Solar Inverter Comparison: String vs Hybrid vs Microinverter
Compare the three inverter types, see when each one wins, and read a plain-English guide to the major makers. The best choice depends on your roof, so start there.
The three inverter types
Every solar system must turn the DC power from the panels into AC power for your home. There are three ways to do it, because homes differ so much. You can use one central inverter, a battery-capable inverter, or one small inverter per panel.
This is the biggest design choice in a system. It shapes the cost, the monitoring and how well the system copes with shade, so it deserves time.
String inverters
A string inverter connects a string of panels to one central unit. It is the most cost-effective and widely used option for a simple, unshaded roof with a single direction. The trade-off is that panels in a string work together, so heavy shade on one panel drags down the rest.
Monitoring is also at string level rather than per panel. For many homes that is still enough, because the roof is clear and the cost is low.
Hybrid inverters
A hybrid inverter is a string inverter that can also charge and discharge a battery. If storage is on your plan, now or in a few years, a hybrid unit saves you from adding separate battery electronics later. As a result, it is the default choice for most new UK installs that expect to include a battery at some point.
Microinverters
Microinverters put a small inverter under each panel, so every panel produces power on its own. That makes them strong on shaded roofs, split-direction roofs and complex layouts. Furthermore, they give true per-panel monitoring, and they generally make DC safety simpler.
The cost per watt is usually higher, however. Battery pairing is also less direct than with a hybrid string inverter.
A quick brand guide
- Victron: the benchmark for off-grid, marine and leisure use, with superb monitoring and flexibility.
- Sunsynk: popular hybrid units with strong battery support for UK homes.
- Solis: widely stocked, keenly priced string and hybrid inverters.
- Growatt: a common budget to mid-price choice across home installs.
- Solax: hybrid and string inverters with an established UK battery ecosystem.
- FoxESS: competitive hybrids that pair neatly with FoxESS storage.
- Renogy: aimed at 12V and 24V campervan and off-grid systems rather than grid-tie homes.
Which should you choose?
Have a simple, unshaded roof and a tight budget? Pick a string inverter. Planning a battery, or want to future-proof the system? Pick a hybrid. Own a shaded or multi-facet roof where every panel counts? Pick microinverters.
Match the type to the roof first. Then choose a brand for battery compatibility, firmware and support, because those matter for years after the install.
Build the full system
See the full range in our inverters category, grouped by type and brand. The panels come next, since the array must suit the inverter. Our solar panel kits buying guide explains how to size an array so that it sits inside the inverter’s input window. Browse solar panels and kits once you know the size.
If you pick a hybrid, you will need a battery eventually. For instance, our guide to home battery storage cost shows what to expect, and the battery storage range lists the options. For the DC wiring, read about MC4 connectors and browse cabling and connectors. Because volume buyers have different needs, open a trade account for trade and bulk pricing if you are speccing inverters in volume.
Where to go next
When you have chosen a type, see the solar inverters range and the battery storage that pairs with hybrid models. Because the array comes first, also look at solar panels and kits and the cabling and connectors that join them.
For more detail, read the home battery cost guide, the kit buying guide and the MC4 connector guide. Installers can ask about trade and bulk pricing, and mounting and fixings complete the job.