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Clash Client Comparison: Choosing by Platform Support, Core & Maintenance Status
This page covers the same eight clients listed on the download hub, compared item by item on platform coverage, core type, maintenance status, ease of use and who each one fits best. Maintenance status is a qualitative summary based on each project's public release channels; we don't list exact version numbers or release dates here — check the download hub for the current version in real time.
matrix
Full comparison table of eight clients
On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally to see every column. The core column uses a monospace font; in the maintenance status column, green means actively maintained, yellow means slow updates, and red means no longer maintained.
| Client | Platform support | Core | Maintenance status | Ease of use | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash Plus | Windows / macOS / Android / iOS | mihomo | Actively maintained | Low | Consistent UI across all four platforms; import a subscription and go; iOS distributed via the App Store | First-time users, cross-device syncing |
| Clash Verge Rev | Windows / macOS / Linux | mihomo | Actively maintained | Medium | TUN mode, profile merging, script extensions, resident system service | Advanced desktop users, Linux users |
| FlClash | Windows / macOS / Android / Linux | mihomo | Actively maintained | Low to medium | Shared Flutter codebase across platforms, lightweight UI, trimmed feature set | Mixed desktop/Android use, prefers a simple interface |
| Clash Nyanpasu | Windows | mihomo | Actively maintained | Medium | Multi-core management and switching, enhanced profiles, scripting | Windows users willing to tune parameters themselves |
| Clash for Windows | Windows | clash | No longer maintained | Medium | Former de facto standard, extensive legacy tutorials and configs | Migrating existing setups only |
| Clash Meta for Android | Android | mihomo | Actively maintained | Medium | Full parameter exposure, behavior close to the core, readable logs | Android users comfortable with configuration structures |
| Surfboard | Android | independent | Slow updates | Medium | Independent implementation, supports common subscription formats | Backup option on Android |
| ClashX Meta | macOS | meta | No longer maintained | Low | Resident in the menu bar, low resource use, minimal interaction | Lightweight needs on existing macOS setups |
reviews
Client-by-client review
Click an entry to expand the full review. Each review focuses on how the client actually behaves in day-to-day use, without marketing language.
Clash Plus Top pickWIN / MAC / AND / IOS
Currently the only client that covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS with a consistent interface across all four. Built on the mihomo core, everyday actions — importing a subscription, switching modes, testing node latency — are all reachable from the first screen, with no need to understand configuration file structure to use it day to day.
The iOS build is distributed normally through the App Store, and the official site clashplus.io lists where to get each platform's build. For multi-device users, facing the same workflow on phone and computer is its clearest advantage over the alternatives; for beginners, the default settings cover the vast majority of scenarios, with almost no concepts to learn up front.
Clash Verge Rev RecommendedWIN / MAC / LINUX
A desktop client kept alive by the community after the original Clash Verge stopped receiving updates, built on the mihomo core. TUN mode, a resident system service, and the ability to merge and rewrite subscriptions with scripts are its core strengths — local changes survive a subscription refresh, which matters a lot to anyone maintaining custom rules long-term.
The trade-off is noticeably more concepts than Clash Plus: first use requires understanding virtual network adapters, service mode, profile merging, and similar mechanics. It's also our default recommendation for Linux desktops, with both deb and rpm packages available.
FlClash RecommendedWIN / MAC / AND / LINUX
Built with Flutter, producing desktop and Android builds from a single codebase, with the mihomo core bundled in. The interface is lightweight and the feature set deliberately trimmed: rule-based routing, proxy group switching and TUN mode are all kept, while most of the advanced entries that require extra learning are cut.
Good fit for anyone who wants the same client on their computer and phone without learning a separate workflow outside iOS. If you need fine-grained profile rewriting, look at Clash Verge Rev or Clash Nyanpasu instead.
Clash Nyanpasu RecommendedWIN
A more of a "toolbox" client for Windows: it can manage several core versions at once and switch between them, offers profile enhancements and script injection, and presents logs and debug information more completely.
These capabilities come with more settings and a steeper learning curve. If you just need stable everyday routing, Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev is already enough; its value shows up when you need to compare how different cores behave, or maintain a complex custom profile.
Clash for Windows No longer maintainedWIN
The de facto standard on Windows for a long stretch, and still the client used in a huge number of legacy tutorials online. The project is no longer maintained: there are no more feature updates or bug fixes, and the bundled core is frozen at the point development stopped, so it won't track new configuration fields or protocol features.
We keep the archived installer around only to help existing users through a migration — for example, exporting a configuration from the old environment before moving to a newer client. It's not recommended for any new install; moving an existing setup to Clash Verge Rev or Clash Plus usually just means re-importing the subscription.
Clash Meta for Android RecommendedAND
The closest Android client to the Meta line of cores: configuration parameters are fully exposed, behavior maps closely to the core's documentation, and the log output is well suited to troubleshooting. The interface leans engineering-oriented and doesn't hold your hand much.
A good fit for users who already understand the profile structure and want precise control over routing behavior on Android. For simple day-to-day use — import a subscription, toggle the proxy — the Android builds of Clash Plus or FlClash are easier to pick up.
Surfboard Backup optionAND
An independently built Android proxy client, not based on any Clash-family core, supporting common subscription formats. Its update pace has clearly slowed in recent years, and it lags on newer protocols and configuration fields.
Generally worth trying as a backup on Android — for example when a primary client has compatibility trouble on a particular device or OS version. For regular use, we'd still recommend a client built on the mihomo core, to get behavior consistent with the guides on this site.
ClashX Meta No longer maintainedMAC
A resident menu-bar client for macOS built on the Meta core, minimal to interact with and light on resources — once the lightweight go-to for Mac users. The project is no longer maintained and won't track newer macOS versions going forward.
Existing users can keep using the archived installer on their current macOS version; anyone installing fresh should go straight to the macOS build of Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev, both of which ship installers for Intel and Apple Silicon.
scenarios
Which client fits your situation
If you'd rather skip the full table, match yourself to one of these four common scenarios.
Using Clash for the first time
Go with Clash Plus. It behaves the same across all four platforms — import a subscription, keep the default rule mode, and you're set. It's also the default example used throughout this site's guides and FAQ pages.
Power users / custom rules
On desktop, pick Clash Verge Rev — profile merging and script rewriting let your custom rules survive a subscription refresh. On Windows, if you want to compare how different cores behave, go with Clash Nyanpasu instead.
Multiple devices at once
For a phone-plus-computer combo, Clash Plus is the priority (it covers iOS too); if iOS isn't involved and you prefer an open-source desktop stack, FlClash keeps the same interface across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Older computers / low-spec devices
Start with the lighter-weight FlClash; if the machine is genuinely tight on resources or has no graphical environment at all, skip the GUI client entirely and run the mihomo core from the command line — the core installers are in the core section of the download hub.
verdict
Verdict: start with Clash Plus by default
Across maintenance status, platform coverage and ease of use, Clash Plus is currently the only option with no obvious weak point, which is why it's our top pick across every platform. Add Clash Verge Rev when you need more on desktop, and Clash Meta for Android when you need closer control on Android — together these three cover the vast majority of use cases. The unmaintained Clash for Windows and ClashX Meta exist only as a bridge for users migrating away from them.