Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Sonoff and Zooz sites.
2026 verdict
With Zigbee bulbs, plugs and sensors on the shopping list, the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the stick to buy over the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick: it costs less and can double as a Zigbee router.
It is a pre-flashed Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 coordinator with an external antenna, plug-and-play with ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT and OpenHAB. The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick wins on warranty, 5 years against 2, and it is a Z-Wave Series 800 controller with Long Range, the protocol the Sonoff does not speak. Both are USB sticks with no Thread, and they run happily side by side. Pick the Sonoff ZBDongle-E for a Zigbee network and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick for Z-Wave locks, thermostats and sensors.
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| Feature | Sonoff ZBDongle-E | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $24.90 | $39.95 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Warranty | 2 years | 5 years | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Zigbee Router | YES | NO | Sonoff ZBDongle-E |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick |
| Power | USB | USB | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | NO | NO | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dual Network | NO | NO | Tie |
| Bluetooth Proxy | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E runs Zigbee 3.0; the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick runs Z-Wave Series 800. Neither can talk to the other's devices, so the list of things you own is the deciding factor.
Warranty
Zooz covers its stick for 5 years, Sonoff for 2. Both are long for a device this size, but the Zooz doubles it.
Antenna
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has an external antenna, while the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick has none and relies on Z-Wave Long Range for reach. Owners of both report whole-home coverage in typical houses.
Which one to buy if
- you are building a Zigbee network on a budget
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the cheaper stick and scales to dozens of Zigbee devices.
- your smart locks are Z-Wave
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is the Z-Wave controller, and owners report locks pairing without errors.
- you want to drop a Philips Hue Bridge
Owners of the Sonoff ZBDongle-E use it to run Hue bulbs locally.
- you want the longest warranty
The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick carries 5 years of coverage.
Winner
- + Price: $24.90
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- - Warranty: 2 years vs 5 years
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- + Warranty: 5 years
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Price: $39.95 vs $24.90
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
What owners say
Owners of both sticks praise the same thing first: Home Assistant recognises them instantly with no drivers or flashing. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners single out dozens of mixed-brand Zigbee devices running without trouble and swapping a Philips Hue Bridge for local control, and they advise a USB 2.0 extension cable to avoid interference, with a few reporting trouble pairing certain Aqara sensors. Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick owners talk about locks, thermostats and plugs pairing without errors and outdoor sensors staying connected, while their warnings are about buying the correct regional frequency, Long Range reach on very large properties and a network rebuild when migrating from some old controllers.
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 ZBDongle-E
- Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Sonoff ZBDongle-E or Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E comes out ahead as the cheaper stick with a Zigbee router mode. The Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick has the longer warranty and is the one to buy for Z-Wave devices, which the Sonoff cannot control.
Can I use the Sonoff ZBDongle-E and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick together?
Yes. Home Assistant can run Zigbee on the Sonoff ZBDongle-E and Z-Wave on the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick at once. Keeping them on extension cables away from USB 3 ports helps both.
Do either of these sticks support Thread or Matter?
No. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is Zigbee only and the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick is Z-Wave only, so Thread devices need another radio.
Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?
First-time Home Assistant users building a Zigbee network, and Hue owners who want to run their bulbs without the bridge.
Who should buy the Zooz Z-Wave Long Range Stick?
Anyone with Z-Wave locks, thermostats or sensors who wants a plug-and-play Series 800 controller with Long Range and a 5 year warranty, bought in the right regional frequency.
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
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