Eight Clash Clients Reviewed
These reviews focus on the practical trade-offs of everyday use. Speed depends more on the route, server, protocol and local network than on the client’s name, so clients can’t be ranked by speed alone. Even with the same core, DNS, routing scope and rules can lead to different results.
Clash Plus: A First Look for Beginners and Multi-Device Users
If you don’t already have an established setup, Clash Plus is our first pick to look into. Its download page covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, making it easy to check supported devices and installation options in one place. Beginners will get more out of first learning the basics—import a config, choose a proxy group and connect—than diving into every advanced setting. Visit the official site at clashplus.io; the iOS installation option is also listed on the download page.
Keep in mind that permissions and features may vary by operating system. Don’t move a desktop config to your phone without checking it first. Confirm the subscription type, node protocols and rule import support, then test with an app you actually use. If Linux is your main platform, look at Clash Verge Rev or FlClash, which have Linux installers on this site, rather than searching this list for a Plus installer that isn’t available here.
Clash Verge Rev: Desktop and Linux Config Management
Clash Verge Rev uses the mihomo core and suits users who want a proxy client running on their desktop day to day. The basic workflow can be as simple as importing a config, selecting a proxy group and enabling the system proxy. Add rule, DNS or TUN settings only when you need them. On Linux, choose DEB or RPM for your distribution and check whether your desktop environment supports the tray. Being able to open the installer and being able to route traffic through a background service are two separate things to verify.
Its advanced features let you manage subscription content separately from local changes. Editing a file generated from a remote subscription directly can mean losing your changes at the next update; using the client’s override or enhancement features makes local settings easier to keep. The trade-off is that troubleshooting requires checking the merged config, not just the original subscription. Before enabling TUN, verify the config with the system proxy first, then set up service permissions and traffic routing separately.
FlClash: A Similar Workflow on Desktop and Android
FlClash is based on mihomo, with downloads available here for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It’s a good fit for users who want a similar workflow on their computer and Android phone. The basics—config lists, proxy groups and connection status—carry over, so there’s no need to learn a new set of terms on each device. But a similar workflow doesn’t mean configs, credentials or selections sync across devices automatically; plan to back up and import them separately.
On phones, Android’s VPN permission is required; desktops may use the system proxy or TUN. These route traffic differently. Even with the same subscription imported, check DNS, local network access and background behavior on each device. Start with the defaults and test your usual apps before adjusting routing rules or automatic updates. Don’t force identical interfaces by copying paths or network interface settings that only apply to the other platform.
Clash Nyanpasu: For Desktop Users Who Like Fine-Tuning Configs
Clash Nyanpasu is for users who want more control over config enhancements, core selection and desktop workflows. The download listing on this site provides Windows builds; evaluate the client shell separately from the core it actually runs. Switching cores can affect protocol support, config parsing and defaults. If an import fails, check which core is active and whether the subscription includes unsupported fields before repeatedly deleting and reimporting the config.
The trade-off is that there are more options to adjust, so you need to know which layer each setting affects. When getting started, avoid enabling several enhancement scripts and global overrides at once; rules can come from multiple places and become hard to trace. Keep a working baseline config, then add one change at a time. If your daily use is limited to switching subscriptions and choosing nodes, consider a more straightforward client instead.
Clash for Windows: Archive and Migration Reference
Clash for Windows is no longer maintained. This site keeps an archived download for reference with older setups and migrations. Existing users may still find their way around configs, proxy groups and logs quickly, but a familiar interface can’t make up for the limits of an unmaintained app. New protocols, config fields and OS behavior may not be supported. The word “Windows” in its name doesn’t mean it represents the wider Clash ecosystem or is the current recommended option.
Before migrating, save your subscription URL, proxy group selections, local rules and DNS changes, then restore them separately in the new client. Config enhancement scripts, interface preferences and service settings from the old client don’t necessarily map directly to mihomo config. If the new client can’t connect, first check for merged-rule or field compatibility issues instead of returning to archived software for long-term use. For a new install, choose a maintained client that supports the protocols you need.
Clash Meta for Android: For Android Users Familiar with Clash Configs
Clash Meta for Android, often shortened to CMFA, follows the familiar Android workflow of importing a config, choosing a proxy group and checking connections. Its Meta/mihomo-family core suits users who need the corresponding protocols and rule features, but actual support depends on the core bundled with the build. When downloading, distinguish ARM64, ARM and universal packages. An architecture mismatch can prevent installation and has nothing to do with the subscription—changing the config won’t fix it.
Android’s VpnService permission provides the system routing entry point, while background operation can also be affected by battery optimization, auto-start settings and manufacturer restrictions. Lock your screen for a while after connecting and test again; this is more likely to reveal background issues than leaving the client open on its home screen. Usually, only one app can use Android’s VPN channel at a time, so check for conflicts if you’re running another VPN tool. For a similar workflow across computer and phone, compare FlClash too.
Surfboard: Best When You Already Have a Compatible Subscription
Surfboard is another Android option, but it isn’t just a different interface for Clash configs. It has its own implementation and config format, so don’t assume it can import a complete Clash YAML file unchanged. If your provider offers a subscription specifically compatible with Surfboard, getting started is usually more straightforward. If you only have a Clash config, check whether the provider supplies a compatible format before migrating.
Converting formats can also affect rule syntax, proxy group behavior and protocol parameters—not just the file extension. Even if nodes import successfully, DNS and routing behavior may not carry over completely. If you rely on mihomo-specific fields such as rule-providers, choose a client that explicitly supports them. Surfboard makes sense only when both your config source and feature requirements are a good fit.
ClashX Meta: Legacy macOS Menu Bar Setups
ClashX Meta is no longer maintained and is best treated as a reference when working with an existing macOS setup. Its menu bar workflow suits some longtime users, but its legacy Meta-family core isn’t a complete replacement for current mihomo. Even if an older subscription still connects, OS upgrades, permission changes or new subscription fields can introduce issues you haven’t seen before. It’s listed here as an archive, not a preferred choice for new macOS installs.
Before migrating, note your current system proxy, rule mode, proxy groups and local config paths. Then quit the old client before enabling routing in the new one. If both apps modify the system proxy, the settings can linger after one is closed. Check the installer architecture for Apple Silicon and Intel separately. If you want to keep using a GUI, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev and FlClash.