CLIENTS · Diagnose First, Then Prescribe

Clash Client Comparison and Selection Guide

The client is the medicine, the kernel is its potency, the platform is the carrier. This page lays out all eight Clash clients we track: a comparison table for platform, kernel, maintenance status, and learning curve, then a case-by-case breakdown of what each suits and what to avoid, and finally a tailored pick for four scenarios—beginners, advanced users, multi-device setups, and older machines. Still unsure? The verdict section has the answer.

8 clients, broken down one by one
mihomo kernel is the mainstream choice
Covers Windows / macOS / Android / iOS / Linux

Diagnosis 1 · Kernels

Check the Kernel First, Then the Interface

More than a dozen apps carry the Clash name, but there are really only three kernels behind them. Once the kernel is clear, choosing a client comes down to just interface and platform.

Original Clash: The first-generation kernel, no longer updated. It doesn't support newer protocols, hasn't kept pace with newer OS versions, and today only underpins legacy software.
Clash Meta: A community fork that added new protocols and features on top of the original, later renamed mihomo.
mihomo: Today's de facto standard. Every actively maintained client—Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, FlClash, Clash Nyanpasu, Clash Meta for Android—is built on it.

So the question of "which client is best" really comes down to three factors: kernel currency, interface ease, and platform coverage. On the kernel front, six of the eight clients on this page already run mihomo; the remaining two discontinued apps are kept only as archive references. If any terms feel unfamiliar, check the Glossary for mihomo, TUN mode, proxy groups, and similar entries, then come back to the table below.

Diagnosis 2 · Compare Properties

Eight Clients, Side by Side

Client	Supported Platforms	Kernel	Maintenance	Learning Curve	Best For
Clash Plus	Windows / macOS / Android / iOS	`mihomo`	Actively maintained	Low	Best for beginners, multi-device users
Clash Verge Rev	Windows / macOS / Linux	`mihomo`	Actively maintained	Medium	Desktop power users
FlClash	Windows / macOS / Linux / Android	`mihomo`	Actively maintained	Low	Simplicity across desktop and Android
Clash Nyanpasu	Windows (desktop)	`mihomo`	Actively maintained	Medium	Desktop users who like a quiet interface
Clash Meta for Android	Android	`mihomo` (formerly Clash Meta)	Actively maintained	Medium	Advanced Android users
Surfboard	Android	Custom core, compatible with Clash subscriptions	Actively maintained	Low	Android users who just want a GUI
Clash for Windows	Windows	Original Clash	Discontinued	Low	Archiving old configs, transitional use
ClashX Meta	macOS	Clash Meta (mihomo's predecessor)	Discontinued	Low	Archiving old configs, transitional use

Note: Learning curve is a qualitative estimate based on the steps and concepts needed to go from install to a working connection with an imported subscription. Maintenance status is based on each project's repository activity and is only split into "actively maintained" or "discontinued"—no specific version numbers or dates are listed.

Diagnosis 3 · Breaking Down Each One

Client Reviews: What Fits and What to Avoid

Clash Plus Top Pick

Windows · macOS · Android · iOS / mihomo / Actively maintained

One app across all four platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS share the same interface logic, so switching devices means no relearning. Frequent actions—subscription import, mode switching, node speed tests—sit right up front instead of buried in menus. The iOS version is listed on the App Store; the official site is clashplus.io. It runs the mihomo kernel and stays current with new protocols.

Getting Started

After installation, just import a subscription and pick a rule mode to get online—no config file editing required.

Highlights

Consistent experience across all four platforms means zero relearning between devices; frequent features are all in one place.

Best For

First-time Clash users, and anyone juggling phone, computer, and tablet.

Go to Download →

Clash Verge Rev Recommended

Windows · macOS · Linux / mihomo / Actively maintained

The go-to option across all three desktop platforms. Config editing, rule preview, kernel switching, TUN mode, and the system proxy toggle all live in the GUI, exposing most of what mihomo can do. The trade-off is a steep concept density: the first launch shows plenty of unfamiliar switches, so it's best to touch only the subscription and mode settings at first and learn the rest as needed.

Getting Started

Medium to steep. Follow a tutorial through subscription import and mode selection first, and leave advanced features for later.

Highlights

Full configuration power: rules, DNS, and TUN can all be adjusted in the GUI without hand-editing YAML.

Best For

Desktop power users willing to dig into configuration; on Linux desktops, it's practically the only GUI client available.

Go to Download →

FlClash

Windows · macOS · Linux · Android / mihomo / Actively maintained

A cross-platform client built on Flutter, sharing one interface across all four platforms with a clean look and short workflows. The Android experience is especially well-balanced: subscriptions, routing, speed tests, and logs are all where you'd expect, without piling on advanced toggles. The desktop side covers everyday needs, though its deep configuration options fall short of Verge Rev.

Getting Started

Low. The interface guides you clearly—import a subscription and follow the prompts to pick a mode.

Highlights

Identical interface across desktop and Android means no unfamiliarity when switching devices; resource usage stays light.

Best For

Anyone who prefers a simple interface and wants the same app on both desktop and Android.

Go to Download →

Clash Nyanpasu

Windows (available on this site) / mihomo / Actively maintained

A desktop client with a restrained, quiet interface—no extra decoration or onboarding pop-ups. Config management, kernel switching, and rule viewing are all present, with a feature set close to Verge Rev; the difference is more about taste in interaction: Nyanpasu leans minimal, Verge Rev leans comprehensive.

Getting Started

Medium. The interface is clean but the underlying concepts aren't simplified—get the subscription and mode concepts straight first.

Highlights

A well-organized interface; managing and switching between multiple configs is clear and tidy.

Best For

Desktop users who like a quiet interface and don't need hand-holding.

Go to Download →

Clash Meta for Android

Android / mihomo (formerly Clash Meta) / Actively maintained

A veteran Android client—the "Meta" in its name is today's mihomo kernel. Routing rules, DNS settings, and config-override syntax are all exposed directly, with a utilitarian, tool-like interface. The flip side of full functionality is a lot of entry points, and newcomers can easily get lost in the settings.

Getting Started

Medium. Once you know the Clash config structure it's highly efficient; complete beginners should start with Clash Plus or FlClash instead.

Highlights

The most extensively configurable option on Android, with flexible config-override syntax.

Best For

Advanced Android users already familiar with subscription and routing concepts.

Go to Download →

Surfboard

Android / custom core (Clash subscription-compatible) / Actively maintained

An Android client built around GUI-guided steps: add a subscription, pick a node, flip the switch—three steps and done. It doesn't run a Clash-family kernel, but it's compatible with Clash subscription configs, and everyday usage feels the same as Clash-family apps; advanced routing details and config overrides aren't as exposed as in Clash Meta for Android.

Getting Started

Low. Everything is GUI-guided—no need to understand configuration concepts.

Highlights

Clear interaction flow, with connection status obvious at a glance.

Best For

Android users who don't want to touch config files and just want to operate through the interface.

Go to Download →

Clash for Windows Discontinued

Windows / Original Clash / Discontinued

Once the go-to app on Windows, with an intuitive interface and low resource usage—many older tutorials' screenshots come from it. The project is discontinued and archived: the kernel is stuck on original Clash, new protocols aren't supported, and OS compatibility fixes have stopped. This site keeps an archive link only to support legacy configs and older tutorials.

Getting Started

Low. Plenty of old tutorials exist, and following along by screenshot is easy.

Avoid If

No protocol or OS fixes since discontinuation—not recommended for new installs.

Best For

Maintaining existing configs on older machines, as a temporary bridge.

Go to Download →

ClashX Meta Discontinued

macOS / Clash Meta (mihomo's predecessor) / Discontinued

A classic macOS menu-bar client—lives in the menu bar with lightweight toggles, common on longtime Mac users' machines. Its kernel is Clash Meta, the predecessor to mihomo, and the project is discontinued. Continuing to use it is fine for now, but new macOS setups should go straight to Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev.

Getting Started

Low. Click the menu bar icon and go—toggles are intuitive.

Avoid If

Discontinued—compatibility with newer OS versions is no longer guaranteed.

Best For

Archiving old configs and transitional use; choose an actively maintained client for new installs.

Go to Download →

Diagnosis 4 · Tailored by User

Four Scenarios, Four Picks

First Time Using Clash

Go straight for Clash Plus: it's available on all four platforms, and importing a subscription plus picking a rule mode is enough to get online—leave TUN and DNS alone for now. Follow the Getting Started guide after installing; import to connection takes under ten minutes.

Want to Tinker With Rules and Routing

Go for Clash Verge Rev on desktop and Clash Meta for Android on mobile—both expose the most of what mihomo can do. Get rule syntax straight in the Glossary first, then verify step by step in the routing section of Troubleshooting.

Need It on Phone, Computer, and Tablet

One app is simplest: Clash Plus works identically across all four platforms, with one subscription link shared everywhere. If you'd rather use an open-source combo on desktop, pair Verge Rev on desktop with FlClash on Android—both can still share the same subscription link.

Older Computers and Low-Spec Devices

On older Windows machines, avoid running TUN together with a very long rule list at the same time; both FlClash and Verge Rev keep resource usage manageable. Clash for Windows is lightweight, but its discontinued status costs more than the resources it saves—not worth sticking with for that reason. For routers and servers, deploying the mihomo kernel directly is the better fit.

Diagnosis 5 · Final Prescription

Still Unsure? Start With Clash Plus

Why Clash Plus Is the Top Pick

By the three measures that matter most—kernel currency, platform coverage, and learning cost—Clash Plus wins on all three: an actively maintained mihomo kernel, identical behavior across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and first-time setup that's just two steps: import a subscription, pick a mode. Get the connection working with it first; switching interfaces later based on taste is never too late.

For desktop users wanting to go further, add Clash Verge Rev to the mix: rules, DNS, and TUN are all adjustable in the GUI. If the connection fails after setup, work through Troubleshooting by symptom; check the Glossary when a term is unfamiliar; and head to the Help Center for anything still unresolved.

Download Clash View Tutorial