Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 vs Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 comparison

Updated August 2026

Data from Amazon and official Sonoff site.

2026 verdict

The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the stronger Zigbee dongle here, built on the newer Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 radio and carrying a higher +4.5dBi antenna for better reach than the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21's +3dBi. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators (and routers) that can be flashed into a Thread border router for Matter, both include a USB extension cable, and both are genuinely easy to run in Home Assistant through ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 remains the value pick, coming in as the more affordable stick on the well-proven MG21 chip, which makes it the smarter buy when budget matters and your range is already fine. Choose the Dongle Plus MG24 for the newer chip and extra antenna gain, and the Dongle Lite MG21 to spend less on essentially the same feature set.

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Feature	Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21	Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24	Winner
Price	$24.90	$35.90	Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21
Rating	4.5	4.7	Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24
Antenna Gain	+3dBi	+4.5dBi	Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24
Zigbee Chip Model	EFR32MG21	EFR32MG24	Different strengths
Warranty	1 year	1 year	Tie
Power	USB	USB	Tie
Connectivity	USB	USB	Tie
Zigbee Router	YES	YES	Tie
Z-Wave Controller	NO	NO	Tie
Thread Border Router	YES	YES	Tie
Matter Bridge	NO	NO	Tie
Amplifier Gain	+20dBm	+20dBm	Tie

Sonoff

Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21

$24.90

Buy on Amazon USA

+ Price: $24.90
- Rating: 4.5 vs 4.7
- Antenna Gain: +3dBi vs +4.5dBi

Winner

Sonoff

Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24

$35.90

Buy on Amazon USA

+ Rating: 4.7
+ Antenna Gain: +4.5dBi
- Price: $35.90 vs $24.90

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 or the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 the better Zigbee dongle?

The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the stronger overall choice thanks to the newer EFR32MG24 chip and a higher +4.5dBi antenna gain versus the Dongle Lite's +3dBi. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the more affordable option and shares the same core features, so it is the better buy if you want to spend less.

What is the biggest difference between the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?

The radio and antenna. The Dongle Plus MG24 uses the newer Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 with a +4.5dBi antenna, while the Dongle Lite MG21 runs the older EFR32MG21 with a +3dBi antenna. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators that also flash to a Thread border router.

Do both work as Thread border routers for Matter?

Yes. Both the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 ship set up for Zigbee but can be flashed through Sonoff's web flasher to run as a Thread border router for Matter. Neither supports Z-Wave.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 if you want the newer MG24 radio and a bit more antenna gain for range, with truly plug-and-play Home Assistant setup via ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT and an included USB extension cable.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 if you want the cheapest way into a reliable Zigbee network for Home Assistant, with optional Thread flashing and the same USB extension cable, and range is not your main concern.

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