Freedom Forever Solar Review 2024

Freedom Forever is a solar company that installs its own solar panels, which come with a 10-year workmanship warranty. It also sells batteries to store solar power for later use. Although it doesn’t disclose all of its lenders’ financing terms, some customers can qualify for loans with 2.99%-11.49% annual percentage rates. The company charges technician service fees in some cases, but it also has helpful resources on its website.

Our take on Freedom Forever Solar

What we like about Freedom Forever Solar

• Offers informative resources on its website. The company has downloadable PDFs that explain different aspects of their services, a glossary that explains common solar terms and a searchable website to find relevant blog posts.

• Sells batteries. Customers can buy solar batteries that store solar energy for later use, such as during a power outage.

• Has a clear cancellation policy. Not only does the company’s service agreement outline a clear timeline for canceling a contract and getting a full refund — it also gives customers who are 65 and older longer to cancel.

What we don’t like about Freedom Forever Solar

• Regulatory probation in California. The company is on probation with the California CSLB until October 2027 because of its violation of state licensing laws. Although it is not uncommon for customers to file complaints with state agencies, we feel that Freedom Forever’s actions don’t meet our expectations of solar companies’ customer satisfaction.

• Uses independent authorized dealers for quotes. Customers who request a quote through Freedom Forever’s website won’t get a quote directly from the company; instead, their information is sent to a partnering installer to set up a meeting with a sales representative.

• Charges a service fee. Customers have to pay a steep service fee if a technician comes out and diagnoses an issue as something outside of Freedom Forever’s service or equipment. And the cost goes up with each additional 50 miles the technician has to drive.

• Not clear on all of its financing terms. The company didn’t disclose its lenders’ origination fees or length of their loans.

• Has inconsistent customer service ratings. Consumer review websites show inconsistent customer satisfaction scores with Freedom Forever’s installations and customer service.

Freedom Forever Solar’s services

The company installs its own solar panels, which have a maximum output of 400 watts and an efficiency of 20.48%. Freedom Forever also installs LG Chem Cell and Tesla Powerwall solar batteries for solar-plus-storage options.

How much does Freedom Forever Solar cost?

Freedom Forever doesn’t publish its pricing, which is common with solar companies. A customer who wants a quote must provide their name, email address, phone number and state; then a salesperson contacts them with information.

On average, the total cost of solar panels for a residential solar system is around $25,000, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The net cost may drop if a customer qualifies for tax rebates and incentives.

» MORE: What do solar panels cost?

Freedom Forever Solar’s payment options

Freedom Forever offers several options to paying for solar systems. The company told NerdWallet that several factors can affect customers’ options and financing outcomes, including credit score, credit history (such as bankruptcies and payment history), income, property type and whether a customer owns a property.

The company offers:

• Leases. Most leases are for 25 years.

• PPAs. Most PPAs require a 25-year agreement.

• Loans. The company partners with lenders who approve applicants with credit scores of 600 and above (and in some cases lower). It lists Mosaic and Sunrun as two of its financial partners but doesn’t disclose the full list. Its lending partners offer interest rates from 2.99%-11.49%; however, the company didn’t disclose the origination fees or loan terms. Freedom Forever’s third-party installers help customers find loans, so your location and available installers might affect which lenders are available.

• Cash. Customers can pay for an entire system upfront.

Freedom Forever advertises zero-down financing, but it’s not forthcoming about how that works for customers who take out a loan.

» MORE: Estimate your monthly solar loan payments with our calculator

Freedom Forever Solar’s installations

The company installation process follows six steps, which include:

1. Consultation: The company discusses your options with you in person or over the phone, including price and financing options. You’ll sign the contract before moving on.

2. Site audit: The company evaluates your home to determine if any updates are needed to install solar panels.

3. System design: The company designs your system and sends it to you for approval.

4. Installation: Most installations take one to two days.

5. Final inspection: The company requests necessary inspections such as a city inspection.

6. Activation: Once inspections are finished, you can turn on your system to start generating solar energy.

Freedom Forever Solar’s warranties

Freedom Forever offers three warranties for completed installations:

• 10-year workmanship warranty. Freedom Forever warranties its system designs and installations against defects.

• 12-year manufacturer warranty. Because it manufactures its own panels, the company warranties its equipment against material defects for 12 years.

• 10-year roof penetration warranty. The company warranties customers’ roofs against any damage resulting from the installation, including leaks.

How much energy Freedom Forever guarantees a customer’s system will produce depends on the individual system; however, the company does guarantee that systems won’t degrade in performance by more than 5% during the first year and 0.5% each year after.

Customers must give Freedom Forever written notice within 20 days of selling a home so that it can transfer their warranties to the new homeowners. This includes the company’s guarantee of how much energy the system will produce.

Freedom Forever Solar availability

Freedom Forever is currently available in 35 states and is expanding into West Virginia in the future.

» MORE: What is solar net metering?

California investigation of Freedom Forever consumer complaints

On Oct. 4, 2024, (CSLB) placed Freedom Forever on a three-year probation following an investigation of consumer complaints. The investigation included consumer complaints alleging that Freedom Forever installed a brand of solar panels other than what a customer purchased, failed to obtain required permits before performing work, incorrectly installed equipment, damaged and neglected to repair a customer’s roof, charged a customer more than a contracted price and failed to register a salesperson with the proper agency.

The CSLB has the option to revoke the company’s license but chose to put Freedom Forever on probation. The probationary terms include paying $9,777.63 in restitution to one consumer, reimbursing the CSLB for investigation costs of nearly $30,000 and posting $100,000 for a disciplinary bond.

The CSLB’s ruling also requires Freedom Forever to resolve existing consumer complaints by Feb. 1, 2025 and new complaints within 60 days.

“Freedom Forever is among the companies that CSLB has targeted through its Multiple Offender Unit, which focuses on contractors with a significant number of complaints,” says Katherine White, chief of public affairs with the CSLB. The creation of the Multiple Offender Unit is the agency’s response to a 176% increase in consumer solar complaints over a four-year period. The CSLB confirmed to NerdWallet that it can revoke Freedom Forever’s license if the company neglects to meet all probationary requirements.

“As the largest residential solar contractor in the U.S., Freedom prioritizes all customer matters, treating them with care and attention. Recently, we resolved a matter with the California State Licensing Board (CSLB), and as such, there are no open issues or hearings that could impact our license,” a Freedom Forever spokesperson told NerdWallet.

The CSLB will contact California residents who have already filed a complaint with the CSLB. Contact the CSLB at 800-321-2752 and enter 3-2-4 to know the status of your complaint.

Customer reviews and experiences

SolarReviews.com: 1.78 out of 5. ConsumerAffairs: 1.2 out of 5.* Better Business Bureau: 3.88 out of 5.

*ConsumerAffairs has a low number of reviews and might not be representative of the average customer experience.

What customers like about Freedom Forever

Customers who recommended Freedom Forever on the three review sites we examined noted that the installation crews were professional and efficient and that the customer service representatives were courteous and quick to provide information. However, it appears that many of the positive reviews are from customers who have not had their systems for very long.

What customers don’t like about Freedom Forever

Unhappy customers on the three review sites we examined mentioned several issues, including their systems failing city and county inspections, as well as problems getting the company to complete final steps to turn on their systems. Customers also noted that the customer service was disorganized and unhelpful, and some customers said they had roof or house damage from the installation.

Of particular concern to us are the reviews that describe customers’ issues with canceling orders. Several reviews noted that despite being told by Freedom Forever that their orders were canceled, the company didn’t complete the process and loan amounts remained on their credit records despite them not purchasing solar systems.

Alternatives

» MORE: Do solar panels increase home value?

Methodology