GoodLeap started as a solar financing company and built one of the largest solar lending platforms in the country before expanding into general home improvement. Hearth was built from the start for residential home improvement contractors across all trades. If you are evaluating both, the comparison depends heavily on what trade you are in and what kind of projects you finance.
Here is a full breakdown of how Hearth and GoodLeap compare on fees, approval, trade coverage, and a few things worth knowing about GoodLeap’s background before you sign up.
GoodLeap’s Background and Expansion
GoodLeap launched as a solar-specific financing platform and grew quickly by partnering with solar installers across the country. Its core business was (and still is) solar panel system financing, where loan amounts tend to be large ($20,000 to $50,000+) and the borrower profile is somewhat different from general home improvement.
GoodLeap has since expanded into broader home improvement categories, including HVAC, roofing, windows, and other trades, through its general home improvement lending products and its acquisition of Rosie, a home improvement marketplace. The expansion is real, but GoodLeap’s roots and deepest product expertise are still in solar.
How Each Platform Charges You
GoodLeap uses a dealer fee model. Contractor enrollment is free, and you pay a percentage of each funded loan. The fee varies by product. Solar-focused products often carry lower dealer fees because of the loan size and investor appetite for solar paper. General home improvement products may carry different fee structures. The specific fees depend on your dealer agreement and the products you activate.
Hearth charges a flat annual subscription. As of 2026, the Pro plan (the most popular for active contractors) runs around $1,799 per year. You pay once and all funded loans through Hearth’s platform carry zero per-job dealer fees. The subscription also includes contractor business tools: estimates, contracts, and payment collection.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hearth | GoodLeap |
|---|---|---|
| Fee model | Flat annual subscription (~$1,799/yr) | Dealer fee per funded loan (varies by product) |
| Original focus | Home improvement contractors (all trades) | Solar financing (expanding to home improvement) |
| FICO minimum | 550 | Varies by product (typically 600+) |
| Loan maximum | $250,000 | Up to $100,000+ (varies by product) |
| Lender network | 18+ lending partners | GoodLeap as direct lender plus partners |
| Solar-specific products | Not a solar-focused platform | Strong solar financing portfolio |
| Funding speed | 2 to 3 business days | Varies by product and milestone |
| Contractor tools bundled | Yes (estimates, contracts, payments) | Dealer portal, project management |
| Regulatory history | No material regulatory issues reported | Named in Minnesota AG lawsuit (March 2024) |
GoodLeap and the Minnesota AG Lawsuit
In March 2024, the Minnesota Attorney General filed a lawsuit naming GoodLeap alongside Mosaic, Sunlight Financial, and Dividend Solar. The core allegation was that these companies charged homeowners hidden fees totaling approximately $35 million. The AG’s position was that loan origination fees were embedded in solar panel pricing without adequate disclosure to consumers.
This is worth understanding if you are considering GoodLeap for home improvement work. The lawsuit is a regulatory action against practices in the solar lending segment, not necessarily against GoodLeap’s home improvement products specifically. But the regulatory attention is real and the lawsuit was ongoing as of early 2026. If your business includes solar or solar-adjacent products, it is worth reviewing the current status of that action before enrolling.
For traditional home improvement contractors (roofing, HVAC, windows, bath, kitchen), the lawsuit is less directly relevant since it stems from the solar sales model. That said, understanding a lender’s regulatory track record is reasonable due diligence before building a business relationship.
Which Trades Each Platform Serves Best
GoodLeap is the clear leader in solar financing. If you are a solar installer or you offer solar as part of a broader home improvement package, GoodLeap’s product depth in that category is hard to match. The company has relationships with solar manufacturers, handles system-specific loan structures, and understands the milestone-based funding that solar installations require.
For non-solar trades, Hearth is purpose-built for the way residential contractors sell and present financing in the field. The mobile pre-qualification flow, the 550 FICO floor, and the flat annual fee model are all designed around a contractor who is presenting an estimate at a kitchen table and wants to turn a “let me think about it” into a signed contract the same day.
Bottom Line
If you are a solar installer, GoodLeap’s depth in solar lending makes it worth evaluating despite the ongoing regulatory attention. For general home improvement contractors doing roofing, HVAC, windows, bath, or remodeling work, Hearth is more purpose-built for your sales process. The flat annual fee structure saves you money above a modest volume threshold, the 550 FICO minimum qualifies more homeowners, and the entire platform was designed around how field-based contractors actually sell.
Ready to See If Hearth Makes Sense for Your Business?
Hearth gives contractors access to 18 plus lenders at a flat annual rate with no per-job dealer fees. If you finance more than $36,000 in projects per year, the math almost always works in your favor.