Aeotec Z-Stick 7 vs Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24

The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the better overall dongle for most setups, being a plug-and-play Zigbee and Thread coordinator with a stronger amplifier, a higher rating and a lower price. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 only takes the lead when you need a Z-Wave controller, which the Zigbee-focused MG24 does not offer.

The radios. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a Z-Wave 700 controller only, and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that also flashes to a Thread border router. There is no protocol overlap, so your devices dictate the pick.

The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is truly plug-and-play, recognized instantly by Home Assistant with no flashing needed for Zigbee. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 typically ships with old firmware you must update first, a more involved, technical step.

Only the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24, which can be flashed to act as a Thread border router for Matter. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is Z-Wave 700 only, with no Thread, Matter or Zigbee support.

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 if you want a modern, hassle-free Zigbee coordinator for Home Assistant (with optional Thread for Matter). Note the external antenna is fixed, so you use the bundled USB extension rather than swapping antennas.

Buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 if your smart home runs on Z-Wave and you want a dependable Z-Wave 700 controller for Home Assistant, openHAB or ioBroker. Plan to update the shipping firmware before adding devices.