Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa site.
2026 verdict
On a Home Assistant server with Zigbee or Thread devices, the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is the one to buy of Nabu Casa's two radios, the cheaper and better rated of the pair.
It is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and Thread border router on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG24, with an external antenna rated +4.16 dBi. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the Z-Wave half of the family: a Series 800 controller with +20 dBm of transmit power and its own external antenna, which owners credit with reaching sensors other coordinators could not. These are companions, not alternatives, and many homes end up with both on the same host. Choose the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 for Zigbee and Matter over Thread, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 for Z-Wave.
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| Feature | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $65.00 | $79.00 | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Thread Border Router | YES | NO | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 |
| Transmit Power | +10dBm | +20dBm | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Antenna Gain | +4.16dBi | +3.38dBi | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 handles Zigbee or Thread; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 handles Z-Wave. Neither covers the other, which is why Nabu Casa sells both.
Radio and antenna
The ZWA-2 lists +20 dBm of transmit power and a +3.38 dBi antenna, and the ZBT-2 a 10 dBm radio with a +4.16 dBi antenna. The figures belong to different protocols, so they do not rank one radio above the other; owners of both describe whole-home range.
Thread and Matter
Only the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 can act as a Thread border router for Matter over Thread devices. It runs Zigbee or Thread, one at a time.
Size
Both are standing units with a base and an antenna. The ZBT-2 is 179 mm tall and 157 g, the ZWA-2 is listed at 315 mm and 350 g.
Which one to buy if
- your devices are Zigbee bulbs and sensors
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is the Zigbee coordinator of the pair.
- you are adding Matter over Thread devices
Only the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 works as a Thread border router.
- your locks, switches and door contacts are Z-Wave
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the Z-Wave 800 controller, and owners credit it with reaching devices through stucco and glass.
Winner
- + Price: $65.00
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Thread Border Router: YES
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- - Transmit Power: +10dBm vs +20dBm
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- + Transmit Power: +20dBm
- - Price: $79.00 vs $65.00
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
What owners say
Owners of both Nabu Casa radios say the same thing about setup: Home Assistant finds them and walks through the install, which is the point of buying official hardware. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 owners single out whole-home Zigbee range from the antenna, easy switching to Thread and quick Matter pairing, and they note the price over budget dongles and an OpenThread Border Router setup that some found fiddly. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 owners talk about range so strong that most sensors connect directly to the hub and fixes for dropped devices and lock codes that would not sync, and their main warning is that it is Z-Wave only, so Zigbee needs the separate radio.
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.
- Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
- Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
ZBT-2 vs ZWA-2: which Nabu Casa radio do I need?
It depends on your devices. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is for Zigbee and Thread, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is for Z-Wave. The ZBT-2 is the cheaper and better rated of the two, and a home with both kinds of devices can run both.
What antenna gain do the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and ZWA-2 have?
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 has an external antenna rated +4.16 dBi, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 one rated +3.38 dBi together with +20 dBm of transmit power.
Can I use the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and ZWA-2 together?
Yes. They cover different protocols, so the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 runs Zigbee or Thread while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 runs Z-Wave on the same Home Assistant host.
Does the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 support Zigbee?
No. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is Z-Wave only, with no Zigbee, Thread or Matter. Zigbee needs the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 or another coordinator.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?
Home Assistant users with Zigbee devices or plans for Matter over Thread who want official, plug-and-play hardware.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?
Home Assistant users with Z-Wave devices, especially in large or hard-to-cover homes where range has been a problem.
Full comparison table
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