Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Sonoff site.
2026 verdict
For a Home Assistant setup that may add Matter devices, the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the better of these two Sonoff USB coordinators, thanks to Thread support and a higher gain antenna.
Its Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 can be flashed to run as a Thread border router, and its +4.5 dBi antenna beats the 2 dBi of the older stick, while both share +20 dBm of transmit power, Zigbee router mode and support for ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E, built on the EFR32MG21, is the lower priced of the pair and carries a two-year warranty against one. Neither offers Ethernet, PoE or Z-Wave. Buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 if Thread is on the horizon, and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E if you only need Zigbee at the lowest cost.
vs
Deals by email
Dongle prices change while you decide
We follow prices across the catalog and email you the best deals we find.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
| Feature | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.90 | $24.90 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Thread Border Router | YES | NO | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Antenna Gain | +4.5dBi | +2dBi | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG24 | EFR32MG21 | Different strengths |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 | Tie |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
What the differences mean
Thread support
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 can serve as a Thread border router for Matter devices after a firmware flash through Sonoff's web tool. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is Zigbee only, so Thread would need another radio.
Antenna
Both have +20 dBm of transmit power, but the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 has a +4.5 dBi antenna against 2 dBi on the Sonoff ZBDongle-E. The newer stick's antenna is fixed, so you cannot swap it for a bigger one.
Extension cable
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 ships with a USB extension cable to move it away from interference. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners recommend the same thing, but you buy the cable yourself.
Warranty
Sonoff gives the ZBDongle-E two years of warranty and the Dongle Plus MG24 one year.
Which one to buy if
- you expect to add Matter over Thread devices
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 supports the Thread border router role; the Sonoff ZBDongle-E does not.
- you only need Zigbee and want to spend as little as possible
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the lower priced of the two and does Zigbee just as well.
- your Home Assistant runs under Windows Hyper-V
Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 owners report needing a COM-port workaround under Hyper-V, a problem Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners do not raise.
- you want everything needed in the box
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 includes the USB extension cable that owners of either stick end up using.
Winner
- + Thread Border Router: YES
- + Antenna Gain: +4.5dBi
- - Price: $35.90 vs $24.90
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 2 years
- + Price: $24.90
- + Warranty: 2 years
- - Thread Border Router: NO vs YES
- - Antenna Gain: +2dBi vs +4.5dBi
What owners say
Owners of both Sonoff sticks say the same thing about setup: plug it into the Home Assistant host and it is recognised straight away, with no flashing needed for Zigbee, and both groups run dozens of devices without dropouts. Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 owners single out the compact, cool-running design, the USB extension cable in the box and how easily Sonoff's web flasher turns it into a Thread radio; their complaints are an antenna fixed to the body, no mounting point and a workaround needed under Hyper-V. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners talk about value and about replacing a Philips Hue bridge, and they recommend buying a USB 2.0 extension cable to avoid interference, with a few reporting trouble pairing specific 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.
- Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24
- Sonoff ZBDongle-E
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 or Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24, for its Thread border router support, higher gain antenna and the extension cable in the box. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the lower priced, Zigbee-only choice with a two-year warranty.
Sonoff MG21 vs MG24: what changes between the ZBDongle-E and the Dongle Plus MG24?
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E uses the Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 and runs Zigbee only, while the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 uses the EFR32MG24 and can also be flashed as a Thread border router. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators and routers with +20 dBm of transmit power.
Can the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
No. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 runs either Zigbee or Thread, and several owners dedicate one to Thread alongside a separate Zigbee stick. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has no Thread support at all.
Do I need to flash the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 or the Sonoff ZBDongle-E before using them?
Not for Zigbee. Owners of both the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E say Home Assistant recognises them straight away with ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT. Flashing is only needed to turn the Dongle Plus MG24 into a Thread radio.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
Home Assistant users starting fresh who want a compact USB coordinator that can later become a Thread border router for Matter devices.
Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
Anyone who needs a dependable Zigbee-only USB stick at the lowest cost, with a two-year warranty, and has no plans for Thread.
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
- 32 specs compared
- 29 filters
SmlightSLZB-MRW10
$100.00
SmlightSLZB-06 U
$72.99
SmlightSLZB-MR3
€158.13
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
$119.99
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99- Sonoff
ZBDongle-E
$24.90 - Sonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
$35.90 
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.45
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SmlightSLZB-MR2
€111.97
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
AeotecZ-Stick 7
$39.99
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-07P Air Quality Monitor
3.7(193)$39.90
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-08P Air Quality Monitor
4.3(169)$49.90
CamerasSonoffCAM GlassView
4.4(30)$34.90
CamerasSonoffCam Outdoor DUO
$79.90
CamerasSonoffCam Slim Gen2
4.4(176)$19.90
CamerasSonoffGK-200MP2-B
4.0(149)30% OFF$9.99$6.99
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro Gen2
3.4(11)€149.90
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro
4.1(75)$129.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Lite MG21
4.5(452)$24.90 
DonglesSonoffDongle Max
4.3(603)18% OFF€38.99€32.13- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
4.7(690)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus PP10
4.6(99)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle-PZG23
4.6(175)$39.90 
DonglesSonoffZ-Wave 800 PoE Dongle Max
4.5(26)$44.90- DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-E
4.7(3,743)$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-P
4.6(5,678)16% OFF$39.99$33.45 
Door & Window SensorsSonoffDW2-WIFI
3.8(1,057)$12.23
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04 ZigBee Wireless Door/Window Sensor
3.7(101)$17.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04P ZigBee Door/Window Sensor
4.0(13)$18.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSenseGuard DW Gen2
4.4(203)£35.00