Sonoff has quietly released two DIN rail smart switches that look completely identical: same size, same 32 A rating, same price, same photos. The only thing that changes is a couple of letters in the model number. One is the BASIC-1GSP (Wi-Fi with Matter) and the other is the BASIC-ZB1GSP (Zigbee). So if you’re about to drop one into your consumer unit, the obvious question is: are these the same device, and which version should I actually get?
As an engineer, I’ll give it to you straight, with no marketing fluff: this is the real comparison, what actually differs between the two, which one fits your setup — and a safety warning that no product listing will ever tell you.
Quick answer (TL;DR)
They are the same hardware. The only real difference is the communication protocol:
- Get the Zigbee version (BASIC-ZB1GSP) if you already run a Zigbee hub (SONOFF, Home Assistant with Zigbee2MQTT/ZHA, SmartThings…) and want a fast, stable mesh. It also works as a Zigbee router.
- Get the Wi-Fi/Matter version (BASIC-1GSP) if you’d rather skip the hub, connect it straight to your Wi-Fi, and pair it over Matter with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa or Home Assistant.
Neither one is a circuit breaker. It’s a remotely controlled double-pole switch, not a protective device. More on why that matters below.
What the Sonoff Basic DIN Rail actually is
It’s a smart switch that clips onto a standard 35 mm DIN rail inside your distribution board, sitting behind the breaker that protects the circuit. It lets you switch a whole circuit on and off remotely (not just a single plug) and monitor consumption in real time: voltage, current, power and energy, with exportable history.
It’s built for loads up to 32 A / 7,680 W — think electric underfloor heating, water heaters, EV charger circuits, garage or workshop boards. Circuits where a smart plug simply won’t cut it.
Shared specs across both versions:
- Double-pole switching (line + neutral) for full physical isolation.
- Configurable software protection: cuts the output if your voltage, current or power thresholds are exceeded.
- PC housing rated UL94 V-0, with SONOFF’s new “UniBusbar” relay (less heat, longer lifespan).
- Footprint: 84 × 66.5 × 18 mm (roughly one module wide).
- Recommended wire gauge: 11 AWG to 6 AWG (4–10 mm²).
- Voice control, timers, automations and inching.
BASIC-1GSP (Wi-Fi/Matter) vs BASIC-ZB1GSP (Zigbee)
| Feature | BASIC-1GSP (Wi-Fi/Matter) | BASIC-ZB1GSP (Zigbee) |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Matter over Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) | Zigbee 3.0 |
| Hub required? | No for Wi-Fi; a Matter hub for some ecosystems | Yes, a compatible Zigbee hub |
| Acts as a repeater | No | Yes — Zigbee router |
| Integrations | Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Home Assistant | Home Assistant, SmartThings, Alexa, Apple Home (via Matter bridge) |
| Local control (no internet) | Yes, direct local control | Yes, through the hub |
| Max load | 32 A / 7,680 W | 32 A / 7,680 W |
| Energy monitoring | Yes + electricity cost tracking | Yes |
| Certifications | CE / RoHS / FCC / CP65 | CE / RoHS / FCC / CP65 / Zigbee 3.0 / WWA |
| Dimensions | 84 × 66.5 × 18 mm | 84 × 66.5 × 18 mm |
What’s identical (spoiler: almost everything)
The body, the relay, the double-pole cut-off, the energy metering, the housing, the terminals, the max load and even the dimensions are the same. Independent teardowns of both units confirm there’s no physical difference between them — cover the label and you couldn’t tell them apart. The switching and metering electronics are shared; the only thing that changes is the radio module inside.
That’s why the decision isn’t “which one is better” — it’s “which one fits your ecosystem.”
The one difference that matters: the protocol
Wi-Fi with Matter (BASIC-1GSP)
It joins your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi directly and, thanks to Matter, drops into almost any ecosystem without depending on Sonoff’s cloud. In testing it pairs with Home Assistant in seconds (Settings → Matter → add device) without even touching the eWeLink app, and it keeps local control if your internet goes down.
Go for it if:
- You don’t want to buy or maintain a Zigbee hub.
- You live in Apple Home / Google Home / Alexa and want native Matter integration.
- It’s a small install or a one-off circuit where a mesh isn’t worth it.
Downside: it uses up another device on your Wi-Fi and doesn’t extend your mesh.
Zigbee (BASIC-ZB1GSP)
Zigbee is a low-power mesh network. Any mains-powered node — like this one, sitting in the board — repeats the signal and strengthens the network. That makes it ideal if you already run Zigbee. In Home Assistant it joins straight through Zigbee2MQTT (permit-join) or ZHA.
Go for it if:
- You already run a Zigbee hub (SONOFF ZBBridge/iHost, Home Assistant + Zigbee2MQTT/ZHA, SmartThings…).
- You have lots of devices and want a fast, resilient network that doesn’t hammer your Wi-Fi.
- You want it to double as a repeater to reach far corners of the install.
Downside: you absolutely need a Zigbee hub. Without one, it does nothing.
Which one do I pick? Quick decision tree
- I already run a Zigbee hub → BASIC-ZB1GSP. Use the mesh and the repeater.
- No hub, and I use Apple/Google/Alexa → BASIC-1GSP (Wi-Fi/Matter).
- Home Assistant with no Zigbee set up → BASIC-1GSP over Matter, added in seconds.
- Large install, lots of devices → BASIC-ZB1GSP; Zigbee scales better and spares your Wi-Fi.
- I just want plug-and-play → BASIC-1GSP.
⚠️ Engineer’s warning: this is NOT a circuit breaker
Here’s where most articles mislead you by omission. The MCB-style shape and the DIN rail mounting make people assume it’s a protective device. It isn’t.
The Sonoff Basic DIN Rail is a remotely controlled 32 A double-pole switch. Its “overload protection” is done in software: it measures, and it tells the relay to open once a threshold is crossed. It has no short-circuit breaking capacity, it is not an MCB or a fuse, and it does not replace your circuit protection. In a serious overcurrent or short circuit, the device that must trip is the breaker or fuse upstream of it.
Installation rule, straight from the manufacturer’s own diagram: the Basic DIN Rail must be wired downstream of the protective breaker, never directly to the grid. That breaker has to be correctly rated (rating and breaking capacity) for the cable cross-section and the load, per your local wiring regulations.
If you’re not 100% sure what protection belongs in front of it, what cable to use, or how it fits into your board, don’t improvise on a 32 A circuit. That’s exactly the kind of thing I help sort out.
Wiring it into the board (quick version)
- Kill the power at the board first.
- Feed the Basic DIN Rail from the output of the circuit’s breaker (line and neutral to the top terminals).
- The bottom pair of terminals feeds the load / controlled circuit.
- For energy monitoring to work, connect the load neutral to the device’s output neutral terminal.
- Pair it: the Zigbee version through your hub (permit-join / Zigbee2MQTT); the Wi-Fi version via the eWeLink app or straight over Matter.
Working inside a distribution board with no training? Have an electrician do it. 230 V (or 120 V) doesn’t forgive mistakes.
Price and where to buy
Both versions carry the same official price (around US$19.90, depending on store and region). Buying from Sonoff’s official store supports the channel, and you can use this discount code:
🛒 SONOFF discount code: AXLM10
Affiliate links: if you buy through them you support the site at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Are the BASIC-1GSP and BASIC-ZB1GSP the same device? Physically, yes: same hardware, same 32 A load, same dimensions and features. Only the protocol changes — one is Wi-Fi with Matter, the other is Zigbee.
Is Zigbee or Wi-Fi better for the Sonoff Basic DIN Rail? Neither is objectively better. Zigbee wins if you already run a hub and want a mesh; Wi-Fi/Matter wins if you want hub-free, direct integration. It depends on your ecosystem.
Does the Sonoff Basic DIN Rail replace a circuit breaker? No. It’s a remotely controlled double-pole switch with software cut-off. It provides no short-circuit or overcurrent protection like an MCB or fuse, and it must be installed downstream of proper protection.
Does it work with Home Assistant? Yes. The Wi-Fi version joins over Matter; the Zigbee version joins via Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA. Note that some metering features may vary slightly between the two integration paths.
Can it control an EV charger or water heater circuit? Yes, within its 32 A / 7,680 W limit, and always with correct upstream protection and cable sizing.
Does it work without internet? The Wi-Fi/Matter version keeps local control even if the internet drops. The Zigbee version runs locally through its hub.
Bottom line
If I had to boil it down: buy Zigbee if you already live in Zigbee, and Wi-Fi/Matter if you’d rather not deal with a hub. The device itself is the same, and both do an excellent job controlling and metering high-load circuits from the board. Just don’t forget the one thing people get wrong — it’s a smart switch, not a protective device: always install it behind a properly rated breaker.
Related reads:
- Shelly vs Sonoff vs Aqara: which ecosystem to choose
- Sonoff S61S outdoor smart plug
- Sonoff MINI-ZBD dry-contact Zigbee relay
- Electrical protection basics for your consumer unit
