Clash Client Comparison: How to Choose Among 8 Popular Clients

A Tauri-based desktop client and the community-maintained continuation after Clash Verge stopped updating. It bundles the mihomo core and does a thorough job with TUN mode, service-mode installation, and Merge/Script config overrides — one of the most feature-complete desktop options and the go-to choice for Linux desktop users. The trade-off is more settings to work through; setting up TUN and autostart the first time means following a guide, but once you're familiar with it, the control it offers is well beyond lightweight clients.

A Flutter-based multi-platform client that shares one interface and interaction model across all three desktop OSes and Android. It bundles the mihomo core, and the default config routes traffic correctly out of the box, with options kept deliberately minimal so it's hard to click the wrong thing — a good fit for anyone who puts "it just works" first. If you run Windows or Linux on desktop and Android on your phone, and don't need iOS, FlClash lets you carry one mental model across every platform with the lowest learning curve.

A community client for Windows that also bundles the mihomo core, with core version management as its standout feature: you can switch between different core branches and versions right inside the client, making it easy to check whether some behavior is a core issue or a config issue. The interface is highly customizable, with adjustable themes and layout. It leans toward power users who enjoy tinkering; if you just want a proxy running quietly in the background, it doesn't offer much extra value.

Once the de facto standard client on Windows, and the source of countless screenshots in old tutorials. The project is discontinued and bundles the original Clash core, which lacks the outbound protocols and rule features mihomo has added since — protocols common in newer subscriptions may simply not work. The download center keeps it around only for migrating legacy configs: export your subscription and switch to Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev as soon as possible; it's not recommended for any new user.

The Android client closest to the core itself, exposing mihomo's options almost unchanged: per-app proxying, DNS overrides, and TUN stack selection are all directly adjustable in settings. The interface is plain and defaults are conservative, so first-time setup requires understanding what each toggle actually does. It suits advanced users who've already read the config docs and want precise control over proxy behavior on their phone; if you just want something that works out of the box, FlClash or Clash Plus is a better fit.

An Android proxy client whose config format follows Surge-style syntax rather than standard Clash YAML — strictly speaking, a member of a neighboring ecosystem. The project is discontinued and won't track new protocols or rule types going forward. The download center keeps the installer around only for users with existing Surge configs who need a temporary bridge; Android users starting from scratch should go straight to Clash Plus or CMFA.

The Meta-core fork of ClashX, a macOS menu bar client that lives quietly in the menu bar with a minimal interface and light resource use — once a favorite lightweight pick for Mac users. The project is discontinued, and nobody is tracking compatibility with newer macOS releases. If it's already installed on your Mac and running fine, you can keep using it until something breaks; for a new setup, go straight for the macOS version of Clash Plus or Clash Verge Rev.