Try before you wire the whole roof.

A 400-watt plug-in kit costs less than a single rooftop panel and tells you in three months whether you want a contractor up there. The smartest pre-installation due diligence we know of.

5 sections~14 minUpdated Apr 2026

The honest comparison

Plug-in vs. rooftop, head to head.

As of April 2026

	Plug-in (1.2 kW)	Rooftop (7.2 kW)
Upfront cost	$600 – $2,400	$18,000 – $26,000
Installation time	Same afternoon	2 – 4 months
Permits / inspections	None (in legal states)	Yes — multiple
Annual generation	1,200 – 1,800 kWh	9,000 – 11,000 kWh
Bill offset	10 – 30%	80 – 120%
Federal 30% tax credit	Eligible if > $1,000	Yes, fully eligible
Net metering	Not applicable	Varies by utility
Portable when you move	Yes	No
Payback period	2 – 4 years	7 – 12 years

A pre-flight check

Use a plug-in kit as your rooftop solar audition.

Three months of data from a $600 kit will answer questions a $20,000 contract can't, ahead of time:

Does your roof actually get the sun the satellite imagery says it does, in the season that matters?
Is your household's daytime load big enough to absorb the production, or does most of it spill back to the grid?
How well does your utility's billing actually credit you for what you don't pull?
How much do you care about the aesthetics — really — once you live with panels in your sightline?

Run your numbers →

FAQ · Tax credit

The federal 30% credit, demystified.

Does the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit apply to plug-in kits?

Yes — the credit applies to "qualifying solar electric property" with no minimum size. A $1,500 kit gets a $450 credit. Below about $1,000 the paperwork outpaces the benefit, but it's allowed.

Do I need a contractor invoice to claim it?

No. DIY purchases qualify. Save the receipt and any UL listing documentation. File Form 5695 with your federal return.

What about my state's solar credit?

State credits are inconsistent — some require a licensed electrician's signoff, which most plug-in kits don't have. We track this on the regions page.