Clash Client Comparison and Selection Guide

A good fit if you want to get connected first and learn about rules over time. Its key advantages are broad platform availability and straightforward subscription and policy workflows—not a magic toggle for complex network problems. After importing a subscription, confirm the config is active, then choose a node in a policy group. In rule mode, different requests can use different policies.

For multi-device setups, check config formats and platform-specific features on each device. A desktop system proxy typically affects only apps that respect proxy settings, while mobile devices require system VPN permission. Check the App Store version for iOS features; desktop TUN guides may not apply. Visit clashplus.io for product details, and find platform-specific downloads here.

Best suited to desktop users who already understand subscription files, rule order, and policy group names. The mihomo core provides config capabilities; the client handles subscriptions, extensions, and system traffic routing. To add local domain rules, use the client's override or extension feature instead of editing the subscription directly—those changes will be replaced at the next update.

Clash Verge Rev is not the same installation as the older Clash Verge or CFW. Don't copy the entire app data directory when migrating. Import the original subscription, verify the basic connection, then restore overrides one at a time. TUN and service components require additional permissions; verify DNS and routing after enabling them rather than assuming every app is covered because a toggle is on.

A good fit for users who switch between desktop and Android and want to minimize the learning curve. Similar config and policy layouts make it easier to find subscriptions, switch policies, and review connections, but system permissions, tray behavior, and background restrictions still vary. Linux users can also compare FlClash with Clash Verge Rev and choose an installer that suits their desktop environment and package format.

FlClash uses the mihomo core, but that doesn't guarantee a backup from another mihomo client will restore completely. Config content may be portable when compatible; app databases, service paths, and interface settings usually aren't. If Android disconnects after the screen locks, check battery optimization and background permissions first. On desktop, distinguish system proxy behavior from the actual traffic covered by TUN.

A good fit for desktop users willing to check core options and adjust how configs are organized. This page covers only the Windows package offered here and does not imply support for every platform the project may target. Choose based on the core you're actually using, not the client name as a promise of protocol compatibility. Check the core documentation before using Meta- or mihomo-specific config features.

If you switch between multiple configs, keep track of each subscription source, extension rules, and policy group names. Interface customization can make a workflow more comfortable, but it doesn't change the basic top-down order in which rules are matched. Core selection and config layers add variables to troubleshoot, so beginners should start with Clash Plus's basic setup.

CFW's Profiles, Proxies, and rules pages are familiar from many older tutorials, but that is not a reason to choose it for a new device. The original Clash line and current mihomo differ in protocol and field support. A new subscription may fail to parse if it uses a type the older core doesn't recognize. Changing the config file extension to YAML won't fix compatibility issues.

Before migrating, note the subscription source, listening port, rule mode, and any custom rules. Quit CFW and disable its system proxy or service before launching the new client to avoid port conflicts or duplicate route handling. Clash Plus is a practical everyday replacement; users familiar with desktop overrides can also choose Clash Verge Rev. The archived download is for checking existing setups only.

Often abbreviated as CMFA, this client suits Android users already familiar with Clash config structure. Focus on config imports, core compatibility, and how apps are routed—not on matching a desktop interface. Grant VPN permission when connecting for the first time. If another VPN is already active, check for conflicts with the client's traffic handling.

Common phone issues include background restrictions, reconnecting after sleep, and problems affecting only certain apps. First check whether the client is still running, then review app coverage and logs, and only then adjust DNS or rules. Don't switch every rule to global proxy because one app fails. Choose between CMFA and FlClash based on your config workflow; beginners should start with Clash Plus's basic setup.

Surfboard uses Surge-style config; it isn't a new interface for Clash YAML. It has its own implementation, and its support does not exactly match Surge's. It's a good fit if your subscription provider explicitly offers a compatible format or you already maintain configs in this syntax. If you only have a Clash-format link, ask the provider which output formats are available before importing it.

When converting a config, check more than the proxies: review policy groups, rule targets, and DNS behavior too. A successful conversion doesn't mean every field was migrated equivalently. If the original config relies on mihomo-specific protocols or rule features, a mihomo client is usually the more direct choice. Confirm format compatibility before downloading Surfboard to avoid repeatedly trying the same incompatible subscription.

ClashX Meta keeps the familiar menu bar workflow and can help users with existing configs check legacy settings. It's based on the Meta line, but the archived installer does not include the full feature set of current mihomo. The ClashX Official Site brand does not mean new macOS setups must use ClashX Meta; Clash Plus remains our top pick for new users.

Before migrating, note your config file, system proxy status, and local ports, and check whether the new installer matches Apple Silicon or Intel. If an older guide tells you to change settings from the menu bar, find the equivalent feature in the new client's actual config options rather than searching for the same menu label. For compatibility issues or permissions on newer macOS versions, move to an actively maintained client instead of adding more legacy patches.