Client selection / mobile and desktop
Clash Client Comparison
Platforms, cores, and use cases
Installing for the first time? Start with Clash Plus. For a Linux desktop, compare Clash Verge Rev and FlClash. If you already have a configuration, check its subscription format and core requirements before deciding which interface you prefer.
Start with Clash Plus
Top pickIf your phone is your primary device but you also want desktop support, start with Clash Plus to import a subscription and set a rule mode. It’s recommended because its platform coverage fits everyday use—not because it has more of every feature. Check the system requirements before downloading, and compare the current release notes if you need custom rules or a specialized protocol.
Compare eight Clash clients
The core parses configurations and routes traffic; the client provides the interface for importing profiles, toggling connections, and changing settings. Meta is a Clash fork, and mihomo continues along that development line. A Meta label doesn’t guarantee that a package uses the same core generation. The original, Meta, and mihomo differ in the configuration fields they support, so don’t assume compatibility just because they’re all called Clash.
Platforms listed here reflect the download options covered on this site, not every platform a project has ever supported. Maintenance status is a broad assessment of each project; check release notes before installing. Active maintenance also doesn’t mean every OS gets the same features. Scroll horizontally on narrow screens to see the full table.
| Client | Platforms | Core | Maintenance | Ease of use | Features and limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash Plus | Android、iOS、Windows、macOS | Check the core details in the current app; don’t infer from the name | Actively maintained | Easy; start by importing a subscription | Covers mobile and popular desktop platforms; verify support for advanced fields | Beginners, phone-first users, and people with multiple devices |
| Clash Verge Rev | Windows、macOS、Linux | mihomo | Actively maintained | Easy to start; overrides and TUN require some learning | Desktop configuration management, overrides, system proxy, and TUN | Everyday desktop use and users who want advanced rule controls |
| FlClash | Android、Windows、macOS、Linux | mihomo | Actively maintained | Easy to start; settings must still be configured separately on each device | Similar interfaces on phone and desktop make familiar workflows easier to reuse | Users pairing Android with a computer |
| Clash Nyanpasu | Windows | Varies by selected core; verify which core is in use | Actively maintained | Moderate; requires managing the core and configuration | Desktop interface customization and configuration management; features depend on the core | Users willing to customize their desktop workflow |
| Clash for Windows | Windows | Legacy original Clash / Premium lineage; varies by archived package | No longer maintained | Familiar to existing users; not recommended for beginners | Reference for archived setups; not a reliable guide to current feature support | Users backing up old configurations or planning a migration |
| Clash Meta for Android | Android | Meta / mihomo family | Actively maintained | Moderate; requires VPN permissions and managing background restrictions | Native Android workflows, subscription management, and VpnService | Users comfortable with Android settings |
| Surfboard | Android | Independent implementation; not a Clash core | Actively maintained | Easy with a compatible configuration; harder when migrating between formats | Uses its own supported configuration syntax; Clash YAML cannot be used as-is | Users with a Surfboard-compatible configuration |
| ClashX Meta | macOS | Meta family; varies by archived package | No longer maintained | Straightforward menu bar controls; troubleshooting requires configuration knowledge | Suited to menu bar workflows; check compatibility with newer systems | Users on older macOS setups or planning a migration |
Client reviews: why to choose each, and where it falls short
Read about the two or three clients that match your devices; there’s no need to install them all. Each review gives a clear recommendation: when it’s a good fit and when to consider another option.
Clash Plus: a good starting point for beginners and phone-first users
If you mainly need to import a subscription, choose a rule mode, and get connected, start with Clash Plus. It supports Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, making it easier to stick with one client across devices. Cross-platform support doesn’t mean settings sync automatically or that every platform has the same core and system permissions.
On Android, allow the system’s VPN permission the first time you connect. On iOS, follow the app’s prompt to add a VPN configuration. A typical connection shouldn’t require installing an unknown profile or certificate. If your subscription relies on complex overrides, specialized protocols, or scripts, check the app’s documentation before deciding to use it.
Find the iOS download on the download page. The official site is clashplus.io. If you use multiple devices, check the configuration and subscription limits for each one; a successful connection on one device doesn’t mean the others are set up.
View Clash Plus downloads →Clash Verge Rev: desktop rules and configuration overrides
Clash Verge Rev is a better fit if your computer is your primary work device. mihomo handles traffic, while the interface manages configurations, proxy groups, and how traffic is routed through the system. Start with the system proxy for everyday use. Enable TUN only when you need to route traffic from apps that ignore system proxy settings. TUN creates a virtual network interface and often requires extra permissions and routing changes.
Its strength is desktop configuration management—not turning on every advanced toggle. If you need custom rules to survive subscription updates, look into configuration overrides, which store local changes separately from the subscription itself. Keep a working baseline configuration first, then add overrides one at a time. It’s easier to troubleshoot than changing DNS, routes, and rules all at once.
View Windows downloads →FlClash: a familiar workflow on Android and desktop
FlClash uses the mihomo core, with downloads for Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you switch often between phone and computer, a similar interface can make settings easier to find. Traffic routing still differs by device: Android uses its VPN interface, while desktop systems may use the system proxy or TUN.
Before choosing it, check two things: whether it can parse your subscription and whether you can manage the settings you need in the interface. A cross-platform interface doesn’t guarantee that configurations are interchangeable; network adapter names, file paths, and local port bindings may need to be set separately. FlClash isn’t an iOS option. iPhone users should check the iOS client listed on the download page.
View Android downloads →Clash Nyanpasu: for users who want to customize desktop setups
Clash Nyanpasu is suited to users who care about their desktop workflow and are comfortable managing configurations and choosing a core. Our download list includes a Windows package; that doesn’t indicate whether it’s available for other systems. Compared with beginners who just want to import a subscription, experienced users are more likely to understand how its core and interface work together.
When comparing options, don’t rely on the interface name alone. Check that the active core supports the fields your subscription needs. Switching cores within the same client can change which protocols and rule fields are supported. If you just want your current subscription to keep working, leave the defaults in place. Before switching cores, back up your configuration and recheck DNS, rule sets, and TUN behavior.
View desktop client downloads →Clash for Windows: an archive for reference, not a fresh install
Clash for Windows, often called CFW, is no longer maintained. Existing users may be familiar with its configuration, proxy, and connection screens, but familiarity doesn’t mean ongoing support for new systems or protocols. Archived releases may bundle different cores, so don’t assume one old guide applies to every package.
If you still use it, export your subscription source and local changes first. Note which rules come from the subscription and which are client overrides. After moving to a new client, start with the basic subscription, then restore custom settings. Don’t copy the entire old data directory at once: caches, runtime paths, and interface settings may not carry over. The archive is mainly for migrations and looking up older setups.
View alternatives and archived downloads →Clash Meta for Android: understand VpnService and background restrictions
Clash Meta for Android, often called CMFA, uses a Meta / mihomo-family core and follows familiar Android workflows for importing configurations and selecting proxies. It’s not the same maintenance case as the discontinued original Clash for Android. Use the full project name when searching for downloads or troubleshooting advice.
VpnService is an Android system interface that lets apps create a local VPN tunnel. Seeing the VPN icon doesn’t mean you’re connected to a remote VPN service. After granting permission, check your phone’s battery optimization and background activity settings. If the connection drops when the screen locks, first check whether Android is restricting the app, then check the subscription and remote server. Switching clients won’t bypass every system-level background restriction.
View Android permissions and connection steps →Surfboard: choose it only if you have a compatible configuration
Surfboard appears in the Android client list for comparison, but it isn’t a Clash reskin and doesn’t use a Clash core. It has its own configuration syntax and supported features. If you only have a Clash YAML subscription, don’t assume you can paste in the same URL and use it as-is.
Consider Surfboard if your subscription provider explicitly offers a compatible format. If not, confirm the format before deciding to migrate. Converting configurations involves differences in protocol, rule, and DNS behavior—not just changing a file extension. Before using an online converter, consider the sensitivity of your subscription URL. Don’t submit a complete link with access credentials to an unfamiliar service.
View Android clients →ClashX Meta: a migration reference for longtime macOS menu bar users
ClashX Meta uses a Meta-family core and offers straightforward menu bar controls, but it’s no longer maintained. Don’t confuse it with other macOS projects that are still maintained, and don’t assume that the Meta label means it supports every configuration feature in current mihomo releases.
For a new macOS setup, consider Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, or FlClash. If you’re migrating, note your system proxy toggle, bypass list, and local overrides, then check the defaults in the new client. After quitting the old client, make sure it hasn’t left the system proxy enabled. If two clients both control the proxy or network routes, it can be hard to tell what’s causing connection issues.
View macOS client downloads →Narrow down your options by use case
Before switching clients, save these four things
- Subscription source. Make sure you can get the subscription URL again and note how it updates. Hide the full URL in screenshots, and don’t share access credentials in public support posts.
- Local rules and overrides. Save custom domain rules, proxy group references, and DNS changes separately. Proxy group names must match the new configuration; similar names aren’t interchangeable.
- System routing settings. Note system proxy, TUN, and Android’s always-on VPN settings. Stop the old client before switching to avoid two apps competing for the same route or port.
- Test results. Start with a basic subscription in the new client. Check the rule mode, your usual apps, and local network access, then restore changes one at a time. If something breaks, undo the most recent change instead of resetting everything.
Node latency tests aren’t a reliable way to decide which client is best. Test endpoints, timeouts, DNS, your current network, and protocol handshakes can all affect the results; a successful test doesn’t guarantee that apps take the same route. For most users, system compatibility, understandable configuration, and predictable background behavior matter more than chasing test scores.
Already know your device and which clients to consider? Head to the download page to find the right platform. Not sure how system proxy differs from TUN? Start with the glossary. For installation and configuration steps, see the full documentation.