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Clash Client Comparison and Recommendations
Clash Plus is our top pick. For desktop rule management, Android-specific features, or migration from an old configuration, narrow your options by platform and core.
Start with your platform, then compare cores and configuration
The client provides the interface, subscription management, and system integration. The core handles protocol connections, rule matching, and DNS. Apps labeled Clash may still differ in supported configuration fields, required permissions, and background behavior. First confirm there's a build for your operating system, then check subscription compatibility, and finally decide whether the everyday workflow suits you.
For a first install, start with Clash Plus. We provide downloads for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with the basics covered: import a configuration, choose a policy, and connect. Linux users should start with Clash Verge Rev. Desktop users who need specific overrides can compare Verge Rev and FlClash. Find all installers on the client download page; check each release's notes for exact support details.
Check protocol support before worrying about interface themes. If your subscription uses newer protocols, rule types, or DNS fields, choose a modern core that supports them. The original Clash, legacy Premium, and Meta/mihomo are not interchangeable feature sets. Meta's later adoption of the mihomo name also doesn't give older clients new capabilities automatically.
Compare eight Clash clients side by side
Platforms shown are the download options available on this site, not a complete list of upstream releases. Scroll horizontally on smaller screens to see every column.
Easy for basic connections; harder for manual configuration
Menu bar controls, system proxy, and enhanced mode
Reference for migrating an existing macOS setup
Maintenance status helps inform your choice but doesn't guarantee feature parity across platforms. Ease of use is a qualitative comparison of workflows, not a performance or quality rating.
Clash client reviews
Clash Plus: Best for beginners and multiple devices
Top pickDesktop and mobile
Clash Plus is a good starting point for your first install. Import a working configuration, choose a rule mode and policy group, then grant network access when prompted by your operating system. Rather than diving into every advanced setting, get this basic workflow working first. It makes it easier to tell whether a problem comes from the subscription, system permissions, or policy selection.
Using the same client brand across devices makes it easier to find familiar downloads and instructions; it doesn't mean settings work identically on every system. iOS uses network extensions, unlike desktop system proxies. Whether a subscription works across devices also depends on limits set by your provider. Check each platform's release notes for protocol, override, and configuration support.
The official website is clashplus.io. Check the download page for your platform; on iOS, use the App Store.
Clash Verge Rev: Desktop overrides and rule management
Clash Verge Rev is a desktop client for Windows, macOS, and Linux, built on the mihomo core. Consider it if you need to preserve local DNS settings, extra rules, or other overrides when a subscription updates. It keeps subscription content separate from local adjustments, making it a good fit for users who update configurations often but want to retain their custom settings.
Advanced features require knowing where each setting takes effect. Changes to subscription files, local overrides, and client options can behave differently. TUN integration also involves service installation, administrator permissions, and routing. For your first setup, verify the connection with the system proxy, then enable advanced features one at a time to avoid changing multiple connection methods at once.
FlClash: A familiar workflow on desktop and Android
Built on mihomo, FlClash is available here for desktop and Android. It's a good fit if you want a similar interface across devices, with familiar steps for importing configurations, switching policies, and checking connections. System integration still depends on the operating system.
Choose FlClash based on your device setup and preferred workflow. On Android, match the app to your processor architecture and grant VPN permission. On Linux, check the package format and desktop environment. A similar interface doesn't make configurations interchangeable: keep overrides with file paths, interface names, or platform-specific options separate.
Clash Nyanpasu: Desktop workflow and configuration management
Clash Nyanpasu is suited to users who care about desktop workflows, configuration organization, and interface customization. We offer a Windows download; check the release notes for available cores and bundled configurations. Core switching doesn't guarantee the same configuration will behave identically with every core.
If you're already familiar with how policy groups, rules, and overrides work together, consider it as a desktop option. When migrating, identify the core in use and import a basic configuration first. Confirm rules match and DNS works before restoring local changes. If you just need to connect with an existing subscription, there's no need to start by switching cores.
Clash for Windows: A migration reference for a discontinued client
Discontinued
Often shortened to CFW, Clash for Windows is the client used in many older tutorials for profiles, proxies, and system proxy settings. It belongs to the legacy Clash/Premium ecosystem and shouldn't be confused with modern clients built on mihomo. We keep a Windows archive for checking old setups, not as a recommendation for new installs.
If your subscription starts using protocols or fields unsupported by the old core, changing interface settings won't add support. When moving to Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, or FlClash, reimport the subscription and check local rules and DNS settings. Don't copy cached data, ports, or background services from the old program directory into the new setup.
Before switching, turn off the old client's system proxy and startup launch to prevent both apps from competing for the same port. Find the archive and alternatives in the Windows downloads section.
Clash Meta for Android: Configuration-focused mobile use
Often shortened to CMFA, Clash Meta for Android uses a Meta/mihomo-family core. It's suited to Android users with an existing Clash configuration who mainly manage subscriptions and per-app routing on mobile. Supported fields depend on the core bundled with the client; the Meta name alone doesn't guarantee support for a particular new feature.
On Android, account for both VPN permission and background battery restrictions. Successfully importing a configuration doesn't mean traffic is routed. After connecting, check the system VPN status and whether the target app is excluded. If the connection keeps dropping without any configuration changes, check background restrictions first, then inspect the proxy and DNS instead of immediately replacing the entire subscription.
Surfboard: Check Surge-style configuration compatibility first
Surfboard is an Android client, but it's not another interface for a Clash core. It has an independent implementation and uses Surge-style configuration, making it suitable for users who already have a compatible configuration. If you have Clash YAML, don't just change the file extension and import it: proxy definitions, rule formats, and policy group syntax may all differ.
Before moving to Surfboard, ask your configuration provider for a compatible format, then check protocol and rule support. Partial syntax compatibility doesn't mean every feature from another app is supported. If you want to keep using an existing Clash subscription, Clash Plus, CMFA, or FlClash is usually a better fit and can reduce conversion work.
ClashX Meta: An archived option for existing macOS setups
Discontinued
ClashX Meta uses a Meta-family core and provides menu bar controls for outbound modes, the system proxy, and enhanced mode. It can help existing users find familiar settings and workflows, but since it's discontinued, it isn't recommended as the starting point for a new Mac setup.
Before migrating, note your old port and configuration source, then turn off the system proxy and enhanced mode. Choose the installer for your device's processor—Apple Silicon or Intel; don't assume the same app name means the packages are interchangeable. For a new install, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, and FlClash, then choose based on subscription compatibility and your preferred workflow.
A proxy's performance in different clients isn't determined by the client alone. Network routes, protocols, DNS, rules, and device sleep settings all affect the connection. For a fair comparison, use the same configuration and network, verify rule matching first, then compare ease of use. A responsive interface doesn't indicate faster data transfer.
Migration checklist: Before switching clients
Save your configuration sources. Record your subscription URL, local rules, and any overrides you need to keep. Subscription URLs may contain access credentials; don't put them in public documents, screenshots, or code repositories.
Check the target format and protocols. For Clash clients, check YAML fields and core capabilities; for Surfboard, confirm the compatible format separately. If the new client reports unsupported fields, look up the specific items in the logs rather than deleting the entire DNS or rules section.
Disconnect the old client. Turn off its system proxy, TUN, or enhanced mode, and temporarily disable launch at startup. Make sure the old process has stopped before starting the new client to avoid port conflicts, proxy loops, or duplicate routing.
Start with a basic configuration. Import the subscription, select a working policy, and enable one connection method. Once web access works, restore local overrides, LAN access, and launch at startup one at a time, checking rules and connection logs after each change.
Test the apps you use. A working browser doesn't mean every app is routed. Check whether each app follows the system proxy; consider TUN if needed. On Android, also check per-app routing and background permissions.
The choice can be simple: start with Clash Plus if you're new or use several common platforms; choose Clash Verge Rev for Linux or advanced desktop use; pick FlClash for a similar desktop and Android workflow. Choose other clients when a particular configuration or established workflow calls for them. Visit the download page for installers and system requirements, or check the FAQ for help with an installed client.