Clash Client Comparison and Selection

The client handles the interface, configuration and system integration; the core handles connections, rule matching, DNS and related features. Evaluate them separately. A toggle in the interface does not mean the core, config and system permissions are all ready for that feature.

Clash Plus: Our Top Pick for First-Time Installs

Choose the Clash Plus version for your operating system, then import a compatible subscription from your provider. It’s our top pick because downloads are available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, making it easy to start with the same client family across devices—not because every platform uses an identical underlying implementation. Start with updating subscriptions, choosing a proxy group and connecting or disconnecting; explore advanced settings later.

For multi-device setups, check the config format, supported protocols and permission steps on each device. A desktop system proxy and a phone’s VPN connection are different settings, so don’t copy instructions from screenshots blindly. Find iOS app information at clashplus.io. For installation, visit the iOS section of the download page. Linux users should choose another desktop client available on this site.

Clash Verge Rev: Desktop Rules and Configuration Management

Windows, macOS and Linux users who need to edit rules, manage overrides or configure TUN should consider Clash Verge Rev. It uses the mihomo core and lets you manage local changes separately from the base subscription config. Before editing, check whether you’re working with the original subscription, an override or the final config generated by the client. This helps avoid mistaking subscription updates for lost local settings.

The learning curve comes from how settings interact, not from importing a config. System proxy, TUN, DNS interception and rule modes each serve a different purpose; don’t enable everything at once. Start by validating the connection with the system proxy, then enable TUN if specific apps bypass the proxy. Grant administrator or service permissions when prompted—reinstalling repeatedly is no substitute for troubleshooting.

FlClash: A Similar Experience on Desktop and Android

FlClash uses the mihomo core, with downloads available here for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It’s worth considering if you want a similar interface on your computer and phone. Config import, proxy group selection and connection status work along similar lines, but background operation, notification permissions, system proxy settings and VPN access are managed separately by each operating system.

When migrating, don’t copy the entire data directory just because both clients use mihomo. Import the config first, then check app-specific settings. On Android, make sure background restrictions aren’t interrupting connections. On Linux, check whether your desktop environment and apps follow the system proxy. A consistent interface can make menus easier to find, but it can’t eliminate differences between operating systems’ network stacks.

Clash Nyanpasu: Core Management and Customization

This site offers a Windows download for Clash Nyanpasu. It’s suited to users who want to understand how core selection, config generation and desktop settings work together. Before choosing it, check which core is active, then verify that your subscription’s protocols, rule providers and DNS fields are supported. Core management does not mean every config will work unchanged.

After switching cores, validate the config before connecting. If a field is unsupported or parsing fails, check the reported location and identify syntax or feature differences rather than simply switching nodes. Users new to proxy clients generally don’t need to start by changing cores; core management is most useful when you have a specific compatibility requirement.

Clash for Windows: Archive and Migration Reference

Clash for Windows is discontinued and provided here as an archived download. Older guides covering Profiles, Proxies and General can still help explain the basics, but they don’t show that the archived client supports every current mihomo field. Support for newer protocols, DNS options and rule syntax depends on the core bundled with the release.

Clash for Windows is not recommended for new installs. If you’re migrating an existing setup, back up your config and rules, and note your local ports, system proxy and startup settings. Test them separately in an actively maintained client. Don’t run two clients that both manage the system proxy, and don’t assume archived software will fix compatibility problems on older systems.

Clash Meta for Android: Advanced Per-App Routing

Clash Meta for Android, often abbreviated to CMFA, is on the Meta/mihomo track. If you need to manage configs, route traffic by app or view logs on Android, compare it with Clash Plus and FlClash. For the first connection, grant VPN access, check notification and background settings, then test your subscription, proxy groups and target apps.

Per-app routing requires understanding included apps, excluded apps and how rules are matched. If an app’s traffic doesn’t pass through the client, the node may be fine—the app could be excluded or using another network path. Most Android devices allow only one standard VPN service to manage traffic at a time. If the connection fails, first disable other VPN apps.

Surfboard: Check the Configuration Format First

Surfboard is an Android proxy client, but it does not use a Clash core. Its inclusion in this download guide does not mean it can import any Clash YAML config directly. If you already have a Surfboard-compatible config, check how to import it. If you only have a Clash subscription, ask your configuration provider whether they offer a compatible format.

Converting formats involves more than changing the file extension. Proxy protocols, groups, rule syntax and DNS options may differ, so review each setting after conversion. If your goal is simply to follow this site’s Clash getting-started guide and connect for the first time, choose a client that supports your config format. That keeps format conversion separate from network troubleshooting.

ClashX Meta: Archived macOS Menu Bar Client

ClashX Meta is discontinued and uses a Meta-based core; this site retains an archived macOS download. Menu bar controls may suit users who already know the app, but a simple interface doesn’t guarantee fewer compatibility or permissions issues. For a new install, compare Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev and FlClash before deciding whether you really need an archived client.

Before migrating to another macOS client, quit the old one and restore the system proxy settings. Check that an old login item or helper service won’t take over the connection again. Then import your config and verify proxy ports and group selections. Choose the right installer for Apple Silicon or Intel; don’t infer compatibility from the app name alone.

1. Keep a copy of your config. Back up the original config and local overrides. Note the subscription source, selected proxy groups and custom rules. Subscription URLs may contain access credentials, so don’t share them in public screenshots or support requests.
2. Check the core and syntax. The original Clash core, Meta and mihomo support different features. First check whether the config loads, then test protocol and rule behavior. Surfboard has its own configuration format, so verify compatibility separately.
3. Release control of the network. Quit the old client, disable its system proxy, TUN or VPN, and check startup items. If a port is in use, identify the old process instead of changing multiple ports at random.
4. Verify the connection path. Confirm your device can access the internet before enabling the new client. Check whether traffic reaches the client, which rule matches and which proxy group is selected. A working browser doesn’t mean every app is covered; test the apps you need individually.

For the first post-migration check, start with mode: rule. Rule mode matches connections against rules in order, while global mode changes the overall proxy selection. Global mode can help with comparisons during troubleshooting, but it shouldn’t replace diagnosing rule issues. For DNS and TUN checks, see the troubleshooting guide; for definitions, see the quick glossary.