Client specimen · Plate 04
The client determines the interface, system interception method, and update path; the core handles rule matching, DNS, and connection processing. Start by narrowing the options by operating system, then check maintenance status, core lineage, and the features you actually need.
Decision route
Similar names do not mean identical functionality. Evaluate the interface layer, runtime core, and subscription configuration separately to avoid choosing the wrong tool based on its name alone.
Installers for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux are not interchangeable. On macOS, distinguish between Intel and Apple Silicon; Linux users should also confirm the distribution, package manager, and desktop environment. With an incompatible architecture, an installer may fail to launch or require an additional compatibility layer.
For new installations, prioritize actively maintained clients. Clash for Windows and ClashX Meta are discontinued and are better treated as references for identifying legacy configurations than as long-term choices for new devices. Archived clients may not keep up with new system permissions, subscription formats, or core features.
The original Clash, Clash Meta, and mihomo are not interchangeable names. mihomo continues the Meta lineage while expanding DNS, TUN, rule providers, and traffic interception capabilities. If an existing configuration uses newer Meta fields, choose a client that explicitly supports mihomo or Meta syntax.
Basic subscription imports and system proxy use do not require the maximum number of advanced toggles. Give TUN, override support, and control-panel completeness higher priority only when you genuinely need transparent proxying, LAN sharing, custom DNS, script overrides, or multi-configuration management.
Comparison matrix
The table follows the platform downloads listed in this site's download center. Maintenance status is described qualitatively rather than inferred from version numbers or dates; actual features still depend on operating-system permissions and configuration contents.
| Client | Platform Support | Core Lineage | Maintenance | Ease of Use | Standout Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash Plus | Windows、macOS、Android、iOS | mihomo ecosystem; iOS uses a platform-specific implementation | Actively maintained | Low | Cross-platform downloads, graphical configuration, proxy-group management | First-time users, multi-device users, and anyone who wants a consistent workflow |
| Clash Verge Rev | Windows、macOS、Linux | mihomo | Actively maintained | Moderate | TUN, system proxy, configuration overrides, proxy-group management | Desktop users and anyone who needs advanced traffic interception |
| FlClash | Windows、macOS、Linux、Android | mihomo | Actively maintained | Low to moderate | Desktop and Android coverage, consistent interface structure | Users switching between desktop and mobile who value interface consistency |
| Clash Nyanpasu | Windows download available on this site | mihomo | Actively maintained | Moderate | Configuration management, proxy switching, desktop control panel | Desktop users who prefer granular settings and are willing to understand core options |
| Clash for Windows | Windows | Original Clash | Discontinued | Low for existing users; not recommended for new users | Classic desktop interface, reference for legacy configuration compatibility | Users who need to read an old setup or prepare a configuration migration |
| Clash Meta for Android | Android | Clash Meta lineage | Actively maintained | Moderate | Android VPN interception, per-app routing, rule mode | Android users who need granular mobile proxy settings |
| Surfboard | Android | Independent implementation with support for common rule concepts | Actively maintained | Moderate | Mobile configuration management, rules, and proxy policies | Users familiar with Android networking tools who can verify configuration compatibility |
| ClashX Meta | macOS | Clash Meta lineage | Discontinued | Low for existing users; not recommended for new users | Menu bar controls, familiar legacy macOS workflow | Existing users migrating historical configurations and menu bar rules |
Usage scenarios
Most systems offer more than one client. The four scenarios below prioritize installation effort, ongoing maintenance, and configuration portability rather than simply counting settings.
Client records
The notes below focus on everyday workflows, configuration compatibility, and migration effort. The right client ultimately depends on the system environment, subscription format, and whether advanced traffic interception is required.
Clash Plus stands out for its concentrated platform coverage. Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS users can find the relevant download from the same page, making it practical for households with multiple devices and setups that combine work computers with phones. For people new to Clash, its graphical interface places subscription import, proxy-group selection, and the connection toggle in a relatively clear workflow, reducing the need to edit configuration files directly.
Platform capabilities still differ. Desktop systems can expose fuller controls such as system proxy and core management, while mobile systems depend on their own network-extension or VPN interception mechanisms. When sharing a subscription across devices, keep rules and node sources consistent, but do not copy local listening ports, interface names, or desktop-only overrides directly.
Best for: First-time installations, cross-platform use, users who want a shorter learning curve, and anyone looking for a clear download and configuration workflow.
Clash Verge Rev targets Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops, with mihomo as its primary core lineage. It suits users who are comfortable inspecting configurations, rule matching, and runtime logs. System proxy mode works for conventional browsers and applications that honor system proxy settings; TUN can intercept more programs that ignore them, but also introduces permissions, routing, and DNS considerations.
The value of a desktop client is not just the number of toggles. It is also whether the client makes it clear where the active configuration came from, which proxy group is selected, whether a subscription update succeeded, and which rule matched a request. Before enabling advanced features, verify the subscription in ordinary system-proxy mode, then change one interception setting at a time.
Best for: Advanced desktop users, Linux GUI users, and anyone who needs TUN, overrides, and rule-management controls.
FlClash covers Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, making it suitable for users who want similar workflows on desktop and mobile. For people who do not want to relearn a different menu structure on every device, this cross-platform consistency is more useful than having extra settings on one platform. Its mihomo lineage also helps with common Meta configuration and rule structures.
A similar cross-platform interface does not mean identical underlying behavior. Android handles traffic through the system VPN interface, while desktop versions may switch between system proxy and TUN. When troubleshooting, check VPN permissions, background restrictions, the desktop firewall, DNS interception, and leftover system proxy settings separately; do not apply one platform's fix directly to another.
Best for: Users with a mix of Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android devices, and anyone who values interface consistency.
Clash Nyanpasu is a desktop GUI for users who manage multiple configurations, switch proxy groups frequently, and monitor core status. This site's download center provides a Windows entry, so the platform guidance here follows that availability. The client typically exposes more mihomo-related settings; understanding DNS, TUN, and rule priority makes it easier to use effectively.
If all you need is a single subscription import and system proxy, the larger number of settings may add decision overhead. When a connection fails, first confirm that the current configuration is enabled, then check that the proxy group has a usable node selected, the system proxy was applied, and the browser is not using its own proxy settings. Do not change core parameters and network modes simultaneously while the basic state is still unclear.
Best for: Windows users who prefer a desktop control panel, need multiple configurations, and are willing to understand mihomo parameters.
Clash for Windows became a familiar Windows workflow for many users, and numerous older guides still use its Profiles, Proxies, and General screens as examples. It follows the original Clash lineage and is discontinued. Its old button layout can help identify a legacy setup, but it should not be taken as evidence that current mihomo clients expose identical fields, menus, or interception behavior.
If it remains on an older computer, preserve the configuration files, subscription source details, custom rules, and proxy-group selections before migrating. After moving to Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, or another maintained client, import the baseline configuration and verify rule mode first, then address TUN, DNS overrides, and launch-at-login settings. This separates configuration compatibility issues from system-permission issues.
Best for: Reading legacy setups, organizing old configurations, and migration reference; not recommended for new devices.
Clash Meta for Android is designed for Android and retains the configuration and core capabilities of Clash Meta. Mobile traffic is typically intercepted through the system VPN interface and can be combined with rule mode, app scope, and DNS settings. For users who want per-app proxy routing, connection logs, or Meta configuration fields on a phone, it offers more flexibility than a tool with only basic toggles.
Background-management policies vary widely between Android manufacturers. If the client starts normally but disconnects later, check battery optimization, background permissions, and VPN status. If only a specific app fails, then review its routing scope and its own proxy settings. When a subscription update fails, inspect the response format and update log before blaming the node.
Best for: Users who need Android per-app routing, Meta configuration compatibility, and granular mobile controls.
Surfboard is an independent Android implementation. Its operating concepts overlap with common rule-based proxy tools, but it should not be treated as a mihomo GUI wrapper. Before choosing it, confirm that the subscription or configuration format is correctly supported, paying particular attention to proxy-group types, rule syntax, DNS fields, and script extensions.
Surfboard is a better fit for users who already understand rule modes and mobile VPN interception. After importing a configuration, first confirm that all nodes and proxy groups appear, then check whether the default policy behaves as expected. If the configuration comes from a mihomo-specific template, consider removing unsupported advanced fields and validating compatibility with the proxy nodes, basic groups, and general rules first.
Best for: Users familiar with Android networking tools who can assess configuration formats and are willing to handle implementation differences.
ClashX Meta is a macOS menu bar client that follows the Meta lineage and is discontinued. Its menu bar workflow remains familiar to existing users, but discontinued status means future macOS permission changes, network-interface updates, and configuration syntax changes will not receive ongoing adaptation. For new installations, Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, or FlClash is a better choice.
During migration, check that the macOS system proxy is restored correctly after the old client exits and that the new client has the required network-extension or helper permissions. If the old configuration contains local overrides, scripts, or specific DNS settings, record them separately before adding them one by one to the new client. Copying everything at once can mix obsolete fields with basic configuration problems.
Best for: Identifying older macOS setups, referencing legacy menu workflows, and migrating configurations; not recommended for new installations.
Migration checklist
Client migration is not about copying every setting. Preserve the working configuration first, then confirm that the new client can read its essential fields.
Confirm whether the configuration comes from a remote subscription, a local file, or a multi-subscription merge tool. Only with the source recorded can you determine whether a failed update originates on the service side, in network access, or during client parsing.
Locally added direct domains, proxied domains, DNS servers, and proxy-group changes may not sync with the subscription. Save them separately and label their purpose.
Before quitting the old client, turn off the system proxy or TUN to prevent the old process, stale proxy addresses, and the new client from intercepting traffic simultaneously.
After importing into the new client, confirm that nodes, proxy groups, and baseline rules are intact before gradually enabling TUN, custom DNS, LAN sharing, and overrides.
Parsing errors usually point to configuration format issues; connection timeouts are more likely related to the network path or node; DNS errors call for checking the resolution mode and system interception. Troubleshooting by failure stage is more effective than repeatedly reinstalling.
Selected route
New users should start with Clash Plus; advanced desktop users can then compare Clash Verge Rev, FlClash, and Clash Nyanpasu. Clash for Windows and ClashX Meta are for legacy-environment migration, not fresh installations.