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Dongles · Head to head

Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 vs Sonoff Dongle-PZG23

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Scored as USB radios for Home Assistant, the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 edges the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 on Z-Wave control, higher transmit power (+20 dBm) and a lower cost.
Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
Winner
Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
$39.90
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
But these two are not rivals so much as neighbours: the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is the official Zigbee 3.0 and Thread radio on an EFR32MG24, with a +4.16dBi antenna and a strong following among owners. Neither can pair the other's devices. Take the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for Z-Wave locks, thermostats and switches, the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 for Zigbee sensors and Matter-over-Thread devices, and both if your home mixes them.
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FeatureNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2Sonoff Dongle-PZG23Winner
Price$65.00$39.90Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
Rating4.74.6Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Z-Wave ControllerNOYESSonoff Dongle-PZG23
Thread Border RouterYESNONabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Transmit Power+10dBm+20dBmSonoff Dongle-PZG23
Antenna Gain+4.16dBi+2dBiNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
PowerUSBUSBTie
ConnectivityUSBUSBTie
Zigbee RouterNONOTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Dual NetworkNONOTie

What the differences mean

Protocol

The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 controls Z-Wave devices. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 coordinates Zigbee or runs Thread for Matter. The devices you own decide this, not the spec sheet.

Thread and Matter

Only the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 can be a Thread border router, which Matter-over-Thread devices need. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has no Thread.

Radio power

The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 pairs +20 dBm of transmit power with a 2 dBi antenna; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 10 dBm of transmit power with a +4.16dBi antenna. They serve different networks, so the figures do not compare one to one.

Official hardware

The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 comes from the company behind Home Assistant, and owners describe it as recognised and set up automatically. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 works with Home Assistant and openHAB.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both describe plug-and-play setup in Home Assistant and a noticeable gain in range and stability. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 owners single out automatic setup on Home Assistant Green, whole-home Zigbee coverage without repeaters, fast pairing of Matter-over-Thread devices and a design that looks good on a shelf. They complain that it costs more than budget dongles, runs Zigbee or Thread but not both, and that Thread border router setup can be fiddly. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners talk about Z-Wave devices of every age, from a Schlage deadbolt to hardware migrated off an old Vera hub, joining without drops, and about the extension cable in the box. They report almost no faults, beyond being too new to judge long-term durability.

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-PZG23

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Frequently Asked Questions

ZBT-2 vs Sonoff: which should I buy, the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 or the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

It depends on your devices. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave 800 controller and the more affordable of the two; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is a Zigbee and Thread radio. Neither replaces the other.

What is the biggest difference between the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

The protocol. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 handles Zigbee 3.0 or Thread, while the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 handles Z-Wave only.

Can I use the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 together?

Yes. Owners of the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 report it sitting happily next to separate Zigbee and Thread dongles, and Home Assistant can run Z-Wave on the Sonoff and Zigbee or Thread on the Nabu Casa radio at the same time.

Does the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?

No. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 runs Zigbee or Thread, one at a time. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 runs neither, only Z-Wave.

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

Home Assistant users with Zigbee devices or Matter-over-Thread gear who want official, plug-and-play hardware.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?

Anyone running Z-Wave devices in Home Assistant or openHAB who wants an affordable Z-Wave 800 stick with Long Range and S2 security.

Full comparison table

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