Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Sonoff site.
2026 verdict
Starting a Home Assistant setup with Zigbee bulbs and sensors, the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the one to buy of these two Sonoff sticks, cheaper and backed by a 2 year warranty.
It is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 with an external antenna, pre-flashed and plug-and-play with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is not a Zigbee dongle at all: it is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller with S2 security, Long Range and an adjustable antenna, and owners describe it as just as easy to set up. Both are USB only and neither does Thread. Get the Sonoff ZBDongle-E for Zigbee devices, the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for Z-Wave devices, and both if your home mixes the two.
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Winner
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| Feature | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.90 | $24.90 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | NO | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | NO | NO | 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
Protocol
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave 800 controller. Your devices decide, and owners run the two side by side without interference.
Warranty
Sonoff lists 2 years for the Sonoff ZBDongle-E and 1 year for the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23.
Router role
A spare Sonoff ZBDongle-E can run as a Zigbee router to extend a Zigbee mesh. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is sold as a Z-Wave controller, the hub end of the network.
Which one to buy if
- you want to replace a Philips Hue Bridge and keep bulbs local
Owners of the Sonoff ZBDongle-E use it exactly that way with ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT.
- your locks and thermostats are Z-Wave
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the Z-Wave 800 controller, with S2 security and Long Range.
- you want the lowest cost first coordinator
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the cheaper stick and carries the longer warranty.
- you are moving off an old Z-Wave hub
Owners migrated decade-old Z-Wave devices from a retired Vera hub onto the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23.
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Price: $39.90 vs $24.90
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
Winner
- + Price: $24.90
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Warranty: 2 years
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
What owners say
Owners of both Sonoff sticks say the same two things: they are plug-and-play with Home Assistant, and they work best on a USB extension cable away from noisy USB 3 ports. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners single out rock-solid networks of dozens of mixed-brand Zigbee devices and replacing a Philips Hue Bridge to keep bulbs local, and a few mention trouble pairing certain Aqara sensors. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners talk about Z-Wave locks, thermostats and devices migrated from an old Vera hub working in under ten minutes with no dropouts, and their only reservation is that they have not owned it long enough to judge durability.
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-PZG23
- Sonoff ZBDongle-E
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 or Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E comes out ahead as the cheaper stick with a 2 year warranty and a Zigbee router mode. But the two cover different protocols: the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is for Zigbee devices and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for Z-Wave devices.
Is the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 a Zigbee dongle?
No. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller with no Zigbee or Thread. Sonoff's Zigbee stick in this pair is the Sonoff ZBDongle-E.
Can I use the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E together?
Yes. Home Assistant can run Zigbee on the Sonoff ZBDongle-E and Z-Wave on the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 at the same time, and owners report the sticks coexisting fine. Put both on USB extension cables away from USB 3 ports.
Does the Sonoff ZBDongle-E support Thread or Matter?
No. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is Zigbee only, and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is Z-Wave only, so neither can serve Thread devices.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
Home Assistant or openHAB users with Z-Wave devices who want a plug-and-play Series 800 stick with Long Range and S2.
Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
Anyone starting a local Zigbee network in Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT or OpenHAB on a budget, including Hue owners who want to drop the bridge.
Full comparison table
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