GoodLeap Alternatives: Your Solar & Home Improvement Financing Options in 2026
GoodLeap is one of the largest residential solar lenders in the US by volume, but the alternatives have changed sharply since 2025. Mosaic stopped writing new loans, the federal homeowner solar credit ended, and leases now play a bigger role. Here is what is actually available in late 2026 and when each option makes sense.
The short version
- Mosaic no longer issues new solar loans after its June 2025 Chapter 11 filing, so it is not a live alternative for a new project.
- Remaining point-of-sale lenders such as Sunlight Financial and Dividend Finance use the same dealer-fee model. Confirm a lender is actively funding before you sign.
- In our worked example, a no-fee home equity loan at 8.5% over 20 years costs $52,069 in total, against $66,201 for a 6.99% solar loan carrying a 25% dealer fee.
- Leases and PPAs can price more aggressively in 2026 because the leasing company, not you, may still qualify for a business tax credit.
Your Options at a Glance
Every option below can pay for the same rooftop system. They differ in who owns the equipment, whether a dealer fee is added to what you borrow, and how the 2026 tax rules treat them.
| Option | Who owns the system | Dealer fee in the principal | Federal credit for a 2026 install | Main thing to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoodLeap loan | You | Yes, commonly 15%–30% | None for the homeowner | The fee is not part of the APR |
| Other point-of-sale lenders | You | Yes, same model | None for the homeowner | Confirm the lender is still funding |
| Home equity loan or HELOC | You | No | None for the homeowner | Your home secures the debt |
| Unsecured personal loan | You | No | None for the homeowner | Higher rate, shorter term |
| Solar lease or PPA | The leasing company | No (priced into payments) | The owner may claim Section 48E | Escalators and home-sale transfer |
| Cash | You | No | None for the homeowner | Get the true cash price in writing |
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025) ended the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) for systems completed after December 31, 2025, and ended the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) for property placed in service after the same date. That applies to every ownership option above, which is why the cash price and the dealer fee now carry even more weight in the comparison.
What Happened to Mosaic
Mosaic was long the closest competitor to GoodLeap in point-of-sale solar lending. It filed for Chapter 11 on June 6, 2025. In September 2025, Solar Servicing LLC, a subsidiary of Forbright Bank, agreed to acquire the business and said it had no plans to originate new solar loans, while continuing to support existing borrowers (pv magazine USA).
If an installer still offers Mosaic financing for a new project, ask which lender will actually fund the loan and get the answer in writing. Existing Mosaic borrowers keep their original terms; payments and questions go to the servicer named on the most recent statement.
GoodLeap vs Other Point-of-Sale Lenders
Sunlight Financial emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring in December 2023 and continues to market loans through installer partners. Dividend Finance was acquired by Fifth Third Bancorp in 2022 and operates as a point-of-sale lender for solar and home improvement projects. Both work much like GoodLeap: the installer presents the loan during the sales visit, approval arrives in minutes, and a dealer fee is added to the amount you finance.
Because the structure is so similar, the practical difference usually comes down to two things: which lenders your installer is enrolled with, and what dealer fee each lender charges for the term you want. Ask the installer for the cash price and the financed price under every lender option. The option with the smallest gap between those two numbers is usually the cheaper one, even when its advertised APR is higher.
Lender availability has shifted repeatedly since 2023. Before you sign, check the lender's license status on NMLS Consumer Access and ask the installer when that lender last funded one of their projects.
GoodLeap vs a Home Equity Loan or HELOC
For homeowners with meaningful equity, a credit union home equity loan or HELOC is often the cheapest way to pay for solar or a major upgrade. There is no dealer fee, so you borrow only the cash price. Rates follow the market, and most HELOCs are variable, so compare the full repayment cost rather than the starting rate.
| Worked example: $25,000 cash price | Amount borrowed | Monthly payment | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar loan, 6.99% APR, 25% dealer fee, 25 years | $31,250 | $220.67 | $66,201 |
| Home equity loan, 8.5%, no fee, 20 years | $25,000 | $216.96 | $52,069 |
| Home equity loan, 8.5%, no fee, 25 years | $25,000 | $201.31 | $60,392 |
The rates are illustrative, not quotes. The point is the structure: even at a higher interest rate, borrowing only the cash price can beat a lower-rate loan that is built on a larger principal. Trade-offs include a lien on your home, closing timelines of a few weeks, and possible appraisal or closing fees. A home equity loan also separates the financing decision from the installer, which removes the pressure to sign at the first appointment.
GoodLeap vs an Unsecured Personal Loan
A personal loan from a bank, credit union or online lender has no dealer fee and no claim on your home, and the funds can go to any installer you choose. The catch is a higher APR and a shorter term, often seven years or less, which raises the monthly payment. Borrowing $25,000 at 11% over seven years costs about $428 a month and $35,957 in total. That is a heavier monthly bill, but far less in total than a 25-year loan.
Personal loans tend to work best for smaller projects such as a battery add-on, an HVAC replacement or a partial roof. The comparison form on this site shows personal and installment loan offers; it is not a GoodLeap application.
GoodLeap vs a Solar Lease or PPA
With a lease or power purchase agreement, a company owns the panels and you pay a monthly fee or a price per kilowatt-hour. Since the homeowner credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025, leasing has gained an edge: under current law, a business that owns a residential system may still claim the Section 48E investment credit if the project begins construction by July 4, 2026 or is placed in service by the end of 2027. Some of that value can show up as lower lease pricing.
The downsides have not changed. You do not own the equipment, many contracts include annual price escalators, and selling the home means the buyer must qualify for and accept the contract. Sunrun and Palmetto's LightReach are among the larger lease providers.
Which Option Fits Which Situation?
- You have home equity and can wait a few weeks: start with a home equity loan or HELOC quote from a credit union.
- No equity, strong credit, smaller project: compare an unsecured personal loan.
- No equity, you want to own a larger system: a point-of-sale loan from GoodLeap or another active lender, after comparing the cash price with the financed price.
- You do not want to own equipment or carry a loan: a lease or PPA, after reading the escalator and transfer terms.
- Cash is available: pay cash and negotiate. The cash price is the benchmark for every other option.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mosaic still an alternative to GoodLeap?
Not for new projects. Mosaic filed for Chapter 11 in June 2025, and the buyer of the business said it had no plans to originate new solar loans. Existing Mosaic loans continue to be serviced.
What is the cheapest alternative to a GoodLeap solar loan?
For homeowners with equity, a home equity loan or HELOC is often cheapest because there is no dealer fee. In our example, borrowing the $25,000 cash price at 8.5% over 20 years costs $52,069 in total, against $66,201 for a 6.99% solar loan with a 25% dealer fee.
Can I still get the 30% federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No, not as a homeowner who buys the system. The Section 25D credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. A leasing company that owns a system on your roof may still qualify for the Section 48E business credit under current law.
Do other solar lenders charge dealer fees too?
Yes. Point-of-sale solar lenders generally use the same model. The CFPB found that these fees typically range from 10% to 30% of the cash price and are often not reflected in the stated APR.