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Clash Client Comparison Platform Support and Configuration
Start with your device and configuration format, then compare the interface and traffic-routing options. The same core does not mean the same defaults, and one subscription may produce different final configurations in different clients.
Top pick for a first install: Clash Plus. Check the installation requirements, subscription format, and traffic-routing features for your target system. Choose FlClash for a cross-platform Flutter interface, or compare Clash Verge Rev for desktop configuration overrides. On Linux, compare Clash Verge Rev and FlClash first.
The platform coverage below reflects the downloads available on this site, not every platform each project has ever supported. This is not a ranking of speed, memory use, or stability, and interface complexity is not a performance measure.
Client feature comparison
Setup difficulty describes the effort involved in making a first connection after importing a working configuration; it is not a test score. Maintenance status is a qualitative assessment, not a substitute for checking project announcements before installing. On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally.
Basic menu actions are easy; configuration editing requires some experience
Menu bar workflow and migration from legacy setups; not recommended for new long-term deployments
Core and configuration compatibility
The client handles subscriptions, settings, system integration, and access to logs. The core parses configuration, matches rules, handles DNS, and establishes connections. Original Clash, Clash Meta, and mihomo are distinct names to keep in mind when tracing configuration compatibility. A client name containing Clash does not mean every field is interchangeable.
mihomo continues the Clash Meta lineage. Common rules in older original Clash configurations can often be migrated, but newer protocols, policy group options, and DNS fields still need to be checked individually. Conversely, handing a configuration with newer fields to an older core may cause a parse failure or leave some features behaving differently than expected.
Even when two clients use mihomo, they may run different core versions, merge configurations in a different order, or generate different fields through their interfaces. For example, a UI's TUN toggle may override tun.enable in a subscription, while a local client setting may take over the mixed port. Compare the effective configuration, not just the subscription source file.
Start by checking mode, mixed-port, dns, and rules. See the configuration reference for syntax and override order, or the Getting Started guide for your first connection.
Client reviews
Clash Plus: top pick for first installs
Cross-platform deployment / check features for your system
Clash Plus is our recommended starting point for importing a subscription and making a basic connection before gradually adjusting rules. Downloads are available here for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS; the official site is clashplus.io. Check that your platform supports the configuration format, protocols, and traffic-routing method you need; don't assume a feature available on one platform works on another. For multiple devices, test the configuration on one device before rolling it out to the rest. iOS users can follow the download link to the App Store.
Clash Verge Rev: desktop configuration overrides
mihomo / Windows · macOS · Linux
Clash Verge Rev suits desktop users who want to manage subscriptions, appended rules, and local overrides separately. Start with a subscription import for a basic connection, then identify which fields come from the subscription and which come from client settings. Save a recoverable local configuration before changing DNS, TUN, or rule order. Linux users should choose a package for their distribution and check service permissions and desktop integration. Its main strength is the desktop management workflow; a longer feature list does not guarantee a faster connection.
FlClash: a consistent workflow across desktop and Android
Flutter / mihomo
FlClash uses a Flutter interface, making it a good fit for users who want a similar workflow on desktop and Android. Common tasks include choosing a rule mode and policy group, and checking logs and connection details. A shared interface does not mean shared permissions: desktop TUN may require a service or administrator access, while Android requires system VPN permission and is subject to background restrictions. If your subscription already works, keep the provider's DNS and rules as they are, then change one setting at a time to address a specific issue.
Clash Nyanpasu: check the runtime core
Desktop configuration management / Windows package available here
Clash Nyanpasu is one Windows desktop option to compare. Before choosing it, check the core bundled with the current release and the settings it supports; interface features are not the same as core capabilities. Knowing which core is running helps users who inspect configurations, adjust rules, and read logs diagnose field compatibility issues. For a first connection, there's no need to switch clients just to try more settings. Verify a basic configuration first, then see whether its management workflow suits your routine.
Clash for Windows: archived, for migration only
Discontinued / original Clash lineage
Clash for Windows still appears in many older guides, but it is discontinued and not a good choice for a new install just because the screenshots look familiar. Existing setups may include a manually replaced core, local scripts, or custom service settings, so the app name alone may not describe what is actually running. For migration, record your subscription source, rule overrides, and policy group selections; don't copy the whole installation directory to a new client. Compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, and FlClash based on your devices and configuration needs. Once migration is complete, remove the old system proxy settings and services.
Clash Meta for Android: Android configuration
CMFA / Clash Meta family
Clash Meta for Android is for Android users who already understand Clash subscriptions and rule modes. When troubleshooting mobile issues, distinguish configuration errors from system restrictions: check parse results and logs for the former, and VPN permission, battery optimization, and other VPN apps for the latter. For per-app traffic controls, check whether the selected mode includes or excludes the chosen apps. Match the package architecture to your device; the universal package is not automatically the best choice. See the download page for currently available packages.
Surfboard: independent configuration format
Android / non-Clash core
Surfboard appears on the same download page, but it is not another Clash GUI. It has its own configuration format and protocol implementation, so Clash YAML files are not interchangeable by default. It suits users with a known compatible configuration or those willing to maintain rules in its format. If your subscription provider only offers Clash format, check whether it can provide a Surfboard-compatible version. Converting configurations can lose policy groups, scripts, or client-specific fields; even a successful conversion needs a check of the resulting rule behavior.
ClashX Meta: archived macOS workflow
Discontinued / menu bar workflow
ClashX Meta is useful for understanding the legacy macOS menu bar workflow, but it is discontinued. When migrating an existing setup, note the configuration path, listening ports, and system proxy settings, then choose an installer for Intel or Apple silicon. If the old configuration contains Meta-specific fields, test them with a currently maintained compatible core. For a new install, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, and FlClash rather than assuming fewer menu items mean less maintenance.
Choose by use case
First-time setup: change one thing at a time
Start with Clash Plus, then import your subscription, choose a policy group, and verify the connection. Don't change ports, DNS, TUN, and rules all at once during your first connection. Once basic access works, decide whether you need another traffic-routing method for a specific app. For step-by-step instructions, see Getting Started.
Advanced setup: compare overrides and precedence
For desktop, compare Clash Verge Rev and FlClash; on Android, compare FlClash and CMFA. Look at how each handles appended rules, preserves changes after subscription updates, and presents logs. For newer protocols or fields, check the runtime core rather than relying on the client name.
Multiple devices: use one configuration source, verify permissions on each
Start by evaluating Clash Plus for its platform coverage; FlClash is another option for desktop and Android. Keep the subscription source and rule intent consistent, not every system toggle. Desktop proxies, Android VPNs, and iOS network extensions have different permissions and background behavior, so test each device separately.
Older PCs: check system compatibility, then test locally
Don't judge resource use by a simple interface, and don't choose discontinued software just to support an older system. First check that your OS version and processor architecture meet the requirements, then compare startup and background behavior with the same configuration and log level. Removing unnecessary rule sets and debug logs is more useful than guessing at a memory ranking across clients.
Before switching clients
Keep track of your configuration sources. Record subscription URLs, update methods, and local overrides. Subscription links may contain credentials; don't include them in public screenshots, support tickets, or shared files.
Use only one traffic-routing client at a time. Disable the old client's system proxy or TUN before starting the new one. If both apps compete for the same port or modify the system proxy simultaneously, the results will be difficult to diagnose.
Test with a minimal configuration. First confirm the subscription parses successfully, then select a known-working policy group. Keep rule mode enabled and check basic access and DNS before restoring custom rules.
Check local network and work apps. Test printers, internal domains, developer tools, and corporate VPNs. If something fails, check the traffic-routing scope and DNS before assuming the client is incompatible.
Clean up old settings last. Confirm the new client starts and exits reliably before removing old services, startup items, and proxy addresses. Keep a configuration backup, but don't import the old app's entire cache into the new setup.
To pinpoint configuration differences, note the fields before and after a change and what happened. Increase log detail only temporarily while reproducing an issue. Before sharing logs, remove subscription credentials, node authentication details, and personal browsing records.
Client selection FAQs
Why do two clients using mihomo behave differently?
Compare the runtime core, effective configuration, and traffic-routing scope first. A client may locally override DNS, ports, TUN, or rules; system permissions and other networking software can also affect the outcome. A comparison is meaningful only when the inputs and environment are similar.
Can I keep using my subscription after migrating from Clash for Windows?
That depends on the subscription format and which fields the new client supports. Re-import the original subscription, then migrate local rules and overrides one at a time. Don't copy scripts, service settings, or caches from the old installation directory into the new client.
Why isn't there a speed or memory ranking?
Connection speed depends on nodes, routes, protocols, and DNS. Memory use also varies with rule sets, connection count, and log level. Without a consistent test environment, a ranking would not be reliable. This guide compares verifiable features and workflows instead of using numbers without context.
Where should Linux and iOS users start?
On Linux, compare Clash Verge Rev and FlClash, choosing a package for your distribution and architecture. If you only need a command-line service, see the core section on the download page. On iOS, start with the Clash Plus App Store link; features depend on the store listing and current app settings.