Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
On paper both of these cover two protocols; in practice the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 covers Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro stops at Zigbee and Z-Wave, so the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 is the broader dongle.
It also brings a Bluetooth proxy and a network connection over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, where the Aeotec is a USB-only stick. Both carry a Z-Wave 800 controller and a Zigbee 3.0 radio with +20 dBm of transmit power and both work with Home Assistant, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the cheaper of the two and consolidates Z-Wave and Zigbee without any network cabling. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 for a multi-radio gateway on the network, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro for Z-Wave and Zigbee in one USB stick at a lower price.
Price alerts
Dongle prices change while you decide
We check the price of every Dongle in the catalog daily and email you the drops, whichever one you pick.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
| Feature | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $100.00 | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro |
| Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Power | USB | USB, PoE | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Connectivity | USB | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Thread Border Router | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Dual Network | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Bluetooth Proxy | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG21 | CC2652P10 | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Z-Wave Chip Model | EFR32ZG23 | EFR32ZG23 | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | YES | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol coverage
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 covers Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave with a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro combines Zigbee and Z-Wave but has no Thread or Bluetooth, so a Matter-over-Thread home would need another radio.
Placement
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi and can be mounted centrally. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is USB-only and stays with the host, which is its one placement limit.
Z-Wave generation
Both use a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, so the Z-Wave radio itself is a tie. The Smlight pairs it with Zigbee and Thread radios; the Aeotec pairs it with a single Zigbee 3.0 radio.
Antennas
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 uses two external antennas at +5 dBi gain and +20 dBm of transmit power. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro runs +20 dBm with no external antenna, relying on its compact body and the host's USB position.
Price and setup
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the cheaper of the two and needs no network planning, though it asks for a firmware update before Zigbee works. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 costs more and rewards that with the third radio and Ethernet placement.
Which one to buy if
- you also want Thread and Matter support
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 adds a Thread border router and a Bluetooth proxy, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro has neither.
- you want Z-Wave and Zigbee from one USB stick
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro consolidates both protocols in a compact stick at a lower price, with no network cabling.
- the coordinator needs to sit away from the server
Ethernet with PoE lets the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 move where the USB-only Aeotec cannot.
- you want the simplest path for a dual-protocol home
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro runs both Z-Wave and Zigbee and migrates from an older Z-Stick through Home Assistant backups, once its firmware is updated.
- + Price: $59.99
- - Rating: 4.5 vs 5.0
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
Winner
$100.00
- + Rating: 5.0
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- - Price: $100.00 vs $59.99
What owners say
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners love consolidating both networks into one stick. It works across Home Assistant hosts, from HA Yellow and Raspberry Pi 5 to Proxmox, Docker and N100 mini-PCs, with Z-Wave JS and Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, and once configured it runs for months without random disconnects. They praise the range from Z-Wave Long Range and +20 dBm, reaching a detached shed without extra repeaters, and the painless migration from an older Z-Stick through Home Assistant backups. Their warnings are the initial firmware update needed to enable Zigbee, a Windows-only firmware guide that frustrates Linux and Mac users, a fragile pairing button, and USB passthrough that needs care in virtual machines.
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
- Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 is the broader device, adding Thread and Bluetooth to a Z-Wave 800 and Zigbee setup and connecting over Ethernet. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the better value for Z-Wave and Zigbee alone, cheaper and sold as one compact USB stick.
What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
The third protocol and the placement. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 adds Thread and a Bluetooth proxy and can sit on the network, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro covers Zigbee and Z-Wave from a USB port. Both share a Z-Wave 800 controller and +20 dBm of transmit power.
Do the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 both work with Home Assistant?
Yes. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro runs through Z-Wave JS and Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 runs through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA for Zigbee and Thread. Both put +20 dBm behind their radios.
Which one supports Thread?
Only the Smlight SLZB-MRW10, which includes a Thread border router and a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro covers Z-Wave and Zigbee only, with no Thread or Matter support, so Matter-over-Thread devices would need a separate radio.
Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?
A Home Assistant user who wants Z-Wave and Zigbee from one compact USB stick, values Z-Wave Long Range, and does not need Thread, Bluetooth or Ethernet placement.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
A home running Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave that wants one network-placed gateway with a Bluetooth proxy and a newer-generation Z-Wave radio.
Full comparison table
Compare all 36 Dongles side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Dongles in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 36 Dongles
- 32 specs compared
- 29 filters
SmlightSLZB-MRW10
$100.00
SmlightSLZB-06 U
$72.99
SmlightSLZB-MR3
€158.13
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
$119.99
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99
SonoffZBDongle-E
$24.90
SonoffDongle Plus MG24
$35.90
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.45
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SmlightSLZB-MR2
€111.97
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
AeotecZ-Stick 7
$39.99
- DonglesAeotec
Z-Stick 10 Pro
4.5(182)$59.99 - DonglesAeotec
Z-Stick 7
4.5(256)$39.99 
DonglesAeotecZi-Stick
4.0(26)14% OFF$34.95$29.95
Door & Window SensorsAeotecDoor Window Sensor 7
4.2(47)$34.99
Door & Window SensorsAeotecMultipurpose Sensor
4.5(366)$38.99
Door & Window SensorsAeotecRecessed Door Sensor 7
3.8(353)5% OFF$39.99$37.99
Energy MonitorsAeotecHome Energy Meter 8
4.2(24)$95.99
HubsAeotecSmart Home Hub 2
3.9(41)$129.99
HubsAeotecSmart Home Hub
4.2(2,138)$159.99
Motion SensorsAeotecMotion Sensor
4.6(422)$48.99
Motion SensorsAeotecMultiSensor 7
3.8(112)29% OFF$69.99$49.99
Motion SensorsAeotecTriSensor 8
3.6(37)$39.99
PlugsAeotecSmart Switch 7
4.1(115)$69.94
RelaysAeotecPico Duo Switch
3.8(4)$34.95
RelaysAeotecPico Switch
3.6(13)$34.95
SirensAeotecSiren 6
3.4(380)50% OFF$79.99$39.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecaerQ Temperature & Humidity Sensor
3.5(173)14% OFF$35.99$30.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecMultipurpose Sensor
4.5(366)$38.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecTriSensor 8
3.6(37)$39.99
Wall SwitchesAeotecIllumino Dimmer Switch
3.6(25)23% OFF$47.99$36.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG24
4.5(6)$82.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG26
3.4(7)$84.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06 U
5.0(5)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06
4.2(182)$72.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06M
4.6(111)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06P10
4.4(11)$85.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06p7
4.4(11)$79.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06p7U
4.6(33)$78.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG24
3.3(5)$45.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG26
4.5(86)- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07
4.9(20)$34.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07P10
3.0(1)$48.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07p7
4.8(8)$36.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR1
4.4(11)$103.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR1U
4.8(16)$102.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR2
4.6(8)€111.97 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR3
5.0(1)€158.13 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR4
4.0(5)$130.00- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR5U
5.0(1)$119.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MRW10
5.0(11)$100.00