On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar: Which for Your Home in India 2026?

On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar Systems

The first decision in going solar: which system type? Getting this wrong means paying for hardware you don't need.

Quick Comparison

Feature	On-Grid	Off-Grid	Hybrid
Connected to grid?	Yes	No	Yes
Battery?	No	Yes (mandatory)	Yes
Works in power cut?	No	Yes	Yes
Net metering?	Yes	No	Yes
3 kW Cost	₹1.2–₹1.8 lakh	₹2.5–₹3.5 lakh	₹3.0–₹4.5 lakh
PM Surya Ghar Subsidy	Yes (up to ₹78,000)	No	Partial
Best for	Stable grid areas	No grid / remote	Frequent cuts

On-Grid (Grid-Tied)

Connects to electricity grid. Solar powers home by day; excess goes to grid via net metering. At night, you draw from grid.

Pros

• Lowest cost — no battery
• PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligible: ₹30,000/kW for first 2 kW
• Net metering credits reduce/eliminate bills

Cons

• Zero backup during power cuts

Choose if: Your area has fewer than 4 hours of daily cuts.

Off-Grid

Fully independent of grid. All power goes to batteries.

Pros

• Complete energy independence
• Works with no grid connection

Cons

• Highest cost — large battery bank needed
• No subsidy, no net metering

Choose if: No grid connection or 10+ hours daily cuts.

Hybrid

Connected to grid AND has battery. Best of both worlds.

Pros

• Backup during outages
• Net metering eligible
• Smaller battery than off-grid

Cons

• Higher cost than on-grid

Choose if: 2–6 hours of daily cuts.

Cost After Subsidy (3 kW)

Type	Pre-Subsidy	Post-Subsidy	Payback
On-Grid	₹1.5–₹1.8 lakh	₹72,000–₹1 lakh	3–5 years
Off-Grid	₹2.5–₹3.5 lakh	Not eligible	6–9 years
Hybrid	₹3.0–₹4.5 lakh	₹2.2–₹3.7 lakh	5–8 years