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TL;DR: Fronius remains the gold standard for string inverters. Sungrow and Huawei offer excellent value in the mid-range. Enphase is the pick for microinverters, especially on shaded or complex roofs. Budget buyers can look at Growatt, but you trade off monitoring and warranty support. Match the inverter to your system size, roof layout, and whether you plan to add a battery.
What does a solar inverter do?
Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity. Your home runs on alternating current (AC). The inverter converts one into the other. Without it, your panels are just expensive roof decorations.
But modern inverters do far more than simple conversion. They manage power flow between your panels, home, battery (if you have one), and the grid. They handle export limiting, monitor system performance, and report faults. Think of the inverter as the brain of your solar system. The panels get the attention, but the inverter does the thinking.
A good inverter maximises the energy you harvest from your panels. A poor one leaves money on the table, and can fail years before your panels do.
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Types of solar inverters
There are three main types of inverters used in Australian residential solar. Each has a different approach to converting and managing your solar energy.
String inverters
All panels connect in a "string" to a single inverter, usually mounted on a wall near your switchboard. The most common and affordable option.
Best for: simple roofs with minimal shading, budget-conscious installs.
Microinverters
A small inverter sits underneath each panel, converting DC to AC right at the source. Each panel operates independently, so shading on one panel does not drag down the rest.
Best for: shaded roofs, complex layouts, multiple orientations.
Hybrid inverters
A string inverter with a built-in battery connection. Manages solar, battery charging, grid export, and home consumption in one unit. No need for a separate battery inverter later.
Best for: anyone planning to add a battery now or in future.
For a deeper comparison of string inverters versus microinverters, including the shading myth and real-world performance differences, see our dedicated guide.
Best solar inverters in Australia: comparison table
These are the seven inverter brands you will see on most Australian residential quotes in 2026. Prices shown are for a typical 5–10kW residential system, installed.
| Inverter | Type | Efficiency | Warranty | Price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fronius Gen24 | String / Hybrid | 98.1% | 10 yr (ext. to 15) | $1,800–$3,000 | Premium reliability, best monitoring app |
| Sungrow SG/SH-RS | String / Hybrid | 97.8% | 10 yr | $1,200–$2,500 | Best value hybrid, strong local support |
| Huawei SUN2000 | String / Hybrid | 98.6% | 10 yr | $1,200–$2,200 | Competitive pricing, solid efficiency |
| GoodWe SDT/SBT | String / Hybrid | 97.5% | 10 yr | $1,000–$2,000 | Budget-friendly with hybrid option |
| Enphase IQ8 | Microinverter | 97.5% | 25 yr | $2,500–$4,500* | Shaded roofs, panel-level optimisation |
| SolarEdge | Optimiser-based | 99.2%** | 12 yr (ext. to 25) | $2,000–$3,500 | Complex roofs, panel-level monitoring |
| Growatt | String / Hybrid | 97.6% | 10 yr | $800–$1,500 | Entry-level pricing, basic systems |
*Enphase price is for a full set of microinverters for a typical 15-panel system. **SolarEdge efficiency includes optimisers at the panel level.
A few things worth noting. Fronius has earned its reputation with Australian installers over many years. The Gen24 series is widely considered the most reliable string inverter on the market, and the Fronius Solar.web monitoring app is best in class. You pay a premium, but warranty claims are straightforward and the Austrian-made hardware rarely gives trouble.
Sungrow has grown rapidly in Australia and now has a strong local team handling warranty and support. Their hybrid inverters (SH-RS series) pair neatly with Sungrow batteries, making them a popular choice for households planning to add storage down the track.
Enphase microinverters cost more upfront but come with a 25-year warranty and genuine panel-level independence. If your roof has multiple orientations or partial shading, microinverters often recover their extra cost through higher energy harvest. They also eliminate the single point of failure that comes with a central inverter.
Growatt sits at the budget end. For straightforward installs where cost is the main driver, they get the job done. The trade-off is less refined monitoring, fewer local support resources, and less certainty about long-term parts availability. If you are spending $10,000+ on a solar system, saving $500 on the inverter is usually false economy.
How to choose the right inverter
The right inverter depends on your system size, roof layout, budget, and future plans. Here are the key considerations.
Match inverter capacity to system size
Australian rules allow your panel capacity to be up to 133% of your inverter capacity (e.g. 6.6kW of panels on a 5kW inverter). Your installer should size this correctly, but double-check the ratio on your quote.
Single phase vs three phase
Most Australian homes are single phase. If you have three-phase power (common in larger homes or those with ducted air conditioning), you need a three-phase inverter. Installing a single-phase inverter on a three-phase supply wastes potential.
Go hybrid if you are planning a battery
A hybrid inverter costs a few hundred dollars more than a standard string inverter. But retrofitting a battery later without one means either adding a second inverter (more cost, more complexity) or replacing the existing one entirely. Our guide on the "two-kitchen mistake" explains why this matters.
Budget vs long-term value
A $800 Growatt and a $2,500 Fronius will both convert DC to AC. But the Fronius will likely last longer, provide better monitoring data, and be easier to get serviced. Over a 15-year lifespan, the premium brand often works out cheaper per year of reliable operation.
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String vs micro vs optimiser: when each makes sense
This is one of the most common questions we hear from homeowners. The honest answer is that most Australian homes do perfectly well with a quality string inverter. But there are situations where the alternatives genuinely earn their higher price.
A string inverter (Fronius, Sungrow, GoodWe, Huawei, Growatt) is the right choice when your panels face one or two directions, there is minimal shading throughout the day, and you want to keep costs down. About 70% of Australian residential installs use string inverters.
Microinverters (Enphase) make sense when you have significant shading from trees or neighbouring buildings, panels spread across three or more roof faces, or you want the longest possible warranty with no single point of failure. They also let you expand your system one panel at a time.
Optimiser-based systems (SolarEdge) sit in the middle. You get a central inverter plus an optimiser under each panel. This gives you panel-level monitoring and some shading resilience, at a cost somewhere between pure string and full microinverters. SolarEdge has pulled back from the Australian residential market somewhat in recent years, so check local installer availability and parts support before committing.
The shading question
Microinverters are often sold as the solution for shading. They do help, but if your roof gets heavy shade for most of the day, no inverter technology will turn a bad solar site into a good one. The best approach is to avoid shaded panels entirely where possible, and use microinverters for roofs with partial or intermittent shading.
Frequently asked questions
How long do solar inverters last?
Most quality inverters last 10–15 years. Premium brands like Fronius regularly exceed their warranty period. Microinverters from Enphase are warrantied for 25 years and have no moving parts, so they tend to last longer. Budget inverters may need replacing after 8–10 years. Since your panels will last 25+ years, expect to replace a string inverter at least once during the life of your system.
Can I mix inverter brands with my panels?
Yes. Your inverter and panel brands do not need to match. A Fronius inverter works perfectly well with Jinko panels, for example. The exception is battery ecosystems. Some hybrid inverters are designed to work with specific battery brands (Sungrow inverters with Sungrow batteries, for instance). Mixing battery brands can limit functionality or void warranty coverage.
What size inverter do I need?
For a standard 6.6kW panel system, a 5kW inverter is the most common pairing. This meets the CEC's 133% oversizing ratio. For larger systems (10kW+ of panels), you will typically need an 8kW or 10kW inverter. Your installer will size this as part of the system design, but it is worth understanding the ratio so you can check their work.
Is it worth paying more for a premium inverter?
In most cases, yes. The inverter is the component most likely to fail first, and it controls how efficiently your entire system operates. The difference between a budget and premium inverter might be $500–$1,000 on a system that costs $7,000–$12,000. That is a relatively small percentage of the total cost for what is arguably the most important component. Our guide to reading solar quotes covers how to evaluate inverter value in context.
Where should the inverter be installed?
Ideally in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated location near your switchboard. Australian heat is tough on electronics. An inverter mounted in direct afternoon sun on a west-facing wall will run hotter and degrade faster than one in a shaded spot or inside a garage. Your installer should advise on the best location, but if they suggest somewhere that gets blasted by sun, push back.
The next step
If you have any questions about the information in this guide, feel free to get in touch:
Email: andy@whysolar.com.au
Tel: +61 455 221 921
If you're considering solar panels or batteries for your home, Andy and the team can help you get quotes from trusted, pre-vetted local installers:
Written by
Andy McMasterSolar Installer Partner Relations
Connects homeowners with trusted, vetted solar installers across Australia. Andy works directly with installation companies to ensure quality standards and helps homeowners navigate the quoting process.
Learn more about Andy McMaster