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Dongles · Head to head

Sonoff Dongle Max vs Sonoff ZBDongle-P

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Sonoff site.
2026 verdict
For anyone who can run a cable to the coordinator, the Sonoff Dongle Max is the more flexible Zigbee stick of these two.
Sonoff Dongle Max
Winner
Sonoff Dongle Max
€32.13€38.9918% OFFPrime exclusive deal
Buy on Amazon GermanyCheck price
It wins on power and connectivity with USB, Ethernet and PoE options, on Thread support as a border router, and on radio reach from its +5dBi dual external antennas against the single 2 dBi antenna on the Sonoff ZBDongle-P. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P gives back a 2 year warranty and the higher owner rating, and it is the proven, best-documented coordinator on the Texas Instruments CC2652P chip, the one the Home Assistant community reaches for first. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators that also work as Zigbee routers, neither carries a Matter bridge or a Bluetooth proxy, and both lean on the same two integrations, Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT. Buy the Sonoff Dongle Max to place Zigbee and Thread where signal is weak; buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-P for a plug-and-play USB stick with a longer warranty.
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FeatureSonoff Dongle MaxSonoff ZBDongle-PWinner
Price€32.13$33.47Sonoff Dongle Max
Rating4.34.6Sonoff ZBDongle-P
Warranty1 year2 yearsSonoff ZBDongle-P
PowerUSB, PoEUSBSonoff Dongle Max
ConnectivityUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiUSBSonoff Dongle Max
Thread Border RouterYESNOSonoff Dongle Max
Antenna Gain+5dBi+2dBiSonoff Dongle Max
Zigbee Chip ModelEFR32MG24CC2652PDifferent strengths
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie
Z-Wave ControllerNONOTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Transmit Power+20dBm+20dBmTie

What the differences mean

How it connects

The Sonoff Dongle Max runs over USB, Ethernet or PoE, so it can sit away from the host where Zigbee signal is weakest. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is USB only, which ties it to the machine it plugs into.

Radio and protocols

The Sonoff Dongle Max uses the Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 and can also act as a Thread border router. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is Zigbee only on the Texas Instruments CC2652P, with no Thread path at all.

Antennas

The Sonoff Dongle Max carries two external antennas at +5dBi each, against the single 2 dBi antenna on the Sonoff ZBDongle-P. Both are specced at +20dBm of transmit power, so the Max's extra antenna gain is the difference in reach.

Warranty

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P comes with a 2 year warranty and the Sonoff Dongle Max with 1 year, which matters for a device that sits powered on for years.

Setup friction

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is known for plug-and-play detection and quick migration. The Sonoff Dongle Max is equally well supported but adds a web configuration portal and a firmware update that several owners found under-documented, and its simultaneous Zigbee and Thread mode is still labeled experimental.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Both sets of owners describe the same smooth pairing with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT and the same strong range. Sonoff Dongle Max owners single out the freedom to run it over Ethernet or PoE and park it away from the host, which several used to cover a detached garage, while their complaints center on documentation: a firmware update that needs a physical power cycle, and a web portal that keeps asking them to log in again. Sonoff ZBDongle-P owners talk about a stick that just works out of the box across HAOS, Docker, Proxmox and NAS hosts, fast and responsive against older coordinators, and their only gripes are the bulky aluminum case and the VM passthrough setup.

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 Max
  • Sonoff ZBDongle-P

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall, the Sonoff Dongle Max or the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

The Sonoff Dongle Max wins on flexibility, with USB, Ethernet and PoE placement, a Thread border router and stronger antennas. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P is the safer, better-documented choice, with a 2 year warranty, the more popular chip and the better owner rating.

What is the main difference between the Sonoff Dongle Max and the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

Connectivity and radio. The Sonoff Dongle Max connects over USB, Ethernet or PoE and pairs an EFR32MG24 with a Thread border router, while the Sonoff ZBDongle-P is a USB-only Zigbee stick on the CC2652P with no Thread.

Which one is more reliable and easier to run?

The Sonoff ZBDongle-P has the longer track record and usually works out of the box with no flashing. The Sonoff Dongle Max is more flexible but asks for more patience, with a web portal and a firmware update process owners describe as under-documented.

Can either of these run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?

Only the Sonoff Dongle Max can, and the manufacturer still labels that dual-network mode experimental. The Sonoff ZBDongle-P has no Thread support, so it stays a dedicated Zigbee coordinator.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Max?

Anyone who wants to move the Zigbee coordinator away from the host over Ethernet or PoE, wants a Thread border router alongside Zigbee, or wants the higher gain antennas for a larger home.

Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-P?

Buyers who want the community's reference USB Zigbee coordinator on the well-supported CC2652P chip, with a 2 year warranty and no Thread or network placement needs.

Full comparison table

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