01 / Solar loans
Own the system,
finance the install.
Secured and unsecured solar loans from $10K to $100K, terms 3 months to 25 years, APRs from 0.00% to 6.99% depending on tier.
Read the breakdownIndependent · 14 lenders compared · Updated June 2026
Sunlight Finance. Independent analysis.
Read the rates, the dealer fees, and the side-by-side comparisons your installer won’t show you — Sunlight Financial vs. GoodLeap, Mosaic, and Dividend, in plain English.
What we cover
Three financing paths.
One honest comparison.
Sunlight Financial brokers loans through 15,000+ contractor partners — but the loan you’re offered depends on your installer, your credit, and which product family they push. We break down all three Sunlight programs so you walk in knowing what good actually looks like.
Own the system,
02 / Home improvement
HVAC, roofing,
kitchens, more.
The Orange® and Tangerine™ product families. Same point-of-sale model, broader scope — anything that lifts your home’s value or efficiency.
Read the breakdown03 / Solar lease
Skip ownership,
pay the panels.
Launched April 2024 with IGS Solar. No upfront cost, no loan on your credit report — but you don’t own the system or capture the federal tax credit.
Read the breakdownBeyond solar
Sunlight services,
what’s in and what’s out.
Readers often arrive asking whether Sunlight Financial offers personal loans, home equity loans, debt consolidation, or debt relief. The short answer is no — Sunlight is purpose-built for solar and home improvement only. Here’s a quick look at legitimate alternatives in each category.
Q · 01 / Personal loans
Does Sunlight Financial offer personal loans?
No. Sunlight is a point-of-sale lender that finances only solar and home-improvement projects, not unsecured personal loans.
For a true personal loan, the strongest U.S. options are SoFi (lowest APRs for prime borrowers), LightStream (large amounts up to $100K), and Discover Personal Loans (no origination fees). Credit unions and Marcus by Goldman Sachs are also worth quoting.
See what Sunlight actually financesQ · 02 / Home equity loans (HELOC)
Does Sunlight Financial offer HELOCs?
No. Sunlight does not originate home equity loans or HELOCs.
If you have home equity, a HELOC is often the cheapest financing path for solar — frequently beating Sunlight once dealer fees are factored in. Look at Figure, Bethpage FCU, your local bank, or your existing mortgage lender.
HELOC vs. Sunlight ratesQ · 03 / Debt consolidation
Can I use a Sunlight loan for debt consolidation?
No. Sunlight loans are purpose-bound to solar and home improvement — they can’t be used to pay off credit cards or other debt.
For debt consolidation, the leading options are SoFi Personal Loans, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Discover, or a 0% APR balance transfer card (Citi Diamond Preferred, Wells Fargo Reflect). Federal credit unions often beat all of these on rate.
What Sunlight loans requireQ · 04 / Debt relief
Does Sunlight Financial offer debt relief or settlement?
No. Debt relief and settlement are a separate service category — Sunlight does not operate in this space.
If you’re struggling with debt, start with non-profit credit counseling through the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling) or Money Management International — both certified, with free initial consultations. Be cautious of for-profit “debt relief” companies that charge fees up front.
Find an NFCC counselorSide-by-side
How does Sunlight Financial stack up?
A quick read against the three largest U.S. solar lenders.
| Lender | Min credit | APR range | Loan amount | Term length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunlight Financial Featured | 650 | 0.00% – 6.99% | $10K – $100K | 3 mo – 25 yrs |
| GoodLeap | 640 | 0.99% – 7.99% | $10K – $90K | 5 – 25 yrs |
| Mosaic | 700 | 1.49% – 8.99% | $15K – $100K | 10 – 25 yrs |
| Dividend Finance | 700 | 2.99% – 9.99% | $10K – $100K | 5 – 25 yrs |
Ranges based on publicly reported data; actual offers depend on the contractor’s dealer fee tier and your credit profile. Last updated June 2026.
Who it’s for
Best for —
find your situation.
Sunlight Financial isn’t the right loan for everyone. Below is who it actually fits, who should look elsewhere, and what to do in each case. Each path links to the specific page for your situation.
Best for · 01 / Prime credit (740+)
You’ll likely get the headline APR.
Sunlight’s most aggressive promotional tiers — including 0.00% for 6 months and 1.99% for 25 years — require a high-700s FICO. If your credit clears 740 and your installer offers Sunlight, the loan is competitive on rate.
Watch out for the dealer fee built into the system price — even at 0.00% APR, you may pay an effective rate of 4–6% once the fee is amortized in. Run it in the calculator before signing.
Read moreBest for · 02 / Mid-prime (650–739)
Sunlight works — but compare carefully.
Mid-prime borrowers get standard tier APRs (typically 5–7%) from Sunlight, which is comparable to GoodLeap and Mosaic for the same credit profile. The differentiator at this tier is usually the dealer fee structure, not the headline rate.
Get quotes from at least two installers before choosing — the same Sunlight loan can have very different total costs depending on dealer fee tier.
Compare lender APRs side-by-sideBest for · 03 / Below 650 FICO
Look at the Sunlight lease, not the loan.
Sunlight’s standard loans require a 650 minimum. Below that, the standard loan won’t approve. But the Sunlight + IGS Solar lease program launched in April 2024 has lower credit thresholds and no minimum FICO published.
You give up the federal tax credit (IGS captures it), but you avoid the upfront cost and credit denial. For sub-650 borrowers, this is often the only practical path to rooftop solar.
Read the lease breakdownBest for · 04 / High home equity
A HELOC will probably beat Sunlight.
If you have $40K+ in home equity, a HELOC from Figure, your local credit union, or your existing mortgage lender will almost always cost less than a Sunlight solar loan once dealer fees are factored in. Current HELOC rates run 7–9%; Sunlight’s effective rate (after dealer fee) is usually higher.
The trade-off: HELOCs put your home as collateral. Sunlight solar loans are unsecured, so a default doesn’t risk foreclosure.
Compare HELOC vs. SunlightBest for · 05 / Quick decision needed
Sunlight wins on speed of approval.
If your installer pulls up Sunlight’s Orange® portal during the consultation, you’ll get a credit decision in seconds — faster than a HELOC application (which takes 2–6 weeks) or even a personal loan (1–3 days).
This matters if you’re trying to lock in a contractor before solar prices rise, or if your roof needs panels installed before a property sale. The convenience has a cost — you trade rate for speed.
How the application worksBest for · 06 / Long-term ownership (10+ yrs)
Loan beats lease if you plan to stay.
A Sunlight loan makes financial sense when you plan to stay 10+ years — long enough to recoup the upfront cost through electricity savings and the 30% federal tax credit. After payoff (year 15 or 25), the panels keep producing free electricity for the system’s 25–30 year warrantied lifetime.
The lease never builds equity. If you’re likely to move in under 7 years, the loan’s math gets harder — assignment to the buyer is required and not always smooth.
Loan vs. lease, decidedTax credit timeline
The 30% credit
won’t last forever.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) is locked in at 30% through Dec 31, 2032 under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. After that, it steps down to 26%, then 22%, and then expires for residential systems. Here’s the schedule.
2025 – 2032
30%
$30,000 system → $9,000 back
2033
26%
$30,000 system → $7,800 back
2034
22%
$30,000 system → $6,600 back
2035+
0%
Residential credit expires
Source: IRC Section 25D as amended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The credit applies to systems placed in service during the calendar year. To claim, file IRS Form 5695 with your tax return for the year of installation. Lease arrangements transfer the credit to the lessor; loans and cash purchases keep it with the homeowner.
Estimate your payment
What would a $30,000 solar loan actually cost you per month?
The salesperson’s number assumes their best promotional tier. Run yours against realistic APRs, the term you’d actually take, and the dealer-fee-adjusted principal.
Example · $30,000 · 4.99% APR · 20 yrs
$198
/ month
$17,496
Total interest
A 5-year shorter term on the same principal saves you $11,200 in lifetime interest. The salesperson’s “low monthly” is almost always the 25-year term.
Frequently asked
Quick answers before you commit.
Is Sunlight Financial a legitimate lender?
Sunlight Financial is a real, NMLS-registered point-of-sale finance company founded in 2014, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It originated more than $4 billion in solar and home-improvement loans before completing Chapter 11 restructuring in late 2023, after which it was acquired by a consortium led by Greenbacker Capital, Sunstone Credit, IGS Ventures, and Cross River Bank.
What credit score do I need for a Sunlight Financial loan?
The publicly reported minimum is a 650 FICO. The best advertised APRs — including 0.00% promotional rates — are typically reserved for borrowers in the high-700s. Below 650, your installer will usually route you to a different lender or to the new Sunlight solar lease program, which has lower credit thresholds.
Can I apply to Sunlight Financial directly?
No. Sunlight is a B2B2C platform — you apply through a participating solar installer or home-improvement contractor. The contractor enters your information into Sunlight’s Orange® portal and you receive an instant credit decision at the point of sale.
What are dealer fees, and do I pay them?
A dealer fee is the cost the contractor pays Sunlight to offer a promotional APR. That fee is rolled into the system price you finance — meaning you do pay it, just not as a line item. Dealer fees can add up to $5.00 per watt on the most aggressive promotional tiers, materially raising the principal of your loan.
How long are Sunlight Financial loan terms?
Terms range from 3 months to 25 years on standard solar loans, with a 30-year term available on select products introduced in 2022 (1.99% / 2.99% / 3.99% APR tiers). Longer terms drop the monthly payment but materially raise lifetime interest — run the calculator before choosing.
Ready to get specific?
Get matched with vetted installers — without the sales calls.
We’ll send your details to two or three pre-screened solar contractors in your area. They send written quotes; you compare. No phone spam, no rooftop visits unless you ask.
- ✓ Free & no obligation
- ✓ Email quotes, not phone calls
- ✓ 30% federal tax credit through Dec 31, 2032
— START YOUR APPLICATION —
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