Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Shelly and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch earns the pick in this Shelly vs Sonoff dry contact face-off as the lower priced and better rated relay.
Built around pulse-style triggers for gates and garage doors, it adds a physical on/off button and overcurrent protection, and runs from AC or a 12-48V DC supply. The Shelly 1 Gen3 is the more capable relay on paper: 16A across resistive, inductive and capacitive loads against 2A resistive, no neutral required where the Sonoff needs one in AC input mode, full Bluetooth, a smaller 37 x 42 x 16 mm body and overheating protection. Both have dry and wet contact modes, stay off Zigbee and work with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant and Matter. Choose the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch for a gate or garage trigger, and the Shelly 1 Gen3 for lights, pumps or a box with no neutral.
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| Feature | Shelly 1 Gen3 | Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $22.99 | $14.90 | Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 | Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch |
| Safety | Overheating protection | Overcurrent protection | Shelly 1 Gen3 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi | Tie |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Tie |
| Relay Channels | 1 | 1 | Tie |
| Energy Monitoring | NO | NO | Tie |
| Dry Contact Mode | YES | YES | Tie |
| Wet Contact Mode | YES | YES | Tie |
| Zibgee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Load rating
The Shelly 1 Gen3 switches 16A of resistive, inductive or capacitive load, so it runs pumps, motors and lighting circuits directly. The Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch is rated 2A resistive, which suits signalling a controller rather than powering a load.
Neutral wire
The Shelly 1 Gen3 is listed as not needing a neutral. The Sonoff needs one in AC input mode, though inside a gate controller its 12-48V DC input often sidesteps the question.
Button and protection
The Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch has a physical on/off button and overcurrent protection. The Shelly 1 Gen3 has no button and lists overheating protection.
Size
The Shelly 1 Gen3 is 37 x 42 x 16 mm and 26 g, against 43 x 41 x 21.5 mm and 34.5 g for the Sonoff, so the Shelly is the easier fit behind a wall switch.
Which one to buy if
- you are wiring a gate or garage door trigger
The Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch is designed for dry contact pulses and costs less.
- you are switching a pump or lighting circuit
The Shelly 1 Gen3 handles 16A of inductive or capacitive load; the Sonoff is rated 2A resistive.
- your switch box has no neutral
The Shelly 1 Gen3 is listed as installing without one.
- you want to script the relay or flash ESPHome
Shelly 1 Gen3 owners single out on-device scripting and ESPHome flashing.
- + Safety: Overheating protection
- - Price: $22.99 vs $14.90
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
Winner
- + Price: $14.90
- + Rating: 4.7
- - Safety: Overcurrent protection vs Overheating protection
What owners say
Owners of both relays use the dry contact for the same headline job, triggering garage doors and gates. Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch owners focus on that job, praising reliable pulse triggering, Alexa and Apple Home voice control and the manual button as a fallback, and their complaint is thin eWeLink guidance for configuring pulse mode, plus one report of occasional disconnections. Shelly 1 Gen3 owners go wider, sump and pool pumps, irrigation, 3D printers and heavy-duty relays in solar setups, and single out no-neutral installs, on-device scripting and ESPHome flashing; their complaints are no energy monitoring, a tight fit in small boxes and no push notifications.
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.
- Shelly 1 Gen3
- Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch
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Frequently Asked Questions
Shelly or Sonoff: is the Shelly 1 Gen3 or the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch better?
For gate and garage door triggers, the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch, which is cheaper and better rated. For lights, pumps or boxes without a neutral, the Shelly 1 Gen3 is the more capable relay.
What is the biggest difference between the Shelly 1 Gen3 and the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch?
Load capacity. The Shelly 1 Gen3 switches 16A including inductive and capacitive loads, while the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch is rated 2A resistive and is aimed at dry contact triggers.
Do the Shelly 1 Gen3 and the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch need a neutral wire?
The Shelly 1 Gen3 is listed as not needing one. The Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch needs a neutral in AC input mode or a 12-48V DC supply.
Do both work with Matter and Apple Home?
Yes, the Shelly 1 Gen3 and the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch both support Matter and Apple Home, plus Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant.
Who should buy the Shelly 1 Gen3?
DIYers powering lights, pumps or irrigation directly, homes without a neutral, and tinkerers who want scripting.
Who should buy the Sonoff MINI Dry Wi-Fi Smart Switch?
Budget buyers automating a gate or garage door opener through a dry contact, who like having a button on the relay.
Full comparison table
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