Best Home Battery In Australia 2026: Installer’s Choice Awards

Continuing the 2026 Installer’s Choice Awards, we asked Australia’s solar installers a simple question:

“Which home battery would you choose for your own home?”

These are the people designing, installing and servicing battery systems every day, so they have a front-row seat to what works well in the real world. And Australian Consumer Law holds the installer liable for the units’ warranty and performance for 10 years plus. So I reckon their opinion is what counts.

Which Solar Battery Is Best In 2026?

Sigenergy topped this year’s survey with 26% of installer votes, ahead of Sungrow on 21%. The surprise result came from iStore, which secured third place with 11% of the vote after failing to make the top ten last year.

The result is based on the votes of 125 SolarQuotes-vetted installers who found time to respond.

Why Did Sigenergy Win?

Sigenergy Sigenstor battery installed by Brightworks Solar.

Although Sigenergy has been in the Australian market for less than 3 years, it has built a loyal following among installers.

Founded by former Huawei solar executive Tony Xu, Sigenergy has pioneered the concept of an integrated, stackable system combining battery storage, a hybrid inverter and optional DC EV charging.

The stack is straightforward to install, scales easily as energy needs grow and avoids the headaches that come with combining products from multiple manufacturers.

Features such as no-interruption backup power, including on three-phase, have helped Sigenergy stand out in a crowded market. Adding the bidirectional DC EV charger and a well-designed monitoring app has helped Sigenergy stand out in a market where most inverter manufacturers’ apps are crap, and most EV chargers are discrete, unidirectional and AC.

But the market is catching up with Sig. Newcomers like Anker and Ecoflow are hot on Sigenergy’s heels with sleek integrated stacks and arguably even better apps, while the old guard like Sungrow, Enphase and SolarEdge are all promising to release their own integrated inverter and battery stacks in 2027.

The road to the top of the podium hasn’t been smooth for Sigenergy this year. Some single-phase units were affected by overheating issues that ultimately resulted in a national recall campaign. SolarQuotes has removed Sigenergy from our recommended brands chart as we monitor the response to this.

Despite this setback occurring just before we surveyed installers late last year and early this year, they still voted Sigenergy into top spot – a positive sign that the brand continues to have plenty to offer.

Sungrow Keeps The Pressure On

Sungrow SBH battery installed by Clean Earth Solar.

Sungrow finishing second with 21% of the vote is no small achievement.

When the Sungrow battery first arrived, many installers considered it a budget choice. Later, as the product matured, it became widely regarded as a solid mid-range option. But as a growing number of budget battery brands have entered the Australian market, perceptions have shifted yet again.

Today, Sungrow feels much closer to the premium end of the market than it once did. Its strong showing in this year’s survey suggests installers continue to have confidence in the brand, even as competition in the battery sector intensifies.

I’ve owned a 16 kWh Sungrow battery for many years now, and it’s never missed a beat. My only criticism is that the app shows its age and, in my opinion, needs a complete rewrite to meet modern user-friendly standards.

iStore Crashes The Podium

iStore home battery installed by Positive Energy Solutions.

The biggest surprise in this year’s results is iStore.

After failing to make the top ten last year, the brand jumped all the way to third place with 11% of installer votes.

iStore batteries are essentially Huawei technology sold under a different badge, using Australian servers, and their appearance on the podium highlights how a brand that barely featured in installer discussions a year ago is now one of the most preferred battery choices in the country. I have an iStore powering my big shed, and I agree the hardware is solid, but be aware it is not compatible with many VPPs or third-party controllers.

Hopefully that changes as iStore becomes more entrenched – but for now, ensure you have a good installer who is happy to configure it for you locally to take advantage of ‘3 free’ energy plans and premium evening Feed In Tariffs.

The Battery Matters — But So Does The Installer

While Sigenergy takes home the 2026 Installer’s Choice Award for home batteries, one theme continues to emerge across every category in this year’s survey – the best equipment still depends on good installation.

A quality battery installed poorly will eventually become a source of frustration, while a well-designed system installed by an experienced professional will deliver reliable performance for years to come.

If you’re comparing battery options for your own home, SolarQuotes’ battery storage guide includes detailed information on battery sizing, costs, installation and payback, along with a comparison table covering dozens of battery models available in Australia.

Stay tuned as we reveal the winners of the remaining Installer’s Choice categories. We’ve already revealed the winners of the best solar panel and best inverter categories.

Or if you’re ready to add battery storage to your home, SolarQuotes can help you compare up to three quotes from trusted, vetted installers who know how to get the important details right.