Quick Comparison
Side-by-side overview of both products
| Fox ESS H1-G2 UK's Most Installed Hybrid Inverter | GoodWe ES G2 Best Value Single-Phase Hybrid Inverter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £500 trade / £1,200-1,800 installed as part of a system | From £670 trade / £1,000-1,500 installed as part of a system |
| Warranty | 5 years standard, extendable to 10 years with Fox Cloud registration | Free PLUS+ 10-year warranty (5 years standard + free 5-year extension) |
| Rating | 4.7/5 (Fox ESS overall Trustpilot) | #6 global inverter manufacturer (Wood Mackenzie) |
| Power Output | 3kW, 3.7kW, 4kW, 5kW, 6kW options | 3.6kW, 4.6kW, 5kW, 6kW options |
| MPPTs | 2 independent MPPTs for flexible panel layouts | 2 independent MPPTs with wide voltage range |
| Max PV Input | 200% oversizing (e.g. 12kW PV on 6kW inverter) | 150% PV oversizing supported |
| IP Rating | IP65 — suitable for indoor and sheltered outdoor | IP65 — indoor and sheltered outdoor installation |
| Noise | Fanless — 0dB operation, completely silent | Low-noise operation with intelligent fan control |
| Backup | Built-in EPS with <10ms switchover | UPS function with <10ms switchover |
Pros and Cons
An honest look at the strengths and weaknesses of each product
Fox ESS H1-G2
UK's Most Installed Hybrid Inverter
- The most widely installed hybrid inverter in UK homes — proven at massive scale
- Fanless design means completely silent operation with no moving parts to fail
- IP65 rated with compact form factor for flexible indoor or sheltered outdoor mounting
- Compatible with the full Fox ESS ecosystem: ECS, EQ, EVO, and L Series EV charger
- Strong 200% PV oversizing capability maximises generation from your roof space
- Standard 5-year warranty requires Fox Cloud registration for extension to 10 years
- Single-phase only — need the H3-G2 for three-phase properties at higher cost
- No integrated EV charger functionality — purely an inverter/charger controller
GoodWe ES G2
Best Value Single-Phase Hybrid Inverter
- Free PLUS+ programme extends warranty from 5 to 10 years at zero additional cost
- Plug-and-play design reduces installation time and labour costs significantly
- Highly competitive pricing — typically £200-400 less than Fox ESS H1-G2 equivalent
- IP65 rated with modern, compact design and intuitive LED status indicators
- 98% peak efficiency delivers excellent real-world energy conversion performance
- Lower UK market share means fewer installers have deep hands-on experience
- SEMS Portal connection required to activate the free PLUS+ warranty extension
- Slightly smaller max PV input capacity than Fox ESS's 200% oversizing
Which Is Best For You?
The right choice depends on your priorities
Most proven choice
Fox ESS H1-G2 is the UK's most installed hybrid inverter with unmatched reliability data
Best warranty value
GoodWe's free PLUS+ 10-year warranty is the best deal in the UK inverter market
Silent operation
Fox ESS H1-G2 is completely fanless — zero noise, ideal for utility rooms and garages
Large solar arrays
200% PV oversizing means a 6kW H1-G2 can handle up to 12kW of panels
Fastest installation
GoodWe's plug-and-play design typically saves 1-2 hours on installation day
Budget systems
GoodWe ES G2 is £200-400 cheaper at trade with a better standard warranty included free
The Bottom Line
The Fox ESS H1-G2 is the UK's most installed hybrid inverter for good reason: it is proven, silent, and backed by the largest UK support network. Its fanless design and 200% PV oversizing give it a technical edge for larger arrays. The GoodWe ES G2 fights back hard on value — the free PLUS+ 10-year warranty alone saves the cost of a typical warranty extension, and the plug-and-play design can reduce installation time and cost. For budget-conscious homeowners who want a Tier 1 inverter with a free 10-year warranty, the GoodWe ES G2 is hard to beat. For those wanting the absolute premium, the SigEnergy Energy Controller operates in a different league entirely — its 3-25kW range, 0ms backup, and integrated 5-in-1 architecture make it the most advanced option, but at a significantly higher price point. As Hampshire installers of SigEnergy, Fox ESS and GoodWe, we recommend the Fox ESS H1-G2 as the default choice, the GoodWe ES G2 as the smart value pick, and SigEnergy for homeowners who want the best technology money can buy.
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