Updated August 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 edges this dongle comparison thanks to a lower price and a bit more radio muscle, and it also doubles as a Zigbee router, which the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 does not. These two are unusually similar under the hood: both are USB Zigbee 3.0 coordinators on Silicon Labs' EFR32MG24 chip that also serve as Thread border routers, both work plug-and-play with Home Assistant via ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, and neither supports Z-Wave. The Dongle Plus MG24 carries a +4.5dBi antenna versus +4.16dBi on the ZBT-2 and a +20dBm amplifier, while the ZBT-2 answers with a higher owner rating and its official Nabu Casa integration that is recognized automatically with Home Assistant Green. Both include or benefit from a USB extension for placement. Choose the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 for the cheaper, router-capable option; choose the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 if the official support and top rating matter more.
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| Feature | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $65.00 | $35.90 | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Amplifier Gain | 10dBm | +20dBm | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Antenna Gain | +4.16dBi | +4.5dBi | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG24 | EFR32MG24 | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | NO | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
$65.00
- + Rating: 4.8
- - Price: $65.00 vs $35.90
- - Zigbee Router: NO vs YES
Winner
$35.90
- + Price: $35.90
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- + Amplifier Gain: +20dBm
- - Rating: 4.7 vs 4.8
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the better HDMI-free Zigbee dongle, the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 or the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?
They are very close, both EFR32MG24 USB coordinators and Thread border routers for Home Assistant. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 wins on price and adds Zigbee router use with a marginally stronger antenna, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 has the higher rating and official Nabu Casa support.
What actually separates these two dongles?
Not much technically, since both use the same Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 chip. The differences are price (the Dongle Plus is cheaper), the Zigbee router role on the Sonoff, antenna gain (+4.5dBi versus +4.16dBi), and the ZBT-2's official Home Assistant integration and higher rating.
Do both act as Thread border routers?
Yes. Both the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 can run as Thread border routers for Matter. The Dongle Plus is flashed to Thread firmware via Sonoff's web flasher, while the ZBT-2 handles Zigbee or Thread as the official HA radio.
Which is easier to set up?
Both are essentially plug-and-play. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is recognized automatically as official hardware, especially on Home Assistant Green, and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is detected instantly with no flashing needed for Zigbee use.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?
Buy the ZBT-2 if you want the officially supported, top-rated Nabu Casa radio and the smoothest possible Home Assistant setup. It is Zigbee or Thread only, with no Z-Wave, and cannot double as a Zigbee router.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
Buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 for a cheaper, modern Zigbee coordinator that can also serve as a router and a Thread border router, with a slightly stronger antenna. It is Zigbee/Thread only, with no Z-Wave.
Full comparison table
Compare all 35 Dongles side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Dongles in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 35 Dongles
- 32 specs compared
- 29 filters
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SmlightSLZB-06 U
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SmlightSLZB-MR3
SmlightSLZB-MR4
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
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SmlightSLZB-07
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Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00 
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
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SmlightSLZB-07p7
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ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
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SonoffDongle Plus MG24
$35.90
SonoffZBDongle-P
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SonoffZBDongle-E
8% OFF$26.99$24.90
SonoffDongle-PZG23
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SmlightSLZB-06M
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SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SmlightSLZB-MR2
£160.48
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
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Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-07P Air Quality Monitor
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Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-08P Air Quality Monitor
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CamerasSonoffCam Slim Gen2
5% OFF$19.90$18.91
CamerasSonoffGK-200MP2-B
30% OFF$9.99$6.99
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro
$129.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Lite MG21
$24.90 
DonglesSonoffDongle Max
- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus PP10
$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle-PZG23
$39.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-E
8% OFF$26.99$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-P
14% OFF$39.99$34.57 
Door & Window SensorsSonoffDW2-WIFI
$12.23
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04 ZigBee Wireless Door/Window Sensor
$17.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04P ZigBee Door/Window Sensor
$18.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSenseGuard DW Gen2
Energy MonitorsSonoffPOWCT
$38.19
HubsSonoffiHost
$89.99
HubsSonoffZigbee Bridge Pro
$24.90
HubsSonoffZigbee Bridge Ultra
$54.99