Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
For an EFR32MG24 stick running Zigbee or Thread, the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the better value than the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2, with higher transmit power, a Zigbee router mode and a lower cost.
Its radio runs +20 dBm of transmit power and a +4.5dBi antenna, against 10dBm and +4.16dBi on the Nabu Casa. The two otherwise match closely: same Silicon Labs chip, Zigbee 3.0 coordinator or Thread border router one at a time, USB only, Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT support and a one-year warranty. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is official Home Assistant hardware that owners describe as setting itself up, especially on Home Assistant Green. Choose the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 to spend less on more radio power, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 for the most seamless official setup.
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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 |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Transmit Power | +10dBm | +20dBm | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Antenna Gain | +4.16dBi | +4.5dBi | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 | Tie |
| 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 |
What the differences mean
Radio power
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 pairs +20 dBm of transmit power with a +4.5dBi antenna; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 10 dBm of transmit power with a +4.16dBi antenna. On paper the Sonoff transmits harder, though owners of both report whole-home coverage.
Router mode
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 can also run as a Zigbee router to extend another network; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is listed as a coordinator only.
Setup
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is official hardware that Home Assistant recognises and configures itself. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is plug-and-play for Zigbee, and switching it to Thread uses Sonoff's web flasher.
Cost
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the more affordable of the two for the same chip.
Which one to buy if
- you run Home Assistant Green and want zero configuration
Owners say the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is detected and set up automatically there.
- you want the most radio power for the money
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 has the higher transmit power and antenna gain at a lower cost.
- you may later reuse the stick as a Zigbee router
Only the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is listed as a Zigbee router.
- you want to support the Home Assistant project
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 comes from the company that funds Home Assistant.
- - Price: $65.00 vs $35.90
- - Zigbee Router: NO vs YES
Winner
- + Price: $35.90
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- + Transmit Power: +20dBm
What owners say
Owners of the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 agree on the big things: plug-and-play recognition in Home Assistant, strong range through a whole home and easy use of the same stick for Thread and Matter devices. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 owners single out automatic setup on Home Assistant Green and a design that looks good on a shelf, and complain that it costs more than budget dongles and that the Thread border router can be fiddly. Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 owners praise a compact, cool-running stick with an extension cable in the box and an easy web flasher. Their gripes are a fixed antenna that cannot be swapped, no mounting point and a Hyper-V workaround.
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
- Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 or Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 for value: same EFR32MG24 chip, higher transmit power, a router mode and a lower cost. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is the official option with the most seamless setup.
Do the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 use the same chip?
Yes, both use the Silicon Labs EFR32MG24. They differ in the amplifier, 10dBm on the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and +20dBm on the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24, and slightly in antenna gain.
Can either run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
No. Both the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 run Zigbee or Thread, one at a time.
Do both work with Zigbee2MQTT?
Yes. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 both work with Zigbee2MQTT as well as Home Assistant's own ZHA.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?
Home Assistant users, especially on Home Assistant Green, who want official hardware that sets itself up for Zigbee or Thread.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
Anyone who wants the same modern chip with more radio power and a router mode at a lower cost, and is fine using a web flasher for Thread.
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