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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 vs Sonoff ZBDongle-P

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Zigbee mesh duty and Z-Wave control are separate dongle jobs, and the Sonoff ZBDongle-P is the Zigbee coordinator.
Sonoff ZBDongle-P
Winner
Sonoff ZBDongle-P
$33.45$39.9916% OFF
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P, coordinates and routes Zigbee 3.0, and has one 2 dBi antenna, +20 dBm of transmit power and a 2 year warranty. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the Z-Wave Series 700 controller, at 3.5 g, with +9.3 dBm of transmit power, no external antenna and a 1 year warranty. It does not run Zigbee. Both are USB sticks for Home Assistant. Buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-P for Zigbee. Buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 for Z-Wave.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 7Sonoff ZBDongle-PWinner
Price$39.99$33.45Sonoff ZBDongle-P
Rating4.54.6Sonoff ZBDongle-P
Warranty1 year2 yearsSonoff ZBDongle-P
Zigbee RouterNOYESSonoff ZBDongle-P
Z-Wave ControllerYESNOAeotec Z-Stick 7
Transmit Power+9.3dBm+20dBmSonoff ZBDongle-P
PowerUSBUSBTie
ConnectivityUSBUSBTie
Thread Border RouterNONOTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Dual NetworkNONOTie
Bluetooth ProxyNONOTie

What the differences mean

Zigbee chip versus Z-Wave chip

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is a Texas Instruments CC2652P running Zigbee 3.0 as both coordinator and router. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a Silicon Labs ZG14 running Z-Wave Series 700, and it is not a Zigbee coordinator. There is no shared radio to compare. The purchase is which protocol your devices already use.

Antenna and transmit power

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P has one external antenna at 2 dBi and publishes +20 dBm of transmit power. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 publishes +9.3 dBm of transmit power and lists no external antenna. So the Sonoff transmits at +20 dBm against +9.3 dBm, and it adds the external antenna the Aeotec does not have.

Warranty and bulk

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P warranty is 2 years, and the stick measures 75 x 25.5 x 13.5 mm at 105 g. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 warranty is 1 year, at 37 x 17 x 8.5 mm and 3.5 g. Owners call the Sonoff bulky in a tight USB port and the Aeotec's connector flimsy. Coverage is simply longer on the Sonoff.

What they plug into

Both are USB powered, with no Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE, and neither borders Thread or bridges Matter. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P works with Zigbee2MQTT. That integration is not applicable to the Aeotec Z-Stick 7. Home Assistant is supported on both, which is the one line they share.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 owners, once the opening firmware update is done, talk about long-running Z-Wave networks on Home Assistant, openHAB and ioBroker, and a snappier feel than 500-series sticks. They warn that the update is technical and can brick the stick, and that the plastic USB plug feels flimsy. Sonoff ZBDongle-P owners talk about dropping a Hue or IKEA bridge, fast control in ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, and range from the external antenna across more than one floor. They complain the aluminum body is bulky unless a USB extension gives it room, and that handing the stick to a virtual machine can take extra configuration. They have nothing to say about Z-Wave, because this dongle does not speak it.

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 7
  • Sonoff ZBDongle-P

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 7 or Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P for Zigbee 3.0, with a CC2652P, an external antenna, Zigbee routing and a 2 year warranty. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 for Z-Wave Series 700 in a 3.5 g USB stick. Neither does the other's protocol.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is a Zigbee coordinator and router. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a Z-Wave Series 700 controller with no external antenna. Both are USB only, and both work with Home Assistant.

Does the Sonoff ZBDongle-P support Z-Wave the way the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 does?

No. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is Zigbee only, with no Thread border router either. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the Z-Wave controller, and it is not a Zigbee coordinator.

Which has the longer warranty, the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 or the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P, at 2 years. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is covered for 1 year. The Sonoff is also the larger stick, at 105 g against 3.5 g.

Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

Home Assistant users running ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT who want a CC2652P coordinator with an external antenna, including people moving devices off a proprietary bridge.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?

Users who need a compact Z-Wave Series 700 controller for Home Assistant, openHAB or ioBroker, and who are prepared for the firmware update owners say it requires.

Full comparison table

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