Best Clash GUI Clients Compared: Clash Plus, Clash Verge Rev, ClashX Meta, and FlClash

Start with the basics: separate the GUI from the proxy core

A Clash GUI handles subscription imports, proxy selection, system proxy toggles, and status displays. The proxy core parses configuration, matches rules, and establishes connections. An intuitive interface doesn't guarantee support for every protocol, and a successful import doesn't mean every configuration field will work. When comparing clients, first check your operating system and processor architecture, then verify which core is running, and finally check your subscription and network setup.

Clash Meta was the former name for this core branch; its successor project is called mihomo. Clash Verge Rev, ClashX Meta, and FlClash all provide GUI management for this core family, but differ in update cadence, configuration overrides, and permission handling. The capabilities of the legacy Clash core don't automatically apply to mihomo. For example, if your subscription includes VLESS, Hysteria2, or TUIC, verify that the core supports each protocol and check the server parameters.

This is a comparison of feature approaches, not a benchmark ranking of specific versions. Port numbers and speed-test results are illustrative configuration examples, not default values or measured results for any client.

Platform support and interface compared

Desktop control window and macOS menu bar

If you regularly check connections, switch between multiple subscriptions, and adjust settings, Clash Verge Rev's full desktop window is a good place to start. If you mainly use one configuration on macOS and just switch proxy groups or toggle the system proxy, ClashX Meta's menu bar approach is worth trying first. The difference is primarily in workflow; it shouldn't be taken as evidence of a throughput gap.

A consistent workflow on desktop and Android

FlClash is a good fit if you want a similar workflow on desktop and Android, but a similar interface doesn't mean your settings sync automatically. Subscription URLs, proxy group selections, scheduled updates, and local overrides usually still need to be configured separately. Android connectivity relies on system VPN permission, while desktop setups use the system proxy or TUN. “Connected” on a phone is not the same system mechanism as a desktop proxy toggle.

• On Windows, check whether your device is x64 or ARM64. The architecture in the installer name must match your device.
• On macOS, check whether your Mac has an Intel or Apple chip, and look for universal builds and minimum OS requirements.
• On Linux, check the package format, desktop environment, and service installation requirements in addition to the architecture.
• iPhone and iPad aren't included in the platforms listed above; choose a compatible client separately.

Core type: validate the configuration before comparing connection performance

The client version and core version are separate details. A GUI update may only change the window, subscription workflow, or OS integration. A core update may affect protocol support, DNS behavior, and rule features. When documenting your setup, record the client name and version, core version, operating system, and architecture—not just a screenshot of the main window.

Validate YAML with the core you'll actually run

If you have a standalone mihomo executable, check its version first, then test the configuration. The commands below use the executable and configuration file in the current directory. Built-in client executables may have different names or paths, so locate the actual file before running them. A successful test means the configuration parses; it doesn't confirm that nodes, DNS, or remote servers are reachable.

# Linux / macOS: mihomo in the current directory
./mihomo -v
./mihomo -t -f ./config.yaml

# Windows PowerShell: mihomo.exe in the current directory
.\mihomo.exe -v
.\mihomo.exe -t -f .\config.yaml

A GUI client may merge, override, or process the original subscription with scripts, so troubleshoot using the final running configuration. mixed-port: 7890 in the source file may not be the active listening port. If the interface overrides it to 7897, a browser or terminal still connecting to 7890 will fail.

Compare under the same conditions—not from a single speed test

1. Use the same subscription, node, and test URL, with the same rule mode and proxy group.
2. Run only one proxy client at a time to avoid conflicts between ports, system proxy settings, and virtual network adapters.
3. Check connection stability first, then sustained download speed. Keep the network conditions consistent throughout testing.
4. Save failure logs and distinguish DNS timeouts, connection refusals, authentication failures, and protocol parameter errors.

For example, one URL test returns 85 ms and another returns 110 ms. These are just illustrative round-trip times from two tests. Server load, connection reuse, and network jitter can all cause differences; they don't prove that one GUI is faster. More useful records include results from multiple consecutive tests, failure counts, and the time taken by real-world tasks.

TUN support: core capabilities, system permissions, and client integration

TUN receives IP traffic through a virtual network interface, making it useful for apps that don't read system proxy settings. A system proxy provides HTTP or SOCKS access mainly to apps that follow those settings. This isn't a simple matter of “basic” versus “advanced”: if the system proxy handles your browser traffic, it's usually easier to troubleshoot. Consider TUN when you need to route games, command-line tools, or sandboxed apps that require additional integration.

After turning it on, check three things

• Interface and routes: Confirm that the virtual interface is actually created and the required routes are installed—not just that the toggle changed in the UI.
• DNS: Check whether domain requests follow the expected resolution path. Enabling TUN doesn't automatically fix every DNS setting.
• Conflicts: Check whether another VPN, enterprise networking tool, or TUN setup is also taking over the default route.

Android typically allows only one active VPN connection established through the system VpnService. If another VPN app is running, decide which one should remain active. Battery optimization and background restrictions can also interrupt connections after the screen locks; that's separate from the node protocol itself.

Subscription management: importing, updating, and local changes

When evaluating a client, complete the full import–enable–update–restart workflow at least once. Seeing nodes in a list isn't enough: after a successful subscription download, select that configuration and check that the proxy groups reference the right nodes. If the subscription uses a different app's format, the URL may download successfully but still be unusable because of differences in YAML structure or protocol fields.

Four operations to test

1. Import: Find the subscription or configuration option and paste the URL. Confirm that the imported result includes the expected nodes, proxy groups, and rules.
2. Enable: Select the configuration and choose a node in the proxy group. Check the connection log to confirm that it uses the selected policy.
3. Update: Run a manual update. Note the node count and update time, and check that custom rules remain intact.
4. Restart: Close and reopen the client. Confirm that the active configuration, port, and connectivity toggle are as expected.

Clash Verge Rev's merge and scripting features can help maintain targeted overrides, but always verify the final result in the running configuration. ClashX Meta's file-based workflow suits users familiar with YAML; check whether updates overwrite downloaded configuration files before editing them. FlClash's configuration management is useful for repeating workflows across devices, but check the current version to see what its export and backup features include. Verify comparable Clash Plus features in the actual build.

Keep device settings separate from subscription content

Ports, LAN access, and TUN settings are device-specific and shouldn't be copied blindly across devices. Here's an example configuration snippet for local use: allow-lan: false means other devices on your LAN can't access the proxy. It should be used as part of a complete configuration alongside subscription nodes, proxy groups, and rules.

mixed-port: 7890
allow-lan: false
mode: rule
log-level: info

Subscription links often contain access tokens. Screenshots, logs, and exported files may expose subscription URLs or node credentials; remove sensitive details before reporting an issue. If you use a script to process remote configuration, check its source and scope of changes. It can affect not only the node list, but also DNS, rules, and listening settings.

Choose a client for your use case

Beginners: start with a minimal setup on one device

Windows and Linux desktop users can start by evaluating Clash Verge Rev. macOS users can choose between Verge Rev's full window and ClashX Meta's menu bar workflow. For your first setup, import one subscription, enable rule mode, select one node, and then turn on the system proxy. Add TUN and configuration overrides only after browser access is stable, so you don't introduce several possible failure points at once.

Clash Plus can be a candidate, but first verify the project identity, installer architecture, and core details. If the release notes are unclear, don't assume it has the same menus or setup steps as other clients just because the names are similar.

Multiple devices: prioritize format compatibility and repeat setup effort

If you use both a computer and Android, FlClash's similar interface can make workflows more consistent. What you should standardize is the subscription source, proxy group names, and the intent of your rules. System permissions, ports, and background settings still need to be configured separately. Don't copy a desktop app's data directory directly to a phone, and don't assume one client's full backup can be imported into another.

Advanced users: focus on the running configuration and troubleshooting tools

If you need rule overrides, connection checks, and service management, take a close look at Verge Rev's configuration workflow. ClashX Meta may suit users who prefer the macOS menu bar and can maintain YAML. FlClash may suit users who want a similar workflow across desktop and Android. Before deciding, confirm where to export the running configuration, view logs, check core details, and restore permissions—don't compare screenshots alone.

• Choose a client that supports your current platform before considering devices you might add later.
• Verify the protocols and configuration fields you need before comparing interface layouts.
• Check whether the system proxy meets your needs before deciding to enable TUN.
• Confirm that updates won't overwrite local changes before moving your daily setup.

Migration checklist before switching clients

During migration, keep a record of your subscription source, necessary custom rules, and old client settings. Don't run system proxy or TUN in both clients at the same time; system routes can conflict even when the ports differ. First stop network routing in the old client and then quit it. After that, complete a full verification in the new client.

1. Note the current listening address, such as 127.0.0.1:7890. Check whether browser extensions, terminal environment variables, or other apps have this address hard-coded.
2. Import the subscription in the new client and check proxy group names and rule references to make sure no rule points to a missing policy group.
3. Turn on the system proxy first and test your browser and connection logs. Enable TUN afterward if needed.
4. Test destinations that should use a proxy, connect directly, or be accessible on your LAN to confirm the rules behave as expected.
5. Restart the client or system and check again to make sure startup behavior, permissions, and ports haven't changed unexpectedly.

If the browser works but the terminal doesn't, use the command below to specify a proxy explicitly. This helps distinguish an app that isn't using the proxy from a failure to connect through the proxy. The command assumes the active mixed port is 7890 and tests this site's homepage; whether the destination uses the proxy depends on the current rules.

curl --proxy http://127.0.0.1:7890 -I https://clash-packet.com/

If the same subscription behaves differently in two clients, compare core versions, the final configuration, proxy group selections, and connection methods first. Checking these details usually makes it easier to find a reproducible cause before attributing the issue to client differences. See the glossary for related concepts, and the technical reference for rule order and core differences.