Solar vs plug-in string lights: which should you buy?

Q: Are solar string lights as bright as plug-in string lights?

No. Solar bulbs run at 1 watt so the battery lasts all evening, compared with 2 watts on Brightech's plug-in strands. Solar reads as a warm ambient glow; plug-in is better where people need to see what they are doing.

Q: Can outdoor string lights stay up all winter?

Yes. Brightech's Ambience Pro and Glow strands are built to stay up year-round, with a weatherproof WeatherTite cable and bulbs that are replaceable one at a time.

Q: Do solar string lights work on cloudy days?

Yes, with a shorter evening. The panel charges a battery during the day, and the battery runs the lights after dark. After several cloudy days in a row the battery may not fill, so expect the lights to run for less time. If that worries you, choose hybrid string lights: they charge from the sun and can also plug in, so you are covered either way.

Q: Can I dim outdoor string lights?

Plug-in strands, yes, with the Outdoor Dimmer for String Lights. Solar strands are not dimmable.

Madeleine Bright

October 09, 2026

Start with one question: is there an outlet within reach?

Choose plug-in string lights if there is an outlet within reach and you want the brightest light and the option to dim. Choose solar string lights for places with no power, like a back fence, a pergola or a garden path: they charge in daylight and turn on by themselves at dusk. Ambience Pro strands, plug-in and solar, use shatterproof plastic bulbs, Glow strands use glass for a classic look, and every strand has a weatherproof cable made to stay up outdoors all year.

Brightness: plug-in wins

Plug-in Ambience Pro and Glow Heavy Duty bulbs run at 2 watts each. Solar bulbs run at 1 watt so the battery lasts all evening, which gives a softer, candle-like glow. For a dining area or a patio where people read menus and play cards, go plug-in. For atmosphere along a fence, solar is plenty.

Brightech Ambience Pro Plug-in String Lights — Ambience Pro Plug-in String Lights

Brightech Glow Heavy Duty Plug-in String Lights — Glow Heavy Duty Plug-in String Lights

Placement: solar wins

Solar strands need no outlet, no extension cord and no wiring. Put the panel where it gets direct sun for most of the day. Plug-in strands need an outdoor outlet at one end, or an outdoor extension cord. Plug-in Ambience Pro strands connect end to end, up to 20 strands in one run (the 105 ft strand is limited to 6). Solar strands do not connect.

Brightech Ambience Pro Solar — Ambience Pro Solar

Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Hanging — Ambience Pro Solar Hanging

Brightech Glow Solar String Lights — Glow Solar String Lights

Dimming and control

Plug-in strands can be dimmed with the Outdoor Dimmer for String Lights or put on a schedule with the Outdoor Smart Plug. Solar strands are not dimmable, and their light color is fixed: choose Warm White or Soft White when you buy.

Lasting through winter

Brightech's WeatherTite cable is built to stay up year-round, so nothing needs to come down for winter. Bulbs are replaceable one at a time, so a single failed bulb never means a new strand. On solar strands the panel is the part that wears out first: expect around 2 years, and the warranty covers it. When it does wear out you do not need a new strand, just a replacement solar panel.

Brightech string lights compared

Swipe sideways to see every strand. Ratings are a snapshot from October 2026.

String lights	Ambience Pro plug-in	Glow Heavy Duty plug-in	Ambience Pro Solar	Ambience Pro Solar Hanging	Glow Solar
Power	Outlet	Outlet	Solar panel	Solar panel	Solar panel
Lengths	24 or 48 ft	48 ft	27 or 48 ft	27 or 48 ft	28 ft
Bulbs	S14, 2 W LED filament, shatterproof plastic	S14, 2 W LED filament, glass	S14, 1 W LED filament, shatterproof plastic	S14, 1 W LED, shatterproof plastic	S14, 1 W LED filament, glass
Bulb count	7 (24 ft) / 15 (48 ft)	15	12 (27 ft) / 15 (48 ft)	12 (27 ft) / 15 (48 ft)	12
Light color	Warm White 2500K, Soft White 2700K, Neutral White 3000K	2700K	Warm White 2700K, Soft White 3000K	Warm White 2700K, Soft White 3000K	2700K
Dimmable	With Outdoor Dimmer	With Outdoor Dimmer	No	No	No
Replaceable bulbs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Connect end to end	Yes, up to 20 strands	Yes	No	No	No
Warranty	3 years (5 years on brightech.com)	3 years (5 years on brightech.com)	2 years	2 years	2 years
Rating	4.4 (32) out of 5 stars	4.8 (45) out of 5 stars	4.7 (90) out of 5 stars	4.3 (31) out of 5 stars	4.5 (46) out of 5 stars

Warranty

Brightech's plug-in LED string lights carry a 3 year warranty, extended to 5 years when you buy directly from brightech.com. Solar string lights carry a 2 year warranty. Every strand is UL Listed, and solar batteries also carry UN 38.3 certification.

Frequently asked questions

Are solar string lights as bright as plug-in string lights?

No. Solar bulbs run at 1 watt so the battery lasts all evening, compared with 2 watts on Brightech's plug-in strands. Solar reads as a warm ambient glow; plug-in is better where people need to see what they are doing.

Can outdoor string lights stay up all winter?

Yes. Brightech's Ambience Pro and Glow strands are built to stay up year-round, with a weatherproof WeatherTite cable and bulbs that are replaceable one at a time.

Do solar string lights work on cloudy days?

Yes, with a shorter evening. The panel charges a battery during the day, and the battery runs the lights after dark. After several cloudy days in a row the battery may not fill, so expect the lights to run for less time. If that worries you, choose hybrid string lights: they charge from the sun and can also plug in, so you are covered either way.

Can I dim outdoor string lights?

Plug-in strands, yes, with the Outdoor Dimmer for String Lights. Solar strands are not dimmable.