Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Zooz sites.
2026 verdict
When the goal is a dependable Z-Wave controller for Home Assistant at the lowest cost, the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is the better buy of these two.
It matches the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 on protocol, since both are Z-Wave 800 controllers with S2 security running locally through Z-Wave JS, and it wins on price and on warranty, five years against one. What the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 brings is range: a single external antenna with +20 dBm of transmit power and +3.38 dBi of gain, which owners credit with reaching locks and sensors through stucco and glass. Choose the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick for a small to medium home and the best value, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 when dead zones or hard-to-reach devices are the real problem.
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| Feature | Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.00 | $39.95 | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Warranty | 1 year | 5 years | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.6 | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | YES | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
| Bluetooth Proxy | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Price and warranty
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick costs less and is backed by five years against one on the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2. For two devices that do the same job, that combination of lower cost and longer cover is the clearest split between them.
Antenna and range
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 carries one external antenna with +20 dBm of transmit power and +3.38 dBi of gain; the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick has none, and neither its transmit power nor its antenna gain is documented. Owners of the ZWA-2 describe that antenna as what reaches devices through difficult walls, so the gap shows up in a large or awkwardly built house.
Form factor
The Zooz is a 20 g stick measuring 56 x 20 x 5 mm, small enough to leave plugged into a mini-PC. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a 350 g standing unit, 315 mm tall on its base, meant to sit out where its antenna has room rather than hang off the back of the host.
Setup path
Both run locally through Z-Wave JS and both skip the cloud. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is official Home Assistant hardware, so the software install is offered on plug-in; the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is a third-party stick that owners still describe as driver-free and instantly recognized.
Which one to buy if
- your Z-Wave devices sit behind stucco, glass or a metal rack
The external antenna, +20 dBm transmit power and +3.38 dBi gain of the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 are exactly what closes those dead zones.
- the network is a small or medium home that already gets a signal everywhere
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick covers that ground for far less money, so the extra antenna buys nothing.
- you want the longest warranty on a Z-Wave controller
Five years on the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick against one on the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2.
- you prefer official Home Assistant hardware
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is made by Nabu Casa, so Home Assistant prompts the software install the moment it is plugged in.
- the host is a tiny case with no room beside it
At 20 g and 56 mm long, the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick disappears into the port instead of needing a shelf for an antenna.
- - Price: $79.00 vs $39.95
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 5 years
Winner
- + Price: $39.95
- + Warranty: 5 years
What owners say
Owners of both sticks describe the same easy path into Z-Wave: plug it into the Home Assistant host, let Z-Wave JS detect it, and include devices without driver trouble. Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick owners stress the instant recognition on a Mac, Pi, mini-PC or Proxmox, broad device adoption and stability over a year, and their caution is reach on a very large property plus the need to buy the right regional frequency. Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 owners are more emphatic about range: the external antenna and amplifier let nearly every sensor connect directly, ending dead zones through stucco and tempered glass and healing dropped devices and packet loss, and their only note is that it is Z-Wave only and priced above generic dongles.
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
- Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 or the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick for most homes, because it does the same Z-Wave 800 controller job at a lower price with a five-year warranty. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is the better pick when range is the problem, since its external antenna and amplifier reach where a plain stick does not.
What is the biggest difference between the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
Antenna and price. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 carries one external antenna with +20 dBm of transmit power and +3.38 dBi of gain for extended reach, while the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick has no external antenna and costs much less, with a five-year warranty against one.
Do both controllers work with Home Assistant?
Yes. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick are both Z-Wave 800 controllers that Home Assistant drives through Z-Wave JS, fully local and with no cloud account, and both adopt Z-Wave devices without compatibility errors.
Which one has better range?
The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2. Its single external antenna, +20 dBm transmit power and +3.38 dBi gain are what owners credit with reaching locks and sensors through stucco and glass. The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick covers most two-story homes but is less suited to very large properties.
Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?
Anyone whose Z-Wave network has persistent dead zones or dropped devices, or who wants official Home Assistant hardware and is happy to pay a little more for the external antenna and simpler setup.
Who should buy the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
A Home Assistant user with a small to medium home who wants the cheapest reliable Z-Wave 800 controller, a compact 20 g stick and a five-year warranty, and who remembers to order the version for their region's Z-Wave frequency.
Full comparison table
Compare all 36 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.
- 36 Dongles
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