Dossier · Client Selection Reference
This page compares all eight clients listed on the download page, evaluated side by side across six criteria including platform support, kernel type and maintenance status. There are no scores or made-up figures here — only verifiable facts, followed by scenario-based recommendations at the end.
All six criteria are qualitative — there are no scores or rankings. Maintenance status is simply marked as either "actively maintained" or "no longer maintained."
Scroll horizontally on narrow screens. Clients are listed in the same order as the download page shelf, with discontinued ones at the bottom.
| Client | Platforms | Kernel | Maintenance | Setup Difficulty | Standout Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash Plus | Windows / macOS / Android / iOS | mihomo | Actively Maintained | Low | Consistent UI across platforms, ready right after subscription import | Beginners and multi-device users |
| Clash Verge Rev | Windows / macOS / Linux | mihomo | Actively Maintained | Moderate | TUN mode, config merging, script enhancements | Power desktop users |
| FlClash | Windows / macOS / Linux / Android | mihomo | Actively Maintained | Moderate-Low | Flutter-based UI, consistent experience on desktop and Android | Users spanning desktop and Android |
| Clash Nyanpasu | Windows | mihomo | Actively Maintained | Moderate | Highly customizable interface, light and modern theme | Windows users who value UI personalization |
| Clash Meta for Android | Android | mihomo | Actively Maintained | Moderate | Native Android client close to the kernel, with full config options | Android users familiar with config structure |
| Surfboard | Android | Independent implementation | Actively Maintained | Moderate | Surge-style config, backup option for Android | Android users who want a backup client |
| ClashX Meta | macOS | mihomo (Meta lineage) | No Longer Maintained | Moderate-Low | Menu-bar app, light on system resources | Stopgap for older macOS devices only |
| Clash for Windows | Windows | Original (Premium) | No Longer Maintained | Moderate | Once the leading desktop client, now archived only | Not recommended for new installs — migration advised |
Each client gets a factual write-up with a link to its download entry on the download page; check the download page for installer and version details.
All four platforms share the same interface and workflow: paste your subscription link, pick a node, hit connect — done in three steps or fewer, with the same operating path on every device. The iOS version is available on the App Store; desktop and Android installers are on the download page, and the official site is clashplus.io. If you don't want to dig into config files and need to switch between phone and computer, this keeps the learning curve as flat as possible.
A community-driven fork that picked up development after Clash Verge stopped receiving updates, and it's currently one of the most feature-complete desktop clients around. Built on the mihomo kernel, it supports TUN mode to capture traffic from apps that bypass the system proxy, plus config merging and script enhancements for layering custom rules on top of a subscription without editing it directly. Installers are available for all three major desktop OSes, and it's a particularly strong pick for Linux users. There's a fair number of settings, so expect a short learning curve the first time through.
Built with Flutter, sharing one interface across all three desktop OSes and Android — the broadest open-source option for anyone who wants a single client to cover everything. Subscription management, proxy group switching and rule viewing all sit in clearly organized top-level menus, making it easier to get started than most traditional desktop clients. If you run Linux on the desktop and Android on your phone and want the same experience on both, FlClash is a solid single answer.
A community-maintained Windows client with a feature set close to the Verge lineage, mainly differentiated by its UI: themes and layout are more customizable, with a lighter, more modern look. Core capabilities — subscription management, TUN mode, rule viewing — are on par with other clients on the same kernel, so nothing is sacrificed for the extra polish. Good fit if Windows is your only device and you care about how the client looks; multi-platform users should look at broader-coverage options first.
A native Android client sharing its roots with the mihomo kernel — the interface is plain, but the configuration options are thorough, with override settings, DNS parameters, log levels and other kernel-level options all reachable directly in the app. It assumes you already understand Clash's config structure and doesn't hold your hand, so it suits Android users already comfortable with rules and proxy groups; complete beginners will have an easier time starting with Clash Plus or FlClash.
An independently implemented Android proxy client that uses a Surge-style configuration format, which isn't fully compatible with Clash-style subscriptions — some need to be converted before they can be imported. Its real value is as a backup route built on a different codebase from the Clash/mihomo family: useful for cross-checking if your main client runs into compatibility issues. For everyday use, a client from the mihomo kernel family is still the better default.
A lightweight menu-bar client for macOS, once a popular choice among Mac users thanks to its low resource use and minimal interface. The project is no longer maintained, so it won't track new macOS versions or protocol changes — new installs aren't recommended. If you're still running it on an older Mac, it's fine as a stopgap, but plan to migrate to an actively maintained client like Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev when convenient; its archived installer remains available in the macOS section of the download page for reference.
Once the most widely known Windows desktop client, and the subject of countless early tutorials. The project is no longer maintained, and its original kernel has likewise stopped evolving — support for newer protocols and rule types stopped at the point development ceased. If you're searching for a "Clash for Windows alternative," the current answers are Clash Verge Rev (closest in feature set) or Clash Plus (easier to get started); its archived entry remains in the Windows section of the download page for migration reference only.
Recommendations for four common scenarios below. If you're still unsure, revisit the comparison table using the criteria from Entry One.
Go with Clash Plus. The interface is consistent across every platform, and you don't need to understand rules or proxy groups to get it working after importing a subscription. For step-by-step instructions, see our Getting Started guide — three steps and you're connected.
Go with Clash Verge Rev. TUN mode captures traffic from apps that ignore the system proxy, and config merging plus script enhancements let you layer custom rules on top of a subscription. For rule-writing examples, see the routing section of our Advanced reference.
Need one setup for both phone and computer? Two routes: for the least hassle, go with Clash Plus (includes iOS); if you prefer open source and mainly use Linux desktop plus Android, go with FlClash — both share the exact same interface, so you only need to maintain one subscription.
On a low-spec Windows machine, Clash Verge Rev is the better call (lighter UI layer, manageable resource use). If you're keeping ClashX Meta running as a stopgap on an older Mac, remember it's no longer maintained — plan to migrate to an actively maintained client after your next macOS update.
Here's what the comparison shows
Weighing platform coverage, maintenance status and setup difficulty together: Clash Plus is the only option covering all four platforms — Windows, macOS, Android, iOS — while staying actively maintained, making it the default answer for most users without much second-guessing. Desktop power users who want TUN mode and config enhancements should go with Clash Verge Rev; for an open-source setup spanning desktop and Android, go with FlClash.
Clash for Windows and ClashX Meta are both no longer maintained and not recommended for new installs. Installers, system requirements and platform notes for every client are all available on the download page.