CLIENT COMPARE

Clash Client Comparison and Buying Guide

A side-by-side look at eight popular Clash clients: platform support, kernel, maintenance status, learning curve, standout features, and who each one suits - followed by recommendations for beginners, power users, multi-device setups, and older hardware. This page sticks to facts, not version numbers or star ratings.

SPEC SHEET

Eight-Client Comparison Table

A quick scan across platform, kernel, maintenance status, learning curve, and best-fit users - standout features are covered in the reviews below. On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally.

Client Supported Platforms Kernel Maintenance Status Learning Curve Best For
Clash Plus Windows / macOS / Android / iOS mihomo Actively Maintained Low Beginners, multi-device users
Clash Verge Rev Windows / macOS / Linux mihomo Actively Maintained Medium Power users, Linux desktop
FlClash Windows / macOS / Linux / Android mihomo Actively Maintained Low Unified desktop and Android experience
Clash Nyanpasu Windows mihomo Actively Maintained Medium Windows users who care about interface
Clash Meta for Android Android mihomo Actively Maintained Low Android power users
Surfboard Android Custom-built, compatible with Clash configs Actively Maintained Low Android users who want something light
Clash for Windows Windows Original Clash No Longer Maintained Low Legacy users transitioning away
ClashX Meta macOS mihomo No Longer Maintained Low macOS legacy users transitioning away
READ · 01

How to Read the Kernel Column

mihomo is the current name for what was formerly the Clash Meta kernel, and it offers the broadest protocol support. The original Clash kernel is no longer updated and only survives in legacy clients.

READ · 02

How to Read Maintenance Status

This is based on whether a project still ships regular updates - just two tiers. "No longer maintained" doesn't mean it stops working overnight; it means it won't keep up with new protocols or OS versions.

READ · 03

How to Read the Learning Curve

This rates how many steps and concepts stand between installing the app and getting your first proxy running, on a Low/Medium scale. Medium doesn't mean hard to use - it just means you'll need to check a few more settings on first setup.

ONE BY ONE

Eight Clients, Reviewed One by One

Each entry covers standout features, where it fits best, and a download link. The badge shows maintenance status - legacy picks are for transition reference only.

C-01

Clash Plus

Top Pick Actively Maintained

WINDOWS / MACOS / ANDROID / IOS · MIHOMO

An all-in-one client covering Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS with a consistent interface across every platform - switch devices and you won't have to relearn anything. Subscription import, mode switching, node speed tests, and rule viewing all sit front and center, so first-time setup takes just a few steps. The iOS version ships through the App Store, and update notes for every platform are posted on clashplus.io. The kernel tracks mihomo's mainline releases, so new protocol support arrives on time.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Low
  • Best for Beginners, multi-device users
C-02

Clash Verge Rev

Actively Maintained

WINDOWS / MACOS / LINUX · MIHOMO

One of the most customizable desktop clients around: subscription conversion, rule editing, proxy group tweaks, TUN mode, and system proxy toggles are all exposed. The interface packs in a lot of information, so it takes a bit to get oriented at first - but once you do, batch-editing configs is fast. It's also one of the few actively maintained options for Linux desktops, with both deb and rpm packages available.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Medium
  • Best for Power users, Linux desktop
C-03

FlClash

Actively Maintained

WINDOWS / MACOS / LINUX / ANDROID · MIHOMO

One interface spans Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, staying light, fast to launch, and low on resource use. The layout leans toward working out of the box: common toggles sit on the home screen, advanced options are tucked into secondary pages. If you want the same workflow across multiple desktops and an Android phone, FlClash is the low-hassle choice.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Low
  • Best for Unified desktop and Android experience
C-04

Clash Nyanpasu

Actively Maintained

WINDOWS · MIHOMO

A Windows client known for its polished look - themes, typography, and animations are carefully done, and settings are laid out clearly. It covers everything needed for everyday traffic splitting, though it offers one notch less deep customization than Verge Rev. A good fit for Windows users who want a clean interface without wanting to tinker with configs.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Medium
  • Best for Windows users who care about interface
C-05

Clash Meta for Android

Actively Maintained

ANDROID · MIHOMO

An Android client that tracks mihomo kernel updates closely, so new protocol support lands fast. It covers all the system-level essentials - notification bar quick toggles, per-app proxy rules, traffic stats - with an interface that follows Android's native conventions. It's the best-documented, most dependable main choice on Android.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Low
  • Best for Android power users
C-06

Surfboard

Actively Maintained

ANDROID · COMPATIBLE WITH CLASH CONFIGS

A lightweight pick for Android with a clean interface and clear traffic stats and node info at a glance. Its config format is compatible with Clash subscriptions, so switching over from another client is easy. It sticks to its scope rather than chasing every feature, making it a good fit for Android users who just want stable traffic splitting without digging through settings pages.

  • Kernel Custom-built, compatible with Clash configs
  • Setup Low
  • Best for Android users who want something light
C-07

Clash for Windows

No Longer Maintained

WINDOWS · ORIGINAL CLASH · ARCHIVED

A once-classic Windows client with an intuitive interface and a huge library of documentation - it can still handle basic traffic splitting today. But upstream development has stopped, the kernel is stuck on the original Clash, and it won't get updates for new protocols or newer OS versions. New users should go straight for an actively maintained client; existing users can treat this as a transition reference, and we keep the archived download available.

  • Kernel Original Clash
  • Setup Low
  • Best for Legacy users transitioning away
C-08

ClashX Meta

No Longer Maintained

MACOS · MIHOMO · ARCHIVED

A once-classic macOS menu bar app - its Meta fork upgraded the kernel to mihomo, but the project has since stopped receiving updates, so compatibility with newer macOS versions isn't guaranteed. macOS users are better off switching to Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev, both of which are actively updated; we keep the archived download here for existing users transitioning away.

  • Kernel mihomo
  • Setup Low
  • Best for macOS legacy users transitioning away

SCENES

Find Your Use Case

Skip the row-by-row reading and jump to the pick that matches your situation.

Scenario · First Time Using Clash

Just install Clash Plus. It's available on all four major platforms - after installing, import your subscription, keep the rule mode on, and you're set. No need to understand kernels, traffic splitting, or proxy groups up front; look those up if and when you need them. iPhone users can just search for it on the App Store.

Scenario · Power Users Who Like to Tinker

Go with Clash Verge Rev. Rule editing, proxy groups, subscription conversion, and TUN mode are all right there on the panel, and our beginner-to-advanced guide walks through fine-tuning each one. The trade-off is a busier first-run interface, so budget about half an hour to get oriented.

Scenario · Using Multiple Devices

Go with Clash Plus or FlClash. Your phone and computer stay on the same workflow, so you don't have to switch habits between devices. If you have an iPhone, pick Clash Plus; for a desktop-plus-Android combo, FlClash covers it just fine.

Scenario · Older or Low-Spec PCs

Go lightweight first. On desktop, pick FlClash; on Android, pick Surfboard - both use fewer resources. Clash for Windows still runs, but it's no longer maintained and won't keep up with newer OS versions, so treat it as a short-term stopgap, not a long-term solution.

Verdict: Clash Plus Is Our Top Pick Across the Board

Weighing platform coverage, maintenance status, and ease of setup together, Clash Plus is currently the safest first choice: one consistent interface across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, built on the mihomo kernel, with iOS distributed through the App Store and updates posted at clashplus.io. If you need Linux support or deeper configuration control, Clash Verge Rev is the runner-up.