Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Sonoff site.
2026 verdict
As a smart home dongle, the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the more versatile radio of this pair, winning on price and adding a Zigbee router mode and a flashable Thread border router that the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has neither of.
The two aren't really competing for the same job, though: the Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator built on the EFR32MG21 chip, while the Dongle-PZG23 is a dedicated Z-Wave 800 controller on the EFR32ZG23 chip with S2 security and Z-Wave Long Range, and it edges ahead on owner rating and on its own Z-Wave controller feature. Both are USB-only sticks that plug into a Home Assistant host and both ship with a USB extension cable to cut interference. Buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 for cheap, versatile Zigbee with the option to flash it for Thread later; buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 when what you actually own is Z-Wave hardware.
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| Feature | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $24.90 | $39.90 | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Zigbee Router | YES | NO | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Thread Border Router | YES | NO | Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
| Antenna Gain | +2dBi | +2dBi | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Which protocol each one actually speaks
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that can also work as a router or be flashed into a Thread border router. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 does none of that; it is a dedicated Z-Wave 800 controller and has no Zigbee or Thread radio at all.
How much setup each one needs
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 works the moment it's plugged in, with no flashing or firmware update required. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is just as immediate for Zigbee, but reaching Thread and Matter over Thread means flashing it first, a step a few owners found fiddlier than expected.
Security and range features
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 carries Z-Wave's S2 security and Z-Wave Long Range for extended point-to-point range. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21's range comes from running additional units as Zigbee routers instead, spreading coverage across several cheap sticks rather than one long-range link.
Price and rating
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the more affordable of the two. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 carries the slightly higher owner rating, largely on the strength of its plug-and-play reliability.
Which one to buy if
- the devices you're connecting are Zigbee
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has no Zigbee radio at all.
- the devices you're connecting are Z-Wave
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is built specifically as a Z-Wave 800 controller with S2 security and Long Range.
- you want the option to add a Thread border router later without buying another stick
The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 can be flashed into a Thread radio; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has no Thread capability.
- you want a coordinator that needs zero configuration or flashing out of the box
Owners describe the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 as recognized immediately with no firmware step, while getting the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 onto Thread does require flashing.
Winner
- + Price: $24.90
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- + Thread Border Router: YES
- - Rating: 4.5 vs 4.6
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- + Rating: 4.6
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Price: $39.90 vs $24.90
- - Zigbee Router: NO vs YES
What owners say
Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 owners describe it as an excellent, cheap way into a local smart home, plugging into a server and coming online in Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA within minutes, and they like that the same stick can run as a coordinator, a router, or be flashed into a Thread radio, all without being tied to proprietary software. Their friction shows up around that flashing step, since the dongle ships configured for Zigbee and a few found getting it onto Thread took more effort than expected, and one OpenHAB user hit a firmware update that broke compatibility until they downgraded. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners describe something closer to zero-friction: plugged in, recognized immediately, no flashing or firmware update needed, and running a wide mix of hardware without a dropout, a Schlage deadbolt, a Honeywell thermostat and decade-old Z-Wave devices migrated from a retired Vera hub among them. Their only real reservation is that it's early days for some owners, so long-term durability isn't proven yet, though nothing about its function has drawn a complaint so far.
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.
- Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21
- Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which dongle should I buy, the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 or the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
For most DIY smart homes on a budget the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 wins, as the cheaper and more versatile stick that handles Zigbee coordinator, Zigbee router and flashable Thread duties. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the one to buy only if your devices are Z-Wave, since it is a Z-Wave 800 controller and does no Zigbee or Thread.
What is the biggest difference between the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
Protocol. The Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that can also flash into a Thread border router, while the Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave 800 controller with S2 security and Long Range. They cover different device ecosystems, so what you already own decides it.
Can either handle both Zigbee and Z-Wave?
No, neither is a dual-protocol stick. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 does Zigbee and, once flashed, Thread, but not Z-Wave. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 does Z-Wave only. Owners who need both simply run one of each side by side.
Does the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 need flashing to work at all?
No, it works as a Zigbee coordinator or router immediately. Flashing is only needed if you specifically want it to run as a Thread border router for Matter over Thread instead.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21?
Buy it if you want an affordable, flexible Zigbee coordinator or router for Home Assistant with the option to flash it for Thread and Matter later. It has no Z-Wave.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
Buy it if your smart home runs on Z-Wave and you want a plug-and-play Z-Wave 800 controller with S2 security and Long Range for Home Assistant or openHAB. It does no Zigbee or Thread.
Full comparison table
Compare all 36 Dongles side by side
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