8 clients · 5 platforms · one recommendation

How to Choose a Clash Client: Kernels, Platforms and Maintenance Status Compared

Within the same Clash ecosystem, clients differ quite a bit in kernel version, platform coverage and maintenance status. This page puts eight clients into one comparison table, then explains who each one suits, and closes with a conclusion.

Go to Downloads See the Comparison Table

Clash Plus Clash Verge Rev FlClash Clash Nyanpasu Clash for Windows Clash Meta for Android Surfboard ClashX Meta

Quick Decision Scenario → Client

First-time setup, want minimal fuss Clash Plus

Desktop: rule tuning and TUN mode Clash Verge Rev

Same interface on phone and desktop FlClash

Fine-grained routing on Android Clash Meta for Android

Older system, new clients won't install Clash for Windows

Side-by-Side Comparison

Eight Clients: Platform, Kernel, Maintenance Status and Learning Curve

The eight clients cover five platforms — Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux — and span two kernel generations: mihomo and the earlier original kernel. Maintenance status directly determines whether new protocols and rule types work.

Client	Platforms	Kernel	Maintenance	Learning Curve	Key Features	Best For
Clash Plus	Windows / macOS / Android / iOS	mihomo	Actively Maintained	Low	Consistent interface across platforms, graphical subscription import	Users who want one client for all devices
Clash Verge Rev	Windows / macOS / Linux	mihomo	Actively Maintained	Medium	Config file editing, TUN, rule sets and proxy group debugging	Advanced desktop users
FlClash	Windows / macOS / Linux / Android	mihomo	Actively Maintained	Medium	Flutter cross-platform interface, same controls on desktop and mobile	A consistent experience across platforms
Clash Nyanpasu	Windows	mihomo	Actively Maintained	Medium	Themes and animations, visual config management	Windows users who care about looks
Clash for Windows	Windows	Clash Premium	No Longer Maintained	Low	Classic interface, extensive community documentation	Older systems, or users already familiar with its workflow
Clash Meta for Android	Android	mihomo	Actively Maintained	Medium	Full rule configuration, multiple inbound protocols	Advanced Android users
Surfboard	Android	Independent implementation	Actively Maintained	Low	Clean mobile interface, straightforward subscription management	Light Android use
ClashX Meta	macOS	mihomo	No Longer Maintained	Low	Lives in the menu bar, low resource usage	macOS devices on older system versions

How to read the table: the kernel determines which protocols and rule types a client can recognize, and mihomo-based clients support new features more completely. Maintenance status affects how quickly new protocols and fixes arrive; clients that are no longer maintained are frozen at the state they were archived in. Learning curve only reflects how many settings you have to fill in by hand in the default interface, and is not directly related to how powerful the client is.

Client by Client

Who Each of the Eight Clients Suits

Listed in the same order as the client list on the download page; each entry covers the kernel, platform coverage and typical use cases. The platform links at the bottom of each card jump straight to the matching platform on the download page.

Clash Plus

Top Pick

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

Installers are available for all four platforms, and the same subscription imports the same way on phone and desktop, so switching devices doesn't mean learning a new interface. The kernel is mihomo, with full support for rule-based routing, TUN mode and Fake-IP, and settings are exposed through the graphical interface — first-time use only requires pasting a subscription link. The iOS version is distributed through the App Store, with clashplus.io as the official site. Suited to users who want one client to cover every device instead of maintaining separate configs.

Windows macOS Android iOS

Clash Verge Rev

Best for Desktop

mihomo · Actively maintained · Windows / macOS / Linux

One of the most complete desktop options, with installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. Based on the mihomo kernel, config files can be edited and switched directly in the interface, TUN mode, rule sets and proxy group debugging are supported, and kernel logs can be read inside the client. Suited to users who already understand concepts like rules and proxy-groups and need fine-grained desktop tuning; Clash beginners can start here too, though the interface has more settings than lightweight clients.

Windows macOS Linux

FlClash

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

A cross-platform client built with Flutter, covering Windows, macOS and Linux on desktop and Android on mobile. The interface logic is essentially the same on every platform, so moving from computer to phone doesn't require relearning the workflow. Based on the mihomo kernel, it supports subscription import, rule-based routing and TUN mode. Suited to users who work on both desktop and Android and want consistent controls; on desktop, its feature depth sits between lightweight clients and Verge Rev.

Windows macOS Linux Android

Clash Nyanpasu

mihomo · Actively maintained · Windows

A Windows GUI client based on the mihomo kernel, offering subscription management, mode switching and config editing. The interface has a lot of design work in themes, animations and layout, making it clearly different from the engineering-style interfaces of other clients. It covers everyday proxy needs, organizes settings visually, and lets you inspect rules and proxy groups in the interface. Suited to long-time Windows users who care about how the app looks and still need rule-based routing.

Windows

Clash for Windows

No Longer Maintained

Clash Premium · Windows

The most widely used Windows client in the early days, built on the Clash Premium kernel, with a simple interface and a large body of documentation, so answers are easy to find. The project is no longer maintained and no longer follows mihomo's new protocols and features; the archived version is frozen at the state it was in when maintenance stopped. Suited to users with fixed configuration needs, older systems, or familiarity with its workflow; if you need long-term use and new features, switch to a client that is still maintained.

Windows

Clash Meta for Android

mihomo · Actively maintained · Android

One of the most capable mihomo clients on Android, with full rule configuration, multiple inbound protocols and TUN mode, and configuration depth close to desktop clients. The interface leans engineering-style, so first-time users need to understand what subscription import and proxy modes mean. Suited to users who need fine-grained routing on Android or want to replicate a desktop config on their phone; for basic proxying, the number of settings can feel excessive.

Android

Surfboard

Independent implementation · Actively maintained · Android

A long-standing Android client with its own kernel implementation and an interface built around mobile habits, so subscription management and node switching take few taps. It supports common proxy modes and rule-based routing, and everyday use rarely requires touching the configuration. Suited to users who mainly want lightweight Android use and a clean interface; if you need the full mihomo feature set or complex rule debugging, CMFA is the better choice.

Android

ClashX Meta

No Longer Maintained

mihomo · macOS

A macOS menu bar client based on the mihomo kernel that lives in the top menu bar and uses few resources, making it a good fit for long-running background use. It supports subscription import, rule-based routing and TUN mode. The project is no longer maintained and no new versions are released, but it still works reliably on macOS devices running older system versions. Suited to devices that cannot be upgraded, or users who just want a quiet menu bar proxy tool; on newer machines, prefer a desktop client that is still maintained.

macOS

Advice by Scenario

Find Your Scenario and Match It Directly

The four cases below cover most selection questions. If yours isn't among them, pick by three baselines: mihomo kernel, platform coverage, and active maintenance.

First-time setup, want to get going fast Go with Clash Plus first: installers are available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and after importing a subscription, node switching and mode selection all happen in the graphical interface — no hand-written config files. Windows users already familiar with the Clash for Windows workflow can keep using it as a stopgap, but note that the project is no longer maintained.

Advanced use: rule tuning and TUN On desktop, start with Clash Verge Rev: config files can be edited right in the interface, and proxy groups, rule sets and kernel logs each have their own panel, so you don't have to jump between an editor and the app while debugging routing rules. If you need TUN mode to take over all traffic, or want a GUI client on Linux, this is also the most complete option available.

Multiple devices: phone and desktop together Two routes: pick one all-platform client (Clash Plus), or pick a cross-platform client with consistent interface logic (FlClash). The key is to keep the subscription source the same — import the same subscription link on every device, and node changes sync across all of them without editing configs one by one.

Old computer, older system version New clients have system requirements and may not install at all on older devices. In that case, Windows users can start with Clash for Windows and macOS users with ClashX Meta. Both have low system requirements and a small footprint, but neither is maintained anymore, so they are only recommended on devices that cannot be upgraded.

Common Selection Questions

Can Clash Plus be installed alongside other clients?

Yes. Each client reads its own configuration directory, so installing them side by side won't overwrite anything. Still, only run one proxy client at a time — if several clients set the system proxy or grab the TUN adapter at once, they conflict, and some apps will lose connectivity.

Can I keep using a client that is no longer maintained?

It will run, but it no longer receives feature updates or fixes, may not recognize new protocols and rule types, and community documentation for it is largely abandoned. Fine as a short-term stopgap; for long-term use, switch to a client that is actively maintained.

Does the kernel affect subscription import?

Most subscriptions are compatible with both the original Clash and mihomo config formats. If a subscription uses protocols or rule types added by mihomo, clients on the original kernel will fail to parse it — in that case switch to a mihomo-based client, or ask your subscription provider for a compatible version.

Do desktop and mobile need to use the same client?

Not necessarily. Pick whatever fits each device best — as long as the subscription source is the same, nodes and rules are identical everywhere. If you want the interface and workflow to match exactly, consider a cross-platform client such as Clash Plus or FlClash.

Conclusion

For everyday use, pick Clash Plus; for deep desktop configuration, look at Verge Rev

Top Pick

Clash Plus

Installers for all four platforms — Windows, macOS, Android and iOS — so switching devices doesn't mean switching clients
mihomo kernel with full support for rule-based routing, TUN mode and Fake-IP
Subscription import and mode switching in the graphical interface, with settings organized around common scenarios

Go to Downloads View Setup Guide

Users who need deep desktop configuration can also look at Clash Verge Rev; the full installer list and system requirements for each platform are laid out by platform on the download page.