Comparison

ClashX vs Surge 2025 Review: Features, Pricing, and Performance

📅 2026-02-10 15 min read

macOS , ClashX Surge .Freeopen-source, features.？ 8 , .

💡
Conclusion

ClashX freeopen-source, features; Surge , features.budget, ClashX; featuresbudget, Surge.

⚡

, :

...
Dimension ClashX Surge
Price ✓ Free 99 /
open-source ✓ Open-source ✗ Closed-source
features ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
performance Excellent (~50MB RAM) Good (~90MB RAM)
clashxVsSurge.quick-comparison.auto.td7 Easy Steep
MITM Features ✗ Not supported ✓ Fully supported

💰 Pricing & value comparison

ClashX: completely free

  • macOS build: Totally free with zero restrictions
  • Feature limits: All core capabilities unlocked at no cost
  • Updates: Ongoing free releases backed by the community
  • Hidden fees: None
  • Open-source perks: Transparent code, compile it yourself

Surge: subscription-based

  • macOS build: About ¥99/year subscription
  • iOS build: About ¥99/year (sold separately)
  • Lifetime buy: One-time license available (higher price)
  • Trial: Limited-time evaluation provided
  • Cross-platform cost: macOS + iOS ≈ ¥198/year

Value analysis

📊
Value verdict

ClashX: Best value—zero cost for roughly 80% of features. Ideal for budget-limited basic to intermediate users.

Surge: Great ROI for pros—¥99/year unlocks the full professional toolkit, perfect for developers and security engineers.

Suggested plan: Start with ClashX and only upgrade to Surge if you hit its limits; most people won’t need to.

🔧 Feature breakdown

Protocol support

Protocol type ClashX Surge
Shadowsocks (SS) ✓ ✓
ShadowsocksR (SSR) ✓ ✓
VMess ✓ ✓
VLESS ✓ ✓
Trojan ✓ ✓
Hysteria ✓ ✓
WireGuard - ✓

Takeaway: Surge edges ahead with extras like WireGuard, but ClashX already covers what most users need.

Rule engine comparison

ClashX rule engine
Flexible and powerful, supports domain, IP, GEOIP and more
Surge rule engine
Industry-leading with complex rule chains and scripting support

TUN mode

  • ClashX: System-wide TUN mode covers every app
  • Surge: More refined TUN stack with better stability and options
  • Verdict: Minimal difference for daily use; Surge handles edge cases better

DNS optimization

  • ClashX: Supports Fake-IP and Redir-Host with solid DNS splitting
  • Surge: Adds DoH, DoT, and fully custom DNS servers
  • Verdict: Casual users won’t notice a gap, but Surge gives experts more toggles

⚡ performance

: MacBook Pro 14" M2 Pro, macOS 14.0,

memory usage

clashxVsSurge.performance.auto.th1 ClashX Surge
clashxVsSurge.performance.auto.td1 32 MB 58 MB
clashxVsSurge.performance.auto.td2 48 MB 92 MB
clashxVsSurge.performance.auto.td3 72 MB 156 MB

: ClashX memory usagelower, .

CPU

  • ClashX: 0.2%, 1-3%, 5%
  • Surge: 0.5%, 3-5%, 8%
  • : ClashX , CPU lower

connection speed

  • : ClashX 320ms, Surge 380ms
  • : ,
  • :
  • :
🏆
performanceConclusion

ClashX performance, , Mac .Surge , , features.

👥 usability

clashxVsSurge.usability.auto.h3_1

ClashX
, ,
Surge
, features

clashxVsSurge.usability.auto.h3_2

  • ClashX: , YAML ,
  • Surge: , Surge ,
  • : ClashX 1-2 , Surge 5-10

clashxVsSurge.usability.auto.h3_3

  • ClashX: , , GitHub Issues
  • Surge: ,
  • : ClashX ,

error

  • ClashX: ,
  • Surge: ,
  • : ClashX , Surge

🚀 features

Surge features

  • MITM : , interceptionmodification HTTPS requests,
  • JavaScript : ,
  • : Cron ,
  • requests: URL , Header modification, modification
  • : requests
  • : iCloud

ClashX features

  • open-source: , ,
  • : , Rule providers
  • : ,
  • : GitHub 30k+,
  • : ,
⚠️
features

MITM, packet capture, features, Surge ., , , ClashX features.

🎯 use cases

ClashX

✅
ClashX
  • budget: , ,
  • : open-source,
  • : , ,
  • : ,
  • : SS, VMess, Trojan
  • performance: Mac

Surge

✅
Surge
  • : ,
  • : MITM packet capture, requestsinterceptionmodificationfeatures
  • :
  • :
  • budget: 99 /,
  • : macOS iOS,

clashxVsSurge.scenarios.auto.h3_3

recommended: ClashX + Surge

  • : free,
  • use cases: ClashX, packet capture Surge
  • : Surge (99 /)
  • : , ,

🔄 migration

ClashX Surge

:

  1. : ClashX
  2. : Clash Surge
  3. Surge: Surge
  4. :
  5. : Surge features

Surge ClashX

:

  • Surge MITM features ClashX
  • Surge
  • , features
💡
clashxVsSurge.strong.migrationTip

, ., ().

❓ FAQ

1. ClashX Surge？

: , ClashX Surge.features, Surge:

  • MITM HTTPS interception
  • JavaScript
  • requests
  • Rule

2. Surge worth？

: budget:

  • worth: , , features
  • : , budget,
  • : , 99 /; , ClashX free

3. ？

: , .

  • port conflictsnetwork issues
  • ( ClashX, Surge)
  • recommended, avoid conflicts

4. ？

:

  1. budget → ClashX
  2. MITM packet capture → Surge
  3. open-source → ClashX
  4. → Surge
  5. → ClashX,

📝 Conclusion

🎯
clashxVsSurge.strong.quickDecision
  • ClashX: free, open-source, , (90% )
  • Surge: , , , (10% )
  • : ClashX + Surge (best value)

clashxVsSurge.conclusion.auto.h3_1

:

ClashX , free, open-source, features, performance, 90% . ClashX features, Surge.

:

, , MITM, packet capture, features, Surge.99 /worth.

:

, ., budget, .

💡
clashxVsSurge.strong.threeTips

1. Try before buy: Surge trial period, 2. : , , 3. : ,

Who Should Use Which Tool? (1-Minute Decision)

Students / Tight Budget
ClashX
Development / MITM Debugging
Surge
Dual-Workflow Users
ClashX for daily use + Surge for debugging
📌
Recommended Path

Start with ClashX to build a stable baseline, then add Surge only when you need deeper debugging. That is usually faster and more cost-effective than migrating everything at once.

Tags: ClashX vs Surge Comparison macOS proxy tools tag.2026review

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