Clash Client Comparison
Platforms, Cores & Ease of Use

If you want to import an existing subscription, choose a proxy group and route traffic by rule, Clash Plus is a good place to start. It’s available here for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, making it easier to use one product across your devices. However, the same app name doesn’t guarantee identical underlying implementations or permissions on every platform. Check the settings on your device for desktop system proxy, mobile VPN routing and TUN options.

The main advantage is a shorter setup path, not a guarantee that every subscription will work automatically. Before importing, check the config format and protocols; consult the platform’s documentation if a field isn’t supported. On iOS, use the download page to open the App Store. Product details are available at clashplus.io. For Linux, consider Verge Rev or FlClash.

Clash Verge Rev: Desktop Overrides and TUN

Clash Verge Rev suits desktop users who want to maintain local rules, DNS settings or proxy group changes alongside a subscription. It uses mihomo and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Its main strengths over a basic import-and-connect workflow are config overrides and system-level routing: preserving local changes when a subscription updates, and installing a service and granting permissions when using TUN.

The trade-off is a more layered setup. A working system proxy doesn’t mean TUN is working, and interface settings may override subscription fields. Beginners should first test rule mode and the system proxy, then add overrides one at a time. If you’re looking for a Clash for Windows alternative that still uses YAML configs, it’s worth considering—but don’t copy the old client’s entire data folder over.

FlClash: A Similar Workflow on Desktop and Android

Based on mihomo, FlClash is available here for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It suits users who switch between a computer and Android phone and want less of a learning curve. Configs, proxy groups and run modes follow similar patterns, so you can reuse what you know. That doesn’t mean configs sync automatically or that file paths and background behavior are identical.

On Android, start by handling VPN permission and battery restrictions. On desktop, check the system proxy, service permissions and port conflicts. If you use the same subscription on both, start with the same rule mode, then check DNS and routing settings on each device. If a node behaves differently across devices, don’t assume the client is slower—network conditions, background restrictions and config overrides can all be factors.

Clash Nyanpasu: More Control Over Cores and Configs

Clash Nyanpasu suits users who are comfortable organizing config merges, customizing the desktop interface and understanding core differences. Windows downloads are available here. Because it supports core management, you can’t judge protocol support by the app name alone: check the selected core, its capabilities and the final config passed to it.

If you only need to import one subscription for everyday use, these options may add steps rather than save them. They’re more useful when maintaining multiple configs or keeping subscription content separate from local changes. After switching cores, recheck startup logs, config parsing and rule matches; don’t assume all previous settings remain compatible. Avoid changing the core, DNS mode and subscription all at once, or it’ll be harder to identify what caused a problem.

Clash for Windows, often abbreviated as CFW, is the desktop client used in many older guides. It follows the legacy Clash/Premium lineage; configs labeled Meta or mihomo online shouldn’t be treated as a list of features it supports. If an old setup still launches, that only shows its current config works with the current system for now—not that it supports newer protocols, operating systems or subscription fields.

An archived client isn’t recommended for new installations. If you’re migrating an existing setup, keep the subscription URL, local rules and any needed proxy group selections, then import them into a client such as Clash Plus or Verge Rev. Pay particular attention to the mixed port, controller port and system proxy status: two programs can’t share the same port. The archived download is kept for identifying and migrating legacy setups, not as evidence that discontinued software is reliable.

Clash Meta for Android: For Android Users with Existing YAML Configs

Clash Meta for Android, or CMFA, uses a Meta/mihomo-family core. It suits Android users who already have a Clash YAML config and want to keep using its rules and proxy groups. Don’t confuse it with the legacy Clash for Android based on the abbreviation alone. Check the exact app and core to assess compatibility; Android apps don’t all support the same protocols.

The main hurdles on a phone are usually VPN permission, per-app routing and background operation—not entering a port. On first launch, approve the system connection request and check that no other VPN service is active. If only certain apps should use the proxy, distinguish between an app being intercepted and a rule ultimately routing its traffic directly. If the connection drops when the screen locks, check background activity restrictions before repeatedly changing subscriptions. First-time users can also compare Clash Plus’s import flow.

Surfboard: Check the Config Format Before Installing

Surfboard is an Android proxy client, but it isn’t another interface for Clash or mihomo. It uses an independent implementation and accepts its own config syntax; renaming a Clash YAML file won’t make it work. Some config formats overlap with Surge-style syntax, but that doesn’t mean every policy, rule or extension will work unchanged.

Surfboard may be a good fit if you already have a config explicitly marked as compatible with it. Beginners with only a Clash subscription will have fewer steps with a client that can read that config directly. Subscription conversion often carries over node details but may lose existing rules, proxy groups and DNS settings. Check the specific protocols and transport parameters before choosing. Don’t assume a simpler interface means lower resource use, or apply another client’s port or DNS instructions without checking.

ClashX Meta uses a Meta-family core and is primarily controlled from the macOS menu bar. It isn’t equivalent to the original ClashX, and the Meta name doesn’t mean an archived build includes every feature in current mihomo releases. For users familiar with the old interface, system proxy and config switching are straightforward. On a newly set-up Mac, however, choosing discontinued software means accepting compatibility limits.

Before migrating to Clash Plus, Verge Rev or FlClash, turn off the system proxy in the old app and quit it, then import your subscription into the new client. Choose the right installer architecture for Apple Silicon or Intel. Review local paths, scripts and client-specific fields in old configs individually; successful import alone isn’t enough. Once the new client parses the file, verify that traffic is routed as expected.