Updated August 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 wins this dongle comparison as the budget-friendly pick that opens up Zigbee and Thread, protocols the Z-Wave-only Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 does not cover, and it doubles as a Zigbee router too. It is Sonoff's cheapest USB Zigbee coordinator, near plug-and-play with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, with a bundled USB extension cable for cleaner placement. That said, the two do not compete on the same devices: the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a dedicated Z-Wave 800 controller that carries a higher owner rating, a slightly stronger antenna at +3.38dBi against +3dBi, and standout long-range Z-Wave performance from its external antenna and amplifier. Choose the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 for an affordable Zigbee/Thread coordinator; choose the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 if you need dependable Z-Wave.
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| Feature | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.00 | $24.90 | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | NO | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Thread Border Router | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Antenna Gain | +3.38dBi | +3dBi | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Amplifier Gain | +20dB | +20dBm | Different strengths |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 | Tie |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
$79.00
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- + Antenna Gain: +3.38dBi
- - Price: $79.00 vs $24.90
- - Zigbee Router: NO vs YES
Winner
$24.90
- + Price: $24.90
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- + Thread Border Router: YES
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- - Antenna Gain: +3dBi vs +3.38dBi
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should I buy, the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 or the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?
Choose by protocol. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee and Thread coordinator, ideal for Zigbee devices, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave-only controller for Z-Wave gear. They serve different networks.
What is the main difference between them?
Protocol. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 does Zigbee (and can be flashed for Thread) and acts as a Zigbee router, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 does Z-Wave 800 only, with no Zigbee or Thread.
Which is cheaper?
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the budget option, the least expensive stick in Sonoff's dongle line. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 costs more, reflecting its official Nabu Casa hardware status and Z-Wave range.
Which is easier to set up?
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is effectively plug-and-play as official Home Assistant hardware. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is nearly plug-and-play for Zigbee but ships configured for Zigbee, so running Thread requires a firmware flash.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?
Buy the ZWA-2 if you run Z-Wave and want a highly rated, official controller with strong range and fully local Z-Wave JS control. It has no Zigbee or Thread.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?
Buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 if you want the cheapest entry into Zigbee for Home Assistant, or a low-cost unit to run as a router to extend the mesh. It can flash to Thread but has 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-MR3
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SmlightSLZB-07
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Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
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SmlightSLZB-MR1U
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SmlightSLZB-07p7
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ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
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SonoffDongle Plus MG24
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SonoffZBDongle-P
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SonoffZBDongle-E
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SmlightSLZB-06M
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SonoffDongle Plus PP10
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SmlightSLZB-06p7U
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SmlightSLZB-MR2
£160.48
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
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Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-07P 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
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HubsSonoffZigbee Bridge Ultra
$54.99