Client selection

How to Choose a Clash Client: Platform, Core, and Maintenance Compared

Clash clients share similar configuration concepts, but platform coverage, core capabilities, interfaces, and maintenance status vary. This page starts with a comparison table, then explains each client’s use cases so you can choose based on your device and experience.

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Comparison matrix

Start with platform support and ease of use

Use the table for quick filtering, not as a substitute for detailed configuration guidance. The core column reflects the ecosystem each client typically uses; before installing, follow the current packages and client notes on the download page.

Client	Platform support	Core ecosystem	Maintenance status	Learning curve	Standout features	Best for
Clash Plus	Windows、macOS、Android、iOS	mihomo ecosystem	Actively maintained	Low to moderate	Broad platform coverage, a centralized configuration hub, and unified subscription and mode management	First-time installers, multi-device users, and anyone who wants fewer tool changes
Clash Verge Rev	Windows、macOS、Linux	mihomo ecosystem	Actively maintained	Moderate	Desktop rules, subscriptions, system proxy, and configuration file management	Users who need a full desktop control panel
FlClash	Windows、macOS、Linux、Android	mihomo ecosystem	Actively maintained	Moderate	Cross-platform interface for desktop and mobile use	Users who switch between systems and prefer a consistent workflow
Clash Nyanpasu	Windows	mihomo ecosystem	Actively maintained	Moderate	Graphical proxy controls and configuration management on Windows	Desktop users who run Clash only on Windows
Clash for Windows	Windows	Original Clash ecosystem	No longer maintained	Low	Highly recognizable legacy configuration and workflow	Users migrating legacy configurations or maintaining historical environments
Clash Meta for Android	Android	Clash Meta	Actively maintained	Moderate	Mobile rules, proxy modes, TUN, and configuration management	Users who need native Android proxy controls
Surfboard	Android	Clash Meta-compatible ecosystem	Actively maintained	Moderate	Mobile subscription imports, proxy modes, and local configuration	Android users and people already familiar with Surfboard
ClashX Meta	macOS	Clash Meta	No longer maintained	Low to moderate	Menu bar proxy controls and the macOS desktop workflow	Users migrating legacy macOS configurations

Choose by situation

Narrow the options by use case

Start with your device and configuration complexity, then consider interface preferences. Differences between clients usually involve system integration, configuration access, and core support—not simply whether one has more features.

Client notes

What to prioritize for each client

The notes below avoid version numbers, release dates, and rating scores, focusing instead on the differences that matter when choosing a client.

Cross-platform

Clash Plus: Start with broad platform coverage

Clash Plus suits users who want one primary client for everyday proxy management. It offers desktop and mobile entry points, so first-time installers can download the version for their system and follow a clear sequence: import a subscription, update the configuration, choose a rule mode, and enable the system proxy. Its value is not in making users adjust dozens of parameters immediately, but in bringing common tasks together and reducing friction between download and first connection.

If you need TUN, complex policy groups, or custom rules, you still need to understand the configuration structure. Clash Plus works best as a stable daily entry point; when an issue involves subscription content, rule matching, or core fields, inspect the configuration and logs instead of repeatedly switching interface options.

DesktopActively maintained

Clash Verge Rev: More complete desktop configuration management

Clash Verge Rev targets Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops, making it a good fit for users who regularly manage multiple configuration files, subscription sources, and proxy modes. You will typically work with configuration updates, system proxies, rule modes, and core-related settings, so the learning curve is somewhat steeper than for users who only need a proxy toggle.

It is best suited to people who use a computer as their primary work device. If you only want to import a subscription quickly on a phone, or do not need desktop-level configuration management, compare mobile clients instead; there is no need to take on extra complexity just to get more features.

Cross-platformActively maintained

FlClash: A consistent workflow across systems

FlClash covers Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, making it suitable for users who frequently switch between computers and phones. Its key advantage is not one platform-specific feature, but a similar approach to configuration imports and proxy controls across devices. For anyone maintaining one subscription configuration, cross-platform access reduces repeated learning.

Cross-platform does not mean every system offers identical capabilities. Desktop system proxies, mobile VPN permissions, and TUN behavior still require separate checks. After installation, review permissions and modes for the current device rather than copying settings directly from another platform.

WindowsActively maintained

Clash Nyanpasu: A focused Windows graphical client

Clash Nyanpasu suits users who run a client only on Windows and want graphical configuration controls. It can be included in a desktop comparison, with attention to whether subscription imports, rule modes, system proxy controls, and configuration switching meet your current needs.

If you also need macOS, Linux, or Android versions, a cross-platform client will be more convenient. If your device is fixed on Windows and you already understand the mihomo configuration structure, include it in your hands-on desktop evaluation.

No longer maintainedMigration reference

Clash for Windows: Useful for identifying legacy setups, not as a new starting point

Clash for Windows was once the entry point for many Windows users, so it may still appear in older tutorials, screenshots, and configuration guides. For users migrating a legacy environment, understanding its configuration locations, system proxy behavior, and familiar workflow can make the transition easier.

For a new installation, prioritize Windows clients that are still maintained. During migration, record the current configuration files, ports, and modes first, then import and verify them one by one in the new client. Do not assume that a button’s location in the old interface has the same meaning in the new client.

AndroidActively maintained

Clash Meta for Android: Prioritize mobile rule support

Clash Meta for Android suits users who need to manage subscriptions, rule modes, and system VPN routing on Android. Compared with desktop systems, phones place more emphasis on VPN permissions, battery policies, and background restrictions. On first use, import the configuration and confirm that the system allows VPN connections and does not restrict the app in the background.

If the configuration uses fields supported by mihomo or Clash Meta, check policy groups and rule-matching results after importing it on mobile. When connections fail, first determine whether the cause is Android permissions, configuration parsing, or the node itself.

AndroidActively maintained

Surfboard: Choose it when you already know the mobile workflow

Surfboard targets Android users who are already familiar with its mobile workflow or need to continue using an existing configuration on their phone. When comparing clients, focus on subscription import methods, proxy modes, system VPN permissions, and configuration-format compatibility—not just the client name.

If you have not installed an Android client yet, compare Surfboard with Clash Meta for Android and FlClash as a group. First decide whether you need a simple proxy toggle or management for rules, TUN, and configuration files, then choose how much control you actually need.

No longer maintainedmacOS

ClashX Meta: For identifying legacy macOS configurations

ClashX Meta mainly appears in older macOS configurations and menu bar workflows. Its main value today is helping users identify the client names, configuration locations, and menu bar controls referenced in legacy tutorials. For a new installation, prioritize macOS clients that are still maintained.

During migration, save your subscription URL and custom rules first, then import them again in the new client. Afterward, check separately that the system proxy is enabled, the browser follows the expected route, and custom rules still match in the intended order.

Selection result

Conclusion: Start by comparing Clash Plus

For most users who need a client on both desktop and mobile, Clash Plus is the most direct starting point: it offers broad platform coverage and a centralized download path, making it easy to complete the basic setup before gradually learning about rule modes, policy groups, ports, and TUN. Users who need finer desktop control can compare Clash Verge Rev; those who want a similar workflow across systems can look at FlClash; Android users can evaluate Clash Meta for Android alongside Surfboard.

Once you choose a client, connection results are usually shaped more by subscription content, configuration format, rule order, and system permissions. Confirm your device platform before downloading, then import the configuration and verify the proxy mode using the tutorial; this matters more than simply chasing a client name.

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