3 solar roofs that rival Tesla—and might power your home better

You’ve probably seen the Tesla Solar Roof—sleek tiles, futuristic vibe, and hefty price tag. Here’s what most people don’t realize: Tesla isn’t your only solar roof option.

Tesla may have put solar roofs on the map, but long wait times, high costs, and mixed customer service reviews have many homeowners looking elsewhere. Companies like CertainTeed, Luma Solar, and GAF Energy also sell solar roofs that look just as appealing, last for decades, and will slash your electric bills—often with faster installs, lower costs (though still more expensive than traditional solar panels), and fewer headaches.

With the federal solar tax credit set to disappear after 2025, choosing the right solar product and installer could be the difference between locking in an additional $9,000 in savings now or missing out entirely. For many homeowners, that might mean skipping Tesla and going with a competitor that can deliver results on time.

Solar roofs provide all the benefits of solar without the “look” of solar panels. Instead of mounting panels to your existing roof, you replace the roof with solar-integrated roofing materials. 

A solar roof is your roof—the shingles themselves produce electricity, so no bulky equipment is necessary. That’s a major difference between solar roofs and solar panels— you can remove your solar panels from your roof if you ever need to because they’re still separate equipment. 

Why people are looking past Tesla

Tesla’s Solar Roof is well-known, but far from the perfect option. Many homeowners have been turned off by Tesla’s long installation wait times and inconsistent customer service for years. And now, a growing number of prospective customers say they don’t want their home projects tied to Elon Musk’s increasingly polarizing public persona.

Given Tesla's notoriously long wait times, going solar with Musk’s company could also cost you money.

The Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) eliminates the 30% federal solar tax credit for homeowners after December 31, 2025—meaning that all systems installed on January 1, 2026, and beyond won’t qualify for the credit, which is a very tight time crunchSome Tesla customers have reported install wait times of up to two years, so if you want to be certain you’ll get your system installed and approved before these federal policy changes take effect, a who has available inventory now might be your best bet.

Solar roofs and regular solar panels both power your home with clean energy. One of the main differences is simply the aesthetics. With a solar roof, the “panels” are built right into your roofing material, giving you a sleek, seamless appearance. This can boost curb appeal, especially if you dislike the look of traditional solar setups. However, that design integration comes with a tradeoff: Solar roofs are much more expensive, and installation requires a complete roof replacement.

On the other hand, standard rooftop solar panels are faster and cheaper to install, and they’re generally more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. You can mount them on your existing roof and have your system up and running in less time than it would take to “turn on” a solar roof. 

If you already need a new roof and want to go solar, a solar roof can be a stylish two-in-one solution. But traditional panels are usually more cost-effective if your roof is in good shape and what you’re looking for is maximum savings.

CertainTeed SunStyle

CertainTeed’s SunStyle solar roof offers a sleek, frame-free design that looks attractive with a variety of kinds of architecture. It’s an ideal choice for homeowners who value design just as much as energy savings. 

The brand’s SunStyle tiles have the highest output per panel of any product on our list. However, they’re less efficient than Luma Solar’s product and fall short of GAF’s performance warranty. 

Luma Solar Luma Air

Luma Solar’s Luma Air offers a luxury alternative to solar panels. The shingles are upgradeable, allowing homeowners to swap them out as technology improves. At 22.1%, Luma Air is the most efficient solar product on our list. 

The company offers a short product warranty of just 5 years—20 years less than both Certainteed and GAF’s warranty terms—but Luma does offer 25 years of power production coverage.

GAF Timberline Solar Roof

GAF’s Timberline Solar Roof can be installed with a nail gun, making it faster and easier to build than many other solar roofs. The shingles are installed with the company’s Timberline roof and designed to blend in seamlessly. However, solar cell efficiency isn’t included in the product’s data sheet, so if that’s important to you, it’s probably smart to look elsewhere. 

GAF’s product warranty is solid, and its performance warranty just beats out that of Certainteed and Luma Solar: The Timberline Solar Roof should maintain 84.8% of its original output in year 25.

Tesla may grab the headlines, but CertainTeed, Luma Solar, and GAF prove there’s more than one way to get a sleek and sustainable energy-producing roof. With multiple styles, quicker installs, and often lower prices, a non-Tesla solar roof could be the best choice for your home and your budget.

Traditional rooftop solar panels still make the most sense financially, and usually performance-wise in most cases. But if you’re looking for the most attractive option when it comes to curb appeal, solar roofs are really about the look and style, offering a unique option for homeowners who are willing to pay more for design to enjoy the benefits of clean energy.