Chip: Silicon Labs vs Texas Instruments

Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 and newer MG24 chips are the safe pick for ZHA and also run Zigbee2MQTT. TI CC2652P chips have long been Zigbee2MQTT favorites. MG24 brings more memory and headroom for big networks.

ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT

ZHA is built into Home Assistant and easiest to start with. Zigbee2MQTT runs as an add-on with an MQTT broker, supports more devices and exposes more settings. Decide first, then match the chip.

USB vs PoE / Ethernet

USB sticks are cheap but tie the radio to your server’s location. PoE coordinators run off one network cable, so you can mount them in the middle of the house and even move Home Assistant to a VM without passing USB through.

Antenna & Transmit Power

An external antenna and around +20 dBm output help the coordinator reach routers across the house. Range matters less than you think, though: mains-powered Zigbee devices repeat the signal and build your mesh.

Thread & Z-Wave Options

Several dongles can be reflashed as a Thread radio (RCP) instead of Zigbee. To run Zigbee and Thread together, use two radios. For Z-Wave too, a dual-radio stick like the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro saves a USB port.

The ZBDongle-E is one of the most widely used Zigbee coordinators in the Home Assistant world, with nearly 3,800 Amazon ratings averaging around 4.7 stars. It pairs a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 radio with a CH9102F USB bridge and an external antenna in an aluminum case. It is fully supported by ZHA and works with Zigbee2MQTT through its newer ember driver. If you want the dongle with the deepest pile of community guides and troubleshooting threads, this is it. The MG24 model above is the more future-proof buy at a similar price.

With more than 5,700 Amazon ratings, the ZBDongle-P is the stick that made Zigbee2MQTT mainstream. Its Texas Instruments CC2652P radio uses the mature Z-Stack firmware that Zigbee2MQTT has supported for years, and it also works with ZHA. The CP2102N USB bridge, external antenna and metal housing match the E model. Choose it if you are committed to Zigbee2MQTT and want the most established TI option; for a mixed or ZHA setup, the Silicon Labs sticks above are the better default.

The Dongle Lite is SONOFF’s stripped-down stick for anyone who wants the proven EFR32MG21 chip at the lowest price. It drops the external antenna and metal case of the Plus models, but keeps the flexibility: SONOFF says you can flash it as a Zigbee coordinator, a Zigbee router or a Thread RCP. That makes it a handy second stick too, for example as a dedicated Thread radio next to your main Zigbee coordinator. Range is shorter than antenna models, so it suits apartments and homes with plenty of mains-powered Zigbee routers.

SMLIGHT’s SLZB-07 packs an EFR32MG21 radio and CP2102N bridge into a mini USB stick, which is handy when your Home Assistant box sits in a tight cabinet. It works with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT out of the box, and an autoflash mode lets you update the EFR32 firmware without pressing buttons. SMLIGHT also offers multiPAN firmware for experimental Thread and Matter use, though for production we would still run Thread on a separate radio. Make sure you buy the SMLIGHT-branded listing linked here; several look-alike listings use similar names.

The SLZB-06MG24U is SMLIGHT’s newest take on the 06M: same PoE-friendly enclosure, but with the EFR32MG24 Zigbee chip and a faster ESP32-S3 handling the network side. SMLIGHT positions it as best with ZHA or OpenThread in Home Assistant, so it is a strong pick if you want the most headroom in a network coordinator. It was a brand-new listing with no reviews when we checked, so if you prefer something proven, the SLZB-06M above is the safer choice.

If you run Zigbee2MQTT and want a network coordinator, the SLZB-06U is the TI-based sibling of the 06M. It uses the CC2652P radio Zigbee2MQTT has supported for years, upgrades to an ESP32-S3, and offers the same Ethernet, PoE, USB and Wi-Fi modes. SMLIGHT itself recommends the 06U for Zigbee2MQTT and points ZHA users to the 06M series, which makes the choice simple: match the coordinator to your stack.

SONOFF’s answer to SMLIGHT is the Dongle Max, a network coordinator built on an EFR32MG24 radio and an ESP32. It connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, and SONOFF says you can switch it between a Zigbee coordinator, a Zigbee router or a Thread RCP in a few clicks. That flexibility makes it a good long-term buy: start with Zigbee, and repurpose it as a networked Thread radio later. It has more than 650 ratings at around 4.3 stars.

Because running Zigbee and Thread on one radio is no longer recommended, the SLZB-MR1U takes the clean approach: two separate radios in one PoE box. SMLIGHT pairs a CC2652P7 (which it says works best with Zigbee2MQTT) with an EFR32MG21 (best with ZHA or OpenThread), each with its own antenna. Use one for Zigbee and the other as Home Assistant’s Thread border router radio, all on a single network cable. The 2026 listing showed limited stock and no reviews yet when we checked.

If your Home Assistant setup mixes Zigbee sensors with Z-Wave locks or switches, the Z-Stick 10 Pro puts both radios on one slim USB stick. Aeotec uses an EFR32MG21 for Zigbee and the 800 Series EFR32ZG23 for Z-Wave with Long Range enabled, and lists support for Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, Z-Wave JS and Open Z-Wave. It frees up a USB port and keeps cabling tidy. The trade-off is that both radios share one location, so you can’t place Zigbee and Z-Wave independently.

The AVATTO PoE Dongle offers the same idea as SMLIGHT’s 06 series, an ESP32 plus CC2652P coordinator with Ethernet, PoE, USB and Wi-Fi modes, usually for less money. AVATTO ships it pre-flashed with coordinator firmware for Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA. The catch is maturity: it had only about 20 Amazon ratings averaging under 4 stars when we checked, and SMLIGHT’s firmware and documentation are far more established. Consider it if budget matters more than polish.

New to Zigbee in Home Assistant?

Start with the SONOFF Dongle Plus MG24 on a USB extension cable and use ZHA.

Running Zigbee2MQTT?

The ZBDongle-P over USB, or the SLZB-06U if you want PoE placement.

Home Assistant in a VM, NAS or rack?

Skip USB passthrough with the SLZB-06M or newer SLZB-06MG24U over PoE.

Want Zigbee and Thread?

Use the dual-radio SLZB-MR1U, or pair your Zigbee stick with a cheap Dongle Lite flashed as a Thread RCP.

Also have Z-Wave devices?

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro covers Zigbee and 800 Series Z-Wave from one USB port.

Tightest budget?

The SONOFF Dongle Lite for USB, or the AVATTO PoE Dongle for a cheaper network option.

Should I use ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT?

Start with ZHA if you want the simplest setup: it is built into Home Assistant and needs no extra add-ons. Choose Zigbee2MQTT if you want the widest device support, more per-device settings and a separate web interface; it runs as an add-on with an MQTT broker. Either way, buy a dongle whose chip suits that stack: Silicon Labs (EFR32) for ZHA, while both chip families work with Zigbee2MQTT.

Why do I need a USB extension cable?

USB 3.0 ports, SSDs and nearby Wi-Fi radios emit noise in the 2.4 GHz band Zigbee uses. A dongle plugged straight into the back of a Raspberry Pi or mini PC often loses devices for no obvious reason. A 0.5 to 1 m USB 2.0 extension cable moves the radio away from that noise and is the single cheapest fix for an unstable Zigbee network.

Can one dongle run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?

Some firmware supports it (multiprotocol or multiPAN), but Home Assistant no longer recommends it because it was less reliable than running separate radios. The better approach is one dongle for Zigbee and a second one flashed as a Thread RCP, or a dual-radio coordinator such as the SLZB-MR1U. See our best Thread border routers guide for more.

Can I migrate my network to a new dongle without re-pairing?

Often, yes. ZHA has a built-in option to migrate to a new radio, and Zigbee2MQTT can restore a coordinator backup in many cases, especially when moving between dongles with the same chip family. Moving between Silicon Labs and TI radios is more hit-and-miss. Always take a backup first, and expect battery devices to take a while to check in after the move.

Do I still need a dongle if I have a Zigbee hub?

Not necessarily. Hubs like Hubitat or SONOFF Bridge Max can feed devices into Home Assistant, but a dongle gives Home Assistant direct, local control with full device settings, which is usually more reliable. If you are still choosing between a hub and a dongle, see our roundup of the best Zigbee hubs.