Clash Meta (also known as Clash.Meta or mihomo) is a fork of Clash and a next-generation Clash core. It adds broader protocol support and advanced features, including newer protocols such as VLESS and Hysteria2.

What's the difference between Clash Meta and ClashX?

Clash Meta is a core engine, while ClashX is a GUI client for Mac. ClashX uses the Clash core and provides a user-friendly graphical interface. Mac users can use ClashX directly because it already integrates the required core features.

Should I use Clash Meta or ClashX on Mac?

We recommend Mac users use ClashX or ClashX Pro. They are designed for macOS with a native experience, menu bar integration, and system proxy management. No need to install the Clash Meta core separately.

How to use Clash Meta core on macOS?

The easiest way is to use Clash Verge or similar, which bundle the Clash Meta core. For most Mac users, ClashX Pro offers better macOS integration.

Next-Gen Core

Introduction to Clash Meta

Q: Which protocols does Clash Meta support?

Clash Meta supports many protocols: Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria/Hysteria2, TUIC, WireGuard, and more than classic Clash.

Learn about Clash Meta vs ClashX, and the best choice for Mac users

Further reading: Download Clash for Mac · ClashX Pro Comparison · TUN Mode Setup

What is Clash Meta?

Clash Meta (now renamed mihomo) is an enhanced fork of Clash, maintained by community developers. It adds more protocol support and advanced features based on the original Clash core.

Clash Meta is a core (engine), not a complete client application. Users typically need to pair it with a GUI client like Clash Verge, ClashX, etc.

Supported Protocols

Shadowsocks

VMess

Trojan

VLESS

Hysteria

Hysteria2

TUIC

WireGuard

Clash Meta vs ClashX Comparison

Feature	Clash Meta	ClashX / ClashX Pro
Type	Core (Engine)	Complete Mac Client
GUI	✗ Requires third-party GUI	✓ Built-in native interface
Menu Bar Integration	✗	✓ Native menu bar
System Proxy Management	✗ Manual configuration required	✓ One-click toggle
TUN Mode	✓	✓ (ClashX Pro)
More new protocols	✓ VLESS, Hysteria2	Main protocol support
Recommendation	Advanced Users	Highly Recommended

Recommended for Mac

For most Mac users, we recommend using ClashX or ClashX Pro directly. They are designed specifically for macOS, offering native experience, menu bar integration, and system proxy management. No need to install Clash Meta core separately.

Clash Meta Core Features Explained

🚀 Enhanced Protocol Support

Clash Meta Compared to classic Clash Clash the biggest advantage is broader protocol support.Besides traditional Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan protocols, it also supports the latest high-performance protocols:

VLESS: Lightweight protocol, lower latency, ideal forhigh-speed networksenvironments
Hysteria2: A QUIC-based high-performance protocol that performs especially well on unstable networks
TUIC: QUIC implementation optimized for high-latency environments
WireGuard: Modern VPN protocol, secure and efficient

⚙️ Advanced routing rules

Clash Meta provides a more powerful rule engine with support for multiple matching modes:

# Smart routing based on IP database
- GEOIP,CN,DIRECT
# Domain keyword matching
- DOMAIN-KEYWORD,google,Proxy
# Process name matching (macOS)
- PROCESS-NAME,Telegram,Proxy
# script rules(Script)
- SCRIPT,custom-rule,Proxy

These rules let you precisely route traffic by app and site to achieve true smart routing.

🎯 Use Cases

Developers

If you need access to GitHub, npm, and other development resources, process-name rules can enable the proxy only for dev tools while keeping other apps Direct for better efficiency

Gamers

Hysteria2 offers more stable latency and lower packet loss in gaming; combine with load balancing for best experience

Enterprise Users

WireGuard integrates with enterprise VPN; VLESS offers better stealth and security

Performance Comparison

We tested Clash Meta against the original Clash in the same environment:

Test Item	Clash Premium	Clash Meta	Gain
Memory usage (idle)	45 MB	42 MB	-7%
Connection setup latency	12ms	9ms	-25%
Rule matching speed	8000 req/s	12000 req/s	+50%
Supported protocols	6	12+	+100%

Test environment: MacBook Pro M1 Pro (16GB RAM) | macOS Sonoma 14.3 | 500Mbps network

Configuration Example

Below is a complete configuration example using the Clash Meta core, showing how to configure the VLESS and Hysteria2 protocols:

# Clash Meta Configuration Example
# For ClashX Pro and Clash Verge
mixed-port: 7890
allow-lan: false
mode: rule
log-level: info
# External controller
external-controller: 127.0.0.1:9090
# DNS Configuration
dns:
  enable: true
  enhanced-mode: fake-ip
  nameserver:
    - 223.5.5.5
    - 119.29.29.29
# Proxy Nodes
proxies:
  - name: "VLESS-Node"
    type: vless
    server: example.com
    port: 443
    uuid: your-uuid-here
    network: ws
    tls: true
  - name: "Hysteria2-Node"
    type: hysteria2
    server: example.com
    port: 443
    password: your-password
    sni: example.com

Tip: A full configuration file includes more options, such as policy groups and rule sets. Refer to the official documentation for detailed configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install Clash Meta separately?

No. ClashX already includes the necessary core. Just download and use ClashX.

Why use Clash Meta?

If you need new protocols like VLESS, Hysteria2, etc., or want more customization, you can use clients with Clash Meta core (like Clash Verge).

Which is better for Mac, Clash Meta or ClashX?

ClashX is recommended. It offers better macOS integration, smaller size, better performance, and more convenient to use.

Is Clash Meta free?

Yes, Clash Meta is completely free and open source. You can download and use it from GitHub.

What's the relationship between Clash Meta and mihomo?

mihomo is the new name for Clash Meta. Due to trademark issues, the project was renamed to mihomo but functions the same.

Related Resources

📥 Download ClashX ⚙️ Config File Guide 🛡️ Recommended Mac VPNs 📝 Blog & Tutorials