% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 40% | 18% | 9.8% | 9.3% | 8% | 12% | 2.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.4% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 25.1% | 7.1% | 10.6% | 2.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.8% | 14.2% | 9.5% | 18.9% | 6.3% | 9.5% | 2.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.5% | 14.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% | 6.5% | 11.8% | 4.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.7% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 10.6% | 7% | 10.4% | 3.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 9.3% | 5.8% | 16% | 3.9% |
| May 2026 | 49% | 12% | 9.8% | 11.7% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.8% | 12.2% | 10% | 10.1% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 51% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 6.8% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 49.3% | 14.8% | 9.9% | 8.5% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.9% | 13.4% | 9% | 8.7% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
How has the SunPower and Tesla Solar comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: SunPower took it in December 2025, Tesla Solar took it in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SunPower’s share of searches among solar installers in the United States moved from 9.5% to 8.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14K to 11.8K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla Solar’s share of searches among solar installers in the United States moved from 15.1% to 13.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United States solar installers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Tesla Solar lost share of searches among solar installers in the United States, from 14.8% to 13.4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SunPower in the United States fell 15.7% over 12 measured months, from 14K to 11.8K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SunPower’s and Tesla Solar’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.
SunPower
2 branded search terms
- sunpower
- sunpower solar
Tesla Solar
1 branded search term
- tesla solar
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