Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 vs Sonoff Dongle Max comparison

Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.

2026 verdict

The Sonoff Dongle Max wins this dongle comparison on flexibility and value, pairing a lower price with USB, Ethernet and PoE placement that the USB-only Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 cannot match. Beyond connectivity, the Dongle Max also works as a Zigbee router, offers an experimental dual-network mode, and carries stronger radio hardware with two +5dBi antennas against the single +4.16dBi antenna on the ZBT-2. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 still holds its own with a higher owner rating and its status as Nabu Casa's official, near-automatic Home Assistant hardware, which suits people who want plug-and-play over configurability. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators and Thread border routers with no Z-Wave, tied into Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT. Go with the Sonoff Dongle Max if you want to mount the coordinator anywhere for better range at a lower cost; go with the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 for the simplest official setup.

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Feature	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2	Sonoff Dongle Max	Winner
Rating	4.8	4.2	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Power	USB	USB, PoE	Sonoff Dongle Max
Connectivity	USB	USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi	Sonoff Dongle Max
Zigbee Router	NO	YES	Sonoff Dongle Max
Amplifier Gain	10dBm	+20dBm	Sonoff Dongle Max
Antenna Gain	+4.16dBi	+5dBi	Sonoff Dongle Max
Dual Network	NO	Experimental	Sonoff Dongle Max
Warranty	1 year	1 year	Tie
Zigbee Chip Model	EFR32MG24	EFR32MG24	Tie
Z-Wave Controller	NO	NO	Tie
Thread Border Router	YES	YES	Tie
Matter Bridge	NO	NO	Tie

Nabu Casa

Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2

$65.00

Buy on Amazon USA

+ Rating: 4.8
- Power: USB vs USB, PoE
- Connectivity: USB vs USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi

Winner

Sonoff

Sonoff Dongle Max

Price unavailable right now

Buy on Amazon Canada

+ Power: USB, PoE
+ Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
+ Zigbee Router: YES
- Rating: 4.2 vs 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Which coordinator should I buy, the Sonoff Dongle Max or the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?

The Sonoff Dongle Max is the more versatile choice, cheaper and able to run over USB, Ethernet or PoE so you can place it where signal is weakest. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is USB-only but higher-rated and is the official Home Assistant radio for the easiest setup.

What is the biggest difference between them?

Placement and connectivity. The Sonoff Dongle Max connects over USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE and even runs a Wi-Fi access point, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 plugs in over USB only, tethering it to your Home Assistant host.

Can either run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?

The Sonoff Dongle Max offers a dual-network mode, though Sonoff still labels it experimental. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 runs Zigbee or Thread but not both simultaneously, so neither is a fully proven simultaneous dual-protocol radio yet.

Which has stronger range hardware?

The Sonoff Dongle Max, with two external antennas rated +5dBi and a +20dBm amplifier, plus the option to place it centrally over Ethernet or PoE. The ZBT-2 uses one +4.16dBi antenna and is fixed at your host's USB port.

Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?

Buy the ZBT-2 if you want the official, highly rated Nabu Casa radio with the most seamless Home Assistant experience and do not need Ethernet or PoE placement. It is Zigbee or Thread only, with no Z-Wave.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Max?

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Max if you want a flexible, well-priced coordinator you can mount away from the server, over Ethernet or PoE, to cover a garage or a far room. Be ready for some DIY troubleshooting and note dual-network is still experimental.

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