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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro vs Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Nabu Casa sites.
2026 verdict
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro wins this Z-Wave adapter matchup by doing two jobs in one stick: a Z-Wave 800 controller plus a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator, and it is the lower priced of the pair.
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
Winner
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
$59.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
Both run the same Silicon Labs EF32ZG23 Z-Wave 800 chip with +20 dBm of transmit power and work with Home Assistant through Z-Wave JS. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is Z-Wave only, but it carries an external +3.38 dBi antenna where the Aeotec has none, and its owners describe range that reaches devices other coordinators could not hold. Neither supports Thread or Matter. Buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro to consolidate Z-Wave and Zigbee on one USB port, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 if Z-Wave range in a hard-to-cover home is the problem to solve.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 10 ProNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2Winner
Price$59.99$79.00Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
Rating4.54.6Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
PowerUSBUSBTie
ConnectivityUSBUSBTie
Zigbee RouterNONOTie
Z-Wave Chip ModelEFR32ZG23EFR32ZG23Tie
Z-Wave ControllerYESYESTie
Thread Border RouterNONOTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Transmit Power+20dBm+20dBmTie
Dual NetworkNONOTie

What the differences mean

Zigbee

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro adds a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 next to its Z-Wave radio, so one USB port serves both networks. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 handles Z-Wave only, and Zigbee needs a second adapter.

Antenna

The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 has an external +3.38 dBi antenna; the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro has no external antenna. Both have +20 dBm of transmit power, and it is the ZWA-2 whose owners report sensors connecting directly with the mesh barely needed.

First setup

Home Assistant offers to install what the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 needs as soon as it is plugged in. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro needs a firmware update before Zigbee works, and Aeotec's guide for it is written for Windows.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both adapters agree on the fundamentals: long range, fully local control through Z-Wave JS with no cloud, and an easy migration from an older stick using Home Assistant's backup and restore. Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners single out getting Zigbee and Z-Wave in one device as great value, and they complain that Zigbee needs an initial firmware update with a Windows-only guide, that the pairing button feels fragile and that USB passthrough in virtual machines takes work. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 owners talk about range above all, reaching exterior switches and door contacts through stucco and glass, and about Home Assistant offering to install the software on insertion; their caveats are that it is Z-Wave only and costs a bit more than generic dongles.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
  • Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro for most setups, since it is the lower priced and adds a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator to the same Z-Wave 800 radio. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the better Z-Wave-only adapter when range is the main concern, thanks to its external antenna.

Does the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro work with Home Assistant?

Yes. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro runs Z-Wave through Z-Wave JS and Zigbee through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA in Home Assistant, though Zigbee needs a firmware update first. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is Home Assistant's own Z-Wave adapter.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?

Zigbee. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro combines Z-Wave 800 and Zigbee 3.0 on one stick, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is Z-Wave only with an external antenna.

Do the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 use the same Z-Wave chip?

Yes. Both use the Silicon Labs EF32ZG23, a Z-Wave Series 800 chip, with +20 dBm of transmit power. Owners of both report easy migration from older sticks through Home Assistant's Z-Wave JS backup and restore.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?

Home Assistant users who run both Z-Wave and Zigbee devices and want one cloud-free USB adapter for both networks.

Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?

Home Assistant users with a Z-Wave network in a large or hard-to-cover home who want the official adapter and are fine keeping Zigbee on a separate radio.

Full comparison table

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