How to Pick a Proxy Client: Go by Platform
How to Pick a Proxy Client: Go by Platform
These clients are just "open-source proxy GUIs" — they don't provide nodes themselves; you need your own subscription/nodes to use them. The easiest way to choose is start from the OS you're on, then pick among what runs on that platform.
Remember three "cores" first: how good a tool is depends mostly on the core behind it. Xray has the fullest protocol set (strong VLESS / Reality), Clash / Mihomo has the strongest rule-based routing (auto-select a route by domain/region), and sing-box has the newest protocols and is natively cross-platform. Picking by platform is really picking a core.
Go by platform
| Platform | First choice | Alternatives | In a line |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS / iPadOS | Hiddify | — | The others have no iOS; Hiddify is nearly the only open-source option |
| Android | v2rayNG | FlClash / Hiddify | For routing by domain/region, pick the Clash / sing-box family |
| Windows | v2rayN | Clash Verge Rev | v2rayN is the most complete; Clash Verge has a more modern UI |
| macOS | Clash Verge Rev | Hiddify / FlClash / v2rayN | Clash Verge is the best experience on Mac |
| Linux | Clash Verge Rev | Hiddify / FlClash / v2rayN | all have Linux builds; pick by your preferred core |
Reference
| Tool | Core | Platforms | TUN | Stars | Latest (download) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clash Verge Rev | Mihomo (Clash) | Win / mac / Linux | ✅ | 125k | v2.5.1 | 2026-05-20 |
| v2rayN | Xray / sing-box / Mihomo | Win / mac / Linux | ✅ | 109k | 7.22.7 | 2026-06-12 |
| v2rayNG | Xray | Android | ✅ | 58k | 2.2.3 | 2026-06-02 |
| FlClash | Mihomo (Clash) | Android / Win / mac / Linux | ✅ | 42k | v0.8.93 | 2026-05-29 |
| Hiddify | sing-box | iOS / Android / Win / mac / Linux | ✅ | 31k | v4.1.1 | 2026-03-05 |
TUN = a virtual NIC for global/transparent proxying. On desktop it's TUN mode (usually needs admin/a service); on mobile it goes through the system VPN (Android VpnService / iOS Network Extension) — same idea, so all of these support it.
Supported protocols (by core)
- Xray family (v2rayNG / v2rayN): VMess, VLESS (incl. Reality / XTLS), Shadowsocks, Trojan, SOCKS; recent versions added Hysteria2 / WireGuard.
- Clash / Mihomo family (Clash Verge Rev / FlClash): VMess, VLESS (Reality), Shadowsocks, Trojan, Hysteria / Hysteria2, TUIC, WireGuard, Snell, etc. — the strongest rule-based routing.
- sing-box family (Hiddify): VMess, VLESS (Reality), Trojan, Shadowsocks, Hysteria2, TUIC, WireGuard, etc. — newest protocols, unified across platforms.
One-line picks
- iOS: Hiddify (no real choice, but good enough).
- Android: v2rayNG for simple, FlClash / Hiddify for routing.
- Desktop (Win / mac / Linux): Clash Verge Rev for looks and ease, v2rayN for completeness.
These are open-source clients with no nodes built in; bring your own subscription, and use them only within what the law allows where you are.