Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
These two USB radios speak different protocols, and on the page the Sonoff ZBDongle-E comes out ahead as the cheaper Zigbee coordinator with a 2-year warranty.
Built on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 chip, it runs Zigbee 3.0, can also serve as a router and works with both Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT in a stick that weighs 105g. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller instead, on a Silicon Labs EF32ZG23, with a higher-gain external antenna in a standing unit you place for range, and it is official Home Assistant hardware. Neither does Thread or Matter, and both connect over USB with one external antenna. The honest answer is to buy by protocol: the Sonoff ZBDongle-E if your devices are Zigbee, the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 if they are Z-Wave, and both if you run the two.
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Winner
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| Feature | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.00 | $24.90 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | NO | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Antenna Gain | +3.38dBi | +2dBi | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol
This decides it. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller. Neither can talk to the other protocol's devices, so a Zigbee bulb will not pair with the ZWA-2 and a Z-Wave lock will not pair with the ZBDongle-E.
Range hardware
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 pairs its amplifier with a +3.38 dBi antenna in a standing unit you can place away from the server. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has a 2 dBi antenna on a small stick that works best on a USB extension cable.
Software
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E works with Home Assistant and with Zigbee2MQTT. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is built for Home Assistant and its Z-Wave JS integration.
Warranty
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E carries a 2-year warranty and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 a 1-year warranty.
Which one to buy if
- your sensors and bulbs are Zigbee
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is a Zigbee coordinator; the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 has no Zigbee.
- your locks and switches are Z-Wave
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave 800 controller; the Sonoff ZBDongle-E has no Z-Wave.
- you use Zigbee2MQTT
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E works with Zigbee2MQTT.
- Z-Wave devices at the edge of the house keep dropping
The standing unit and higher-gain antenna of the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 are built for range.
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- + Antenna Gain: +3.38dBi
- - Price: $79.00 vs $24.90
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
Winner
- + Price: $24.90
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Warranty: 2 years
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- - Antenna Gain: +2dBi vs +3.38dBi
What owners say
Owners of both radios describe the same thing Home Assistant users want: plug it in, let Home Assistant find it and watch devices pair within minutes, with a network that then stays stable. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 owners single out range above all, saying nearly every Z-Wave sensor now reaches it directly, even through stucco and glass where other coordinators failed, and value that it runs fully local through Z-Wave JS; their notes are that it is Z-Wave only and costs more than generic dongles. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners praise how many mixed-brand Zigbee devices it handles, often dozens, and use it to replace brand bridges like Hue. Their advice is to put it on a USB 2.0 extension cable to avoid interference, and a few mention trouble pairing certain Aqara sensors.
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 ZBDongle-E
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 or Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
It depends on the protocol. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the cheaper radio with a longer warranty and is the one to buy for Zigbee. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the one to buy for Z-Wave, since the Sonoff cannot run Z-Wave devices.
What is the difference between the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, while the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator. Both connect by USB to a Home Assistant host, and neither supports Thread or Matter.
Can I use the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E together?
Yes. Because one is a Z-Wave controller and the other a Zigbee coordinator, the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E cover different devices and can both be plugged into the same Home Assistant host.
Does the Sonoff ZBDongle-E need a firmware flash?
Owners report that the Sonoff ZBDongle-E ships ready to use, recognised by Home Assistant's Zigbee integration with no flashing or drivers. It runs on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 chip and also works with Zigbee2MQTT.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?
Home Assistant users with Z-Wave locks, switches and sensors who want official hardware, fully local control and range that reaches the far corners of the house.
Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT users building or replacing a Zigbee network on a budget, including anyone moving bulbs off a brand bridge like Hue.
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