Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Where the coordinator sits is the protocol job, and the Sonoff Dongle Max is the dongle that can use Ethernet or PoE.
It coordinates and routes Zigbee 3.0, borders Thread, and adds USB, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and two antennas, with dual-network still experimental. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the USB stick that controls Z-Wave Series 800 and coordinates Zigbee, without routing Zigbee or bordering Thread, and with no external antenna. It is the better reviewed of the two. Pick the Sonoff Dongle Max when the Zigbee radio should leave the host. Pick the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro when one stick must run Z-Wave and Zigbee.
vs
Winner
18% OFF
Prime exclusive deal€32.13
€38.99
Ends in --
Join Prime to buy it at €32.13
Ends in --
Join Prime to buy it at £29.59
Deals by email
Dongle prices change while you decide
We follow prices across the catalog and email you the best deals we find.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
| Feature | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro | Sonoff Dongle Max | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | €32.13 | Sonoff Dongle Max |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro |
| Power | USB | USB, PoE | Sonoff Dongle Max |
| Connectivity | USB | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | Sonoff Dongle Max |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Max |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | NO | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro |
| Thread Border Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Max |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG21 | EFR32MG24 | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Placement
The Sonoff Dongle Max connects over USB, Ethernet or 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and can draw power from USB or PoE. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is USB only. If the coordinator has to sit in the middle of the house rather than on the server, the Max is the one that can make that move. The Aeotec stays on the host.
Second protocol
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro controls Z-Wave Series 800 and coordinates Zigbee 3.0 on an EFR32MG21. It does not route Zigbee and it does not border Thread. The Sonoff Dongle Max routes Zigbee, borders Thread on an EFR32MG24, and does not control Z-Wave. Dual-network on the Max is experimental.
Antennas
The Sonoff Dongle Max has two external antennas at +5dBi and publishes +20 dBm of transmit power, at 102 g. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro publishes +20 dBm of transmit power, lists no external antenna, and weighs 3.5 g. Antenna gain on the Aeotec is not applicable because there is no external antenna.
Shared software
Both work with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, and both warranties are 1 year. Neither is a Matter bridge or a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec's Zigbee2MQTT path is the coordinator role only. The Max can also route. That router checkbox is the mesh difference once both are already on Zigbee.
Which one to buy if
- the Zigbee coordinator should sit on Ethernet or PoE
The Sonoff Dongle Max supports Ethernet and PoE. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a USB stick and cannot move off the host that way.
- a single stick must carry both Z-Wave and Zigbee
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a Series 800 Z-Wave controller and a Zigbee coordinator. The Sonoff Dongle Max has no Z-Wave controller.
- you want Thread as well as a Zigbee router
The Sonoff Dongle Max routes Zigbee and borders Thread. Dual-network is experimental. The Aeotec does not border Thread and does not route Zigbee.
- you want the smaller stick and can live on USB
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro weighs 3.5 g with no external antenna. The Sonoff Dongle Max weighs 102 g and carries two antennas.
- + Rating: 4.5
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Price: $59.99 vs €32.13
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
Winner
18% OFF
Prime exclusive deal€32.13
€38.99
- + Price: €32.13
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- - Rating: 4.3 vs 4.5
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
What owners say
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners single out one stick for Z-Wave and Zigbee, quick local control, and a migration that reused a Home Assistant backup. They are plain that Zigbee needs a firmware update first, that the guide is aimed at Windows, and that the pairing button can break. Sonoff Dongle Max owners single out Ethernet and PoE, which let them move the coordinator into a weak spot instead of leaving it on the server, and a smooth start in ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT. They complain the firmware update wants a physical power cycle that is easy to miss in the docs, that the web portal keeps asking for a login, and that a few devices drop off by themselves. Experimental is the word they use for dual-network.
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
- Sonoff Dongle Max
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Sonoff Dongle Max?
The Sonoff Dongle Max for a Zigbee coordinator that can sit on Ethernet or PoE and also route Zigbee and border Thread. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro for one USB stick that controls Z-Wave Series 800 and coordinates Zigbee, which the Max cannot do.
What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Sonoff Dongle Max?
The Sonoff Dongle Max is a networked Zigbee and Thread dongle with two antennas. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a 3.5 g USB stick that adds Z-Wave Series 800 beside a Zigbee coordinator, with no Ethernet, no Thread and no external antenna.
Does the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro work with Home Assistant as well as the Sonoff Dongle Max?
Yes. Both list Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is USB only. The Sonoff Dongle Max also offers Ethernet, PoE and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which is the placement difference, not a Home Assistant difference.
Can the Sonoff Dongle Max run Z-Wave like the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?
No. The Sonoff Dongle Max is Zigbee and Thread, with dual-network marked experimental. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the Z-Wave Series 800 controller, and it coordinates Zigbee without routing it.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Max?
People who want a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router, a Thread border router, and the freedom to power it by PoE or Ethernet away from the server.
Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?
People who want Z-Wave Series 800 and a Zigbee coordinator in one small USB stick, and who do not need Thread, Zigbee routing or a network port.
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$33.47
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(42)$129.99
HubsAeotecSmart Home Hub
4.2(2,139)$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
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-07P Air Quality Monitor
3.7(193)$39.90
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-08P Air Quality Monitor
4.3(169)$49.90
CamerasSonoffCAM GlassView
4.4(30)$34.90
CamerasSonoffCam Outdoor DUO
$79.90
CamerasSonoffCam Slim Gen2
4.4(176)$19.90
CamerasSonoffGK-200MP2-B
4.0(149)30% OFF$9.99$6.99
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro Gen2
3.4(11)€149.90
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro
4.1(75)$129.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Lite MG21
4.5(452)$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Max
4.3(603)18% OFF€38.99€32.13 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
4.7(690)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus PP10
4.6(99)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle-PZG23
4.6(175)$39.90 
DonglesSonoffZ-Wave 800 PoE Dongle Max
4.5(26)$44.90- DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-E
4.7(3,743)$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-P
4.6(5,678)16% OFF$39.99$33.47 
Door & Window SensorsSonoffDW2-WIFI
3.8(1,058)$12.23
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04 ZigBee Wireless Door/Window Sensor
3.7(101)$17.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04P ZigBee Door/Window Sensor
4.0(13)$18.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSenseGuard DW Gen2
4.4(203)£35.00