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Dongles · Head to head

Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 vs Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Weighed as a first radio for a Home Assistant setup, the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 takes the win over the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2, on lower cost, a Zigbee router mode and a Thread border router option.
Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21
Winner
Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21
$24.90
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It is a small USB stick on the Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 that coordinates Zigbee 3.0 devices, and owners praise it as a cheap, reliable entry point. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 works on a different protocol entirely: it is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller with a stronger +3.38dBi antenna, and its owners rate it very highly for range. Neither can pair the other's devices. Choose the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 for Zigbee or Thread, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 for Z-Wave.
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FeatureNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21Winner
Price$79.00$24.90Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21
Rating4.64.5Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Zigbee RouterNOYESSonoff Dongle Lite MG21
Z-Wave ControllerYESNONabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Thread Border RouterNOYESSonoff Dongle Lite MG21
Antenna Gain+3.38dBi+2dBiNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
PowerUSBUSBTie
ConnectivityUSBUSBTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Transmit Power+20dBm+20dBmTie
Dual NetworkNONOTie

What the differences mean

Protocol

The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 handles Zigbee, or Thread after a flash. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 handles Z-Wave. Your devices decide which one you need, and mixed homes use both.

Thread

The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 can be a Thread border router for Matter devices. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 has no Thread.

Antenna

Both have +20 dBm of transmit power. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 has a +3.38dBi antenna against +3dBi on the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21, a small gap on paper for radios serving different networks.

Cost

The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the far more affordable stick; Nabu Casa owners accept a higher cost for official hardware and range.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both describe near plug-and-play setup in Home Assistant and networks that run steadily. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 owners single out range, with Z-Wave sensors connecting directly and devices behind stucco or glass finally staying online, plus fully local control through Z-Wave JS. They mention that it is Z-Wave only and costs more than generic sticks. Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 owners focus on value, running units as coordinator and as routers with 60 or more devices, and on the extension cable that keeps the stick away from noisy USB 3 ports. Their complaints are that flashing it for Thread takes effort and that a firmware update once broke OpenHAB support.

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 ZWA-2
  • Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 or Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?

The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 wins on cost and flexibility for Zigbee and Thread. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the pick for Z-Wave devices, which the Sonoff cannot control.

What is the biggest difference between the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?

The protocol: the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave 800 controller, and the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that can also run Thread.

Can I use both with Home Assistant Green?

Owners of the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 report it working on Home Assistant Green, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is official Home Assistant hardware. Since they cover different protocols, one Home Assistant install can run both.

Does the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 support Zigbee?

No. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is Z-Wave only. For Zigbee you need a coordinator such as the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21.

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

Home Assistant users with Z-Wave devices, especially where range has been a problem, who want official, fully local hardware.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?

Budget-minded Home Assistant users starting a Zigbee network, or adding Zigbee routers, with the option of Thread later.

Full comparison table

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