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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro vs Sonoff Dongle-PZG23

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
A dedicated Z-Wave dongle is the simpler protocol job, and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the one that only does that.
Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
Winner
Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
$39.90
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It is a Series 800 controller on an EF32ZG23, with one 2 dBi antenna and +20 dBm of transmit power, and it is the lower priced, better reviewed of the pair. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro uses that same Z-Wave series and chip name, the same +20 dBm of transmit power, and it also coordinates Zigbee 3.0 on an EFR32MG21, in a 3.5 g stick with no external antenna. Neither borders Thread. Buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for Z-Wave alone. Buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro when the stick should coordinate Zigbee too.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 10 ProSonoff Dongle-PZG23Winner
Price$59.99$39.90Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
Rating4.54.6Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
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 on top of Z-Wave

Both are Z-Wave Series 800 controllers on an EF32ZG23, with transmit power published at +20 dBm, USB power and a 1 year warranty. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro also coordinates Zigbee 3.0 on an EFR32MG21 and works with Zigbee2MQTT. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is not a Zigbee coordinator, so Zigbee2MQTT is not applicable there. That second radio is the whole product difference.

External antenna

The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has one external antenna at 2 dBi. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro lists none, in a 49 x 17 x 7 mm body at 3.5 g. Dimensions and weight for the Sonoff are not documented, so the size comparison stops at the Aeotec's figures and the fact of that antenna.

What neither adds

Neither borders Thread, neither bridges Matter, and neither has Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE. The Aeotec does not route Zigbee even though it coordinates it. If you need a repeater or a Thread border router, neither of these Z-Wave controllers is that device.

How owners bring them up

On the spec sheet both already are Z-Wave controllers for Home Assistant. Owners still describe different first steps. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners say no flash is required. Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners say Zigbee stays off until firmware is updated. That is an owner report about enablement, not a claim that the Aeotec lacks a Zigbee coordinator.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners single out one stick that does Z-Wave and Zigbee, local response, and a migration from an older Z-Stick through a Home Assistant backup. They are explicit that Zigbee waits on a firmware update, that the guide assumes Windows, and that the pairing button is fragile. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners single out a Z-Wave stick that needs no flash, range from the external antenna, and devices that stay connected, including locks and older gear moved off another hub. They like the extension cable that ships with it. Broken behavior is hard to find in what they wrote. The limit they name is intentional: no Zigbee and no Thread.

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-PZG23

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for a dedicated Z-Wave Series 800 controller with an external antenna. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro when that Z-Wave controller should also coordinate Zigbee 3.0. On Z-Wave series, chip name and the +20 dBm transmit power figure, the sheet lists them together.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

Zigbee. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro coordinates Zigbee 3.0 on an EFR32MG21 and has no external antenna. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is Z-Wave only, with one 2 dBi antenna. Both control Z-Wave Series 800 on an EF32ZG23.

Do the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 use the same Z-Wave chip?

The spec sheet gives both the EF32ZG23 and Z-Wave Series 800, with transmit power published at +20 dBm and a 1 year warranty. The Aeotec adds a separate Zigbee chip, an EFR32MG21. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 does not.

Does the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 work with Zigbee2MQTT like the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?

No. Zigbee2MQTT is supported on the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro. It is not applicable to the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23, which is not a Zigbee coordinator. Both work with Home Assistant for their Z-Wave role.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

Home Assistant or openHAB users who want a straightforward Z-Wave Series 800 stick with an external antenna and no second protocol to configure.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?

Users who want Z-Wave Series 800 and a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator in one 3.5 g USB stick, and who do not need an external antenna or Thread.

Full comparison table

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