The short version: The Sonoff TRVZB is a Zigbee 3.0 smart radiator valve (TRV) that undercuts Tado, Eve, and Danfoss on price while covering the core features most people actually want: scheduling, open-window detection, and child lock. Independent reviews and the Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT community consistently treat it as one of the most reliable budget options in the category, especially for DIY smart-home users who already run a Zigbee network.

This is a per-radiator device for hydronic or steam heat, not a whole-home thermostat, and it has no application to forced-air or electric baseboard systems.

Who It’s For

The TRVZB is for homes with hydronic (hot water) or steam radiator heat — older Northeast housing stock, brownstones, pre-war apartment buildings, and any home with a boiler feeding individual radiators instead of a furnace and ducts. If that’s not your setup, this product doesn’t apply; see our forced-air and baseboard thermostat coverage instead.

Within the radiator-valve category, the TRVZB is aimed squarely at budget-conscious buyers and DIY/Home Assistant users. Sonoff (made by ITEAD) is an established smart-home brand with a track record in the Zigbee space, distinguishing it from generic Tuya-clone TRVs. It’s a strong pick for anyone outfitting multiple radiators who doesn’t want to pay Tado- or Eve-level prices per valve, and it’s a favorite in the Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT community specifically because it works well locally without depending on Sonoff’s own cloud app.

Design & Build

The TRVZB is a compact valve head, functional rather than premium in design, with a small display and physical buttons for manual adjustment. It’s clearly built to a lower price point than Tado or Eve — expect basic plastic construction rather than refined finishes — but reviewers report it holds up fine in daily use.

Setup & Compatibility

Valve fit: Built for the M30 x 1.5mm threaded valve standard used across most European-style hydronic radiators, and it ships with several adapters in the box to cover common valve variants. As with any TRV, measure your existing valve before ordering, since older North American steam radiators sometimes use incompatible bodies.

Hub requirement: It’s a Zigbee 3.0 device, so it needs a Zigbee hub or coordinator — SmartThings, Home Assistant with a Zigbee dongle, Aqara hub, or any Zigbee 3.0-compatible coordinator. It doesn’t include one in the box.

Power: Battery-powered, no wiring.

App & Ecosystem

Sonoff’s eWeLink app handles scheduling if you’re using the manufacturer’s own ecosystem, but the TRVZB’s real strength shows up when paired with Home Assistant or Zigbee2MQTT, where it’s widely reported as one of the more reliable budget TRVs for local, cloud-free control. Through a compatible hub, it can reach Alexa and Google Assistant, and select Sonoff hubs add Matter support.

Standout Feature: PID Valve Modulation

Unlike simple open/closed TRVs, the TRVZB uses a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm to modulate how far the valve opens rather than just snapping fully open or shut. In practice this means steadier room temperatures and less overshoot than cheaper on/off-only valves — a feature usually reserved for pricier TRVs that Sonoff includes at a budget price point.

Price & Value

Sonoff TRVZB
Price per valve (USD) ~$30–45
Hub required Yes (any Zigbee 3.0 coordinator)
Power Battery
Subscription required No

The TRVZB is the cheapest valve in this roundup by a wide margin — roughly half the cost of Aqara or SwitchBot, and a third of Tado or Eve. For a multi-radiator home, that difference is significant: outfitting five radiators costs $150–225 with the TRVZB versus $500+ with Tado or Eve.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
– Lowest price per valve in the category by a clear margin
– PID valve modulation for steadier temperature control, unusual at this price
– Well-regarded by the Home Assistant/Zigbee2MQTT community for local, cloud-free reliability
– Includes multiple valve adapters in the box
– Open-window detection and child lock included

Cons:
– Requires a separate Zigbee hub/coordinator, not included
– Build quality is noticeably more basic than Tado or Eve
– eWeLink app experience is less polished than competitors’ apps
– M30 x 1.5 threading doesn’t fit every North American radiator valve

Smart radiator valves compared: Sonoff TRVZB, Aqara E1, Tado X, Eve Thermo, Danfoss Ally, SwitchBot, with valve compatibility, hub requirements, and price per unit

The Recommendation

Buy the Sonoff TRVZB if you have a radiator-heated home, already run (or plan to run) a Zigbee hub or Home Assistant, and want the lowest cost per valve without giving up core smart features. It’s especially strong for multi-radiator homes where the price difference against Tado or Eve adds up fast.

Skip it if you want a more polished manufacturer app or a valve that doesn’t require any separate hub, or if your home isn’t radiator-heated at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Sonoff TRVZB work with Home Assistant?
Yes. It’s widely used and well-supported through Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant’s native Zigbee integration, and it’s a frequently recommended budget TRV in that community.

Does the TRVZB need a hub?
Yes, any Zigbee 3.0 coordinator — SmartThings, Home Assistant with a Zigbee dongle, or another compatible hub.

Will it fit my radiator valve?
It’s built for M30 x 1.5mm threaded valves and ships with several adapters. Older North American steam radiators sometimes use different valve bodies, so check before ordering.

Is Sonoff a reliable brand?
Sonoff (made by ITEAD) is an established Zigbee/smart-home brand with a longer track record than most generic Tuya-clone TRVs sold under obscure marketplace names, which is part of why it shows up consistently in Home Assistant community recommendations.

Does it work with Alexa or Google Assistant?
Yes, through a compatible hub. Some newer Sonoff hubs also add Matter support.