Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Zooz sites.
2026 verdict
Inside a Z-Wave-only Home Assistant setup, the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is the better controller to buy than the Aeotec Z-Stick 7, being cheaper and backed for longer.
Zooz covers it for 5 years against 1 year, and it runs on the newer Z-Wave Series 800 with Long Range support, where the Aeotec is a Series 700 stick with +9.3 dBm of transmit power. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 still has a loyal following: owners report years of dropout-free service and a network that migrates easily from older Aeotec sticks, and it works with Home Assistant, openHAB and ioBroker. Both are small USB sticks with no Zigbee, Thread or Matter. Pick the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick for a new Z-Wave network, and keep or choose the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 only when you already run one and it works.
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| Feature | Aeotec Z-Stick 7 | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99 | $39.95 | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Warranty | 1 year | 5 years | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | YES | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
| Bluetooth Proxy | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Z-Wave generation
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is a Series 800 controller with Long Range support; the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is Series 700. Both handle standard Z-Wave devices, and the Zooz is the one sold for Long Range devices far from the house.
Warranty
Zooz backs its stick for 5 years, Aeotec for 1 year. For a controller that holds your whole Z-Wave network, that is a meaningful gap.
Out-of-box setup
Owners of the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 say it often needs a firmware update before use, and US units may need to be switched back from the EU frequency. Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick owners describe it working as soon as it is plugged in.
Size
Both are small USB sticks with no external antenna, the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 at 37 mm long and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick at 56 mm. Either fits behind a mini-PC.
Which one to buy if
- you are starting a new Z-Wave network
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick brings Series 800 and Long Range at the lower price, with a 5 year warranty.
- you have sensors at the far end of a property
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is the one built for Z-Wave Long Range, and owners report distant outdoor sensors staying connected.
- you run openHAB or ioBroker
Owners of the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 report it running well on those platforms as well as Home Assistant.
- you would rather skip firmware chores
Owners of the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick report it working straight away, while the Aeotec often needs an update first.
- - Price: $39.99 vs $39.95
- - Rating: 4.5 vs 4.6
Winner
- + Price: $39.95
- + Rating: 4.6
- + Warranty: 5 years
What owners say
Owners of both sticks agree they work well with Home Assistant through Z-Wave JS and hold large mixed-brand networks without dropouts. Aeotec Z-Stick 7 owners single out long-term stability, a snappier response than older 500-series sticks and easy migration from another Z-Stick, but they complain about units that ship with old, buggy firmware (and on the EU frequency in the US), an update process that can brick the stick and a flimsy plastic USB connector. Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick owners talk about instant recognition with no driver and no firmware chores, and their warnings are about buying the correct regional frequency, Long Range reach that gets stretched on very large properties and a network rebuild when migrating from some old controllers.
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
- Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Aeotec Z-Stick 7 or Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick. It is cheaper, carries a 5 year warranty against 1 year, and runs Z-Wave Series 800 with Long Range, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a Series 700 stick.
Does the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 support Z-Wave Long Range?
Long Range is not listed for the Aeotec Z-Stick 7, a Z-Wave Series 700 controller. The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is the Series 800 stick of the pair and is built around Long Range support.
Do the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick support Zigbee?
No. Both are Z-Wave only, with no Zigbee, Thread or Matter. A Zigbee network needs a separate coordinator.
Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?
Owners already running one, or migrating from an older Aeotec stick, who are comfortable updating its firmware before adding devices.
Who should buy the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
Anyone building or upgrading a Z-Wave network in Home Assistant or HomeSeer who wants a plug-and-play Series 800 controller with Long Range and a long warranty.
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