Clash Client Comparison
Platforms, cores, and use cases

If your goal is to import a subscription, choose a policy, and get connected—not to start by exploring advanced desktop configuration—consider Clash Plus first. It’s our top pick in the Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS download sections, giving multi-device users one product to start with. See clashplus.io for product details, or visit the download page for installers.

Availability across platforms doesn’t mean every platform has identical features. Before installing, check which protocols your subscription uses, which formats the client accepts, and what permissions your OS requires. Don’t assume the product name guarantees support for every Clash YAML configuration. Test connectivity with one profile first, then add routing requirements gradually. If your main task is inspecting rules and editing configuration on Linux desktop, Clash Verge Rev is a more direct fit.

Clash Verge Rev uses the mihomo core and separates proxies, profiles, connections, rules, logs, and settings in its interface. It suits desktop users who want to know which rule matched and where traffic went when something goes wrong. To get started, import and enable a profile, choose a policy on the Proxies page, then set the system proxy. Save TUN mode and configuration enhancements for after you’ve confirmed a basic connection.

Clash Verge Rev is a distinct project from the original Clash Verge, so make sure tutorials and installation instructions specifically refer to Rev. For advanced use, distinguish the original subscription from the runtime configuration after the client processes it: direct edits to content that gets overwritten by subscription updates can cause rules to disappear repeatedly. To maintain additional rules over time, learn how the client handles enhancements and merges, then inspect the resulting runtime configuration—not just the text in the editor.

FlClash uses the mihomo core and is built with Flutter. For users on both desktop and Android, similar layouts for profiles, policies, and connection management mean less time learning a new interface. It’s a good fit if you already use a Clash-style subscription and want a familiar workflow across devices. Linux users can also compare its installer with Clash Verge Rev on the download page.

Using the same core doesn’t mean you can transfer all client settings as-is. System proxy ports on desktop, VPN permissions on mobile, and per-app routing are platform-specific and should be checked again on each new device. During migration, import your subscription and verify the basic rules first, then configure background operation, startup behavior, and traffic routing. Don’t copy desktop file paths or network interface names directly to a phone.

Clash Nyanpasu suits desktop users who want to manage their configuration, tailor the interface to their workflow, and choose between different cores. This site provides a Windows download. Don’t assume that support for switching cores means every core supports the same configuration. The active core determines which protocols, rule extensions, and configuration fields are available.

If your subscription relies on mihomo extensions, check which core is active before importing or troubleshooting. If switching cores causes an error, inspect the field or protocol identified in the logs instead of repeatedly reinstalling the interface. Core management adds flexibility, but also means more settings to verify yourself. For basic connectivity, start with Clash Plus; for systematic desktop rule inspection, compare Clash Verge Rev.

Clash for Windows, often called CFW, is no longer maintained. It still appears in older tutorials, but button locations, configuration examples, and protocol support in those guides may no longer apply. The archived Windows download is kept here for reproducing existing setups and supporting migration—not as a regular recommendation for new installations.

The original Clash configuration format and later Meta/mihomo extensions are not fully compatible. Older releases may fail to parse subscriptions that use newer protocols or extended rules. Before migrating, save your subscription source, custom rules, and any required port settings, then recreate them in a maintained client. Don’t copy the entire old application folder or let a familiar interface distract from OS compatibility and ongoing updates.

Clash Meta for Android, often called CMFA, is an Android client in the Meta family. It suits users who understand Clash configuration and want to manage subscriptions, rules, and which apps route through the proxy. Check the core bundled with the specific release for protocol support; the name “Meta” doesn’t guarantee that it always matches the latest desktop mihomo features.

On Android, pay close attention to VPN permissions, conflicts with other VPN apps, and background activity limits. If a profile parses correctly but disconnects when the screen locks, the issue may be an OS restriction on background activity rather than a node or rule. For per-app routing, check both which apps are routed and which rules they match—these are separate settings.

Surfboard is another Android proxy client, not Clash with a different interface. It has an independent implementation and configuration format, with support for some Surge-style configurations; that doesn’t mean every related field is fully supported. It’s a suitable choice only if you already have a supported configuration format and know which protocols it covers.

If you only have Clash YAML or a generic node subscription, don’t assume that pasting in the link will preserve policy groups, rule sets, and DNS settings. If you convert the configuration, check for unsupported options that may have been dropped. To keep using mihomo rules and extensions, choose a client with the corresponding core; don’t take on extra conversion work just for a preferred interface.

ClashX Meta is a macOS menu bar client based on Clash Meta, with most controls in the menu bar. It suits legacy setups where users know their configuration files and want to switch proxies quickly. The project is no longer maintained, and its archived Meta core should not be treated as equivalent to current mihomo.

For a new macOS installation, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, or FlClash instead of following an old tutorial that uses the archived ClashX Meta. When migrating, keep your subscription and any necessary custom rules, then check the system proxy setting again. A simpler menu bar interface doesn’t necessarily use fewer resources; actual usage also depends on rule size, connection count, logging settings, and the system environment.