Clash Client Comparison and Selection Guide

If you just need to import a subscription, select a proxy group, and connect, start with Clash Plus. It’s easier to troubleshoot than juggling multiple cores from day one. This site provides download options for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Get the workflow working on one device first, then move on to the others. Multi-platform availability doesn’t mean settings sync automatically or that every platform offers the same advanced features.

If you already have a complex YAML configuration, first check whether your platform supports the protocols, rule providers, and DNS fields it uses. A successful import doesn’t mean every setting is active. On iOS, use the download page to open the App Store. See the official product site at clashplus.io. For Linux, choose a client with a Linux package available here.

Clash Verge Rev: a strong choice for advanced desktop configuration

Clash Verge Rev suits users who want to manage subscriptions, proxy groups, rules, and TUN on desktop. It uses mihomo, making it worth considering over legacy clients with the original core when your configuration relies on mihomo extensions. Downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available on this site; make sure to choose the right architecture and package format.

More advanced features mean you’ll need to understand the difference between client settings, the original subscription, and local overrides. If a change disappears after a subscription update, the app may have saved it correctly—you may have edited the wrong configuration layer. Get standard rule mode working first, then tackle persistent overrides and TUN. It’s a leading alternative to Clash Plus if you need desktop configuration management, not just a connect button.

FlClash: a consistent workflow across desktop and Android

FlClash offers a similar interface across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It suits users who don’t want to hunt for proxy groups, configuration, and logs every time they switch devices. Built on mihomo, it lets you focus on subscriptions and rules. But a similar interface doesn’t mean the operating systems behave the same: desktop system proxies and Android VPNs handle traffic differently.

If the desktop works but your phone doesn’t, check VPN permission, background restrictions, and network changes before replacing your subscription. If a desktop browser works but other apps don’t use the proxy, those apps may not follow the system proxy settings. FlClash can help keep your workflow consistent across devices, but that doesn’t guarantee lower battery use or memory consumption. Actual performance depends on your connections and rules.

Clash Nyanpasu: a desktop configuration workbench

Clash Nyanpasu is a better fit if you already understand the roles of subscriptions, proxy groups, and cores. Choose it for its desktop workflow and configuration management, not because a different interface will improve connection quality. A Windows installer is available here. Check the release package documentation for its supported cores, configuration handling, and feature toggles.

Before trying different core or configuration options, save a working copy of your original configuration and change one setting at a time. The UI displaying a field doesn’t mean the selected core supports it. Add Clash Nyanpasu to your shortlist if you manage multiple configurations or like to tailor your workflow. If you only maintain one subscription, our default pick is usually enough—no need to fill the workbench with tools.

Clash for Windows still appears in many legacy guides and screenshots. Its familiar interface can make it seem like the obvious default, but development has stopped. Keep your existing know-how, but don’t assume it applies to new protocols, current operating systems, or mihomo extensions. Archived builds are for preserving legacy setups and reproducing old workflows, not for ongoing use that requires updates.

Before migrating from CFW, back up your subscription source, local rules, proxy group names, and port settings, then import them into the new client. Don’t overwrite the new app’s folder with the old program directory, or run two system proxies or TUN services at once. Clash Plus is a good place to start; if your setup relies on complex rules and local overrides, compare Clash Verge Rev. Legacy guides can help you find familiar buttons, but verify core support from scratch.

Clash Meta for Android: an Android option built around YAML

Clash Meta for Android, often called CMFA, suits Android users with an existing Clash YAML subscription who want to keep using proxy groups and rule-based routing. It follows the Meta/mihomo ecosystem, but supported protocols and fields depend on the bundled core. The key difference from desktop is how traffic is routed: Android requires system VPN permission rather than a desktop-style system proxy toggle.

Granting permission on first launch is only the first step. Make sure the selected configuration is enabled, choose a working proxy group, and allow background activity as needed in system settings. If the connection drops when the screen locks, check battery optimization and background restrictions first. If another app on your phone is using the VPN, you may need to choose which one runs; don’t assume multiple VPN services can route the same traffic at once.

Surfboard: check the configuration format before switching

Surfboard is an Android proxy client, not just a new interface for Clash YAML. It has its own implementation and primarily uses compatible Surge-style configurations. If your subscription provider offers a Surfboard-compatible configuration, it may be a good standalone option. If you only have Clash YAML, changing the file extension won’t make it work—and the client’s name doesn’t tell you which protocols it supports.

When migrating, check whether node protocols, policy groups, rules, and DNS behavior have equivalents. Even if a conversion tool produces a file successfully, it may not preserve every detail; inspect the imported configuration and connection logs. Surfboard suits users with compatible configurations who know this format. Beginners following this site’s Clash guides will usually have a simpler experience with Clash Plus or an Android client that supports YAML.

ClashX Meta puts common controls in the macOS menu bar. It may be useful to users familiar with its legacy workflow, but development has stopped. Meta in the name describes its core track; it does not guarantee ongoing support for current mihomo features. Recheck compatibility when upgrading macOS, switching processor architecture, or enabling newer traffic-routing features.

For a new install, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, and FlClash first. To preserve a legacy setup, note your system proxy settings and local listening port. Quit the old client before starting its replacement, so you don’t leave the system proxy pointing to an old port. Menu bar habits may carry over, but check each extension in your old configuration before migrating it.