TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR vs Global Entry: Which Is Worth It?

If you fly a few times a year within the US, get TSA PreCheck ($77.95 for five years). If you also travel internationally, get Global Entry ($120 for five years) instead — it includes PreCheck and speeds you through customs on the way home. CLEAR ($209/year) is a separate, faster ID-verification service that works best stacked on top of PreCheck, and it's only worth the money if you fly through busy hub airports often or your credit card covers it. For most travelers, Global Entry is the smartest single purchase.

Here's how the three actually differ, what each costs, and which one fits how you travel.

What each program actually does

These programs solve different problems, and people confuse them constantly. Two are government trusted-traveler programs run by TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). One is a private company.

TSA PreCheck gets you into a shorter, faster security lane where you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on and leave your laptop and liquids in your bag. It's available at more than 200 US airports with over 90 participating airlines.

Global Entry does everything PreCheck does — the PreCheck benefit is bundled in — and adds expedited processing when you fly back into the US from abroad. Instead of the customs line, you use a Global Entry kiosk or the mobile app to clear in seconds.

CLEAR doesn't screen you; it verifies your identity using your eyes or fingerprints, then a CLEAR agent walks you to the front of the physical screening line. You still go through the same X-ray and body scanner. CLEAR replaces the ID/boarding-pass check, not the security screening itself.

The math: which one pays off for you

Cost per year tells the real story.

• TSA PreCheck: about $15.59 per year over five years.
• Global Entry: $24 per year over five years — and it includes PreCheck, so you're paying roughly $8.50 more per year than PreCheck alone to also skip customs lines.
• CLEAR Plus: $209 every year — more than 13 times the annual cost of PreCheck.

That gap is why the recommendation is almost always Global Entry over standalone PreCheck. For an extra ~$42 over five years, you get international benefits at no real added inconvenience, since the interview is combined.

If your travel is 100% domestic and you never expect to leave the country, PreCheck alone is fine. The moment there's a chance of an international trip, Global Entry wins.

How each application works

TSA PreCheck

Apply online, then visit an enrollment center for a 10-minute appointment where they take your fingerprints and verify documents. Most people get a Known Traveler Number (KTN) within a few days, sometimes on the spot, occasionally up to 60 days. You need to be a US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident.

Global Entry

Apply through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website, pay the $120 fee, and wait for "conditional approval." Then you schedule an interview. CBP has expanded "Enrollment on Arrival," so you can often do the interview at a major airport when you land from an international trip — no separate appointment needed. Approval times vary widely; plan for weeks to a few months. Your Global Entry PASSID doubles as your KTN for PreCheck.

CLEAR Plus

Sign up online in minutes, then finish enrollment at a CLEAR kiosk at the airport — often the same day you're flying. No background check or interview; it's an identity service, not a security-vetting program.

Don't pay if your credit card already covers it

This is where a lot of travelers overspend. Many travel credit cards reimburse the application fee for PreCheck or Global Entry, and some cover CLEAR:

• Global Entry / PreCheck fee credit: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X, Citi / AAdvantage Executive, and many others offer a statement credit (usually up to $100–$120) every four to five years. If you carry one of these, your government trusted-traveler program is effectively free.
• CLEAR credit: Amex Platinum and some Delta Amex cards reimburse part or all of the CLEAR Plus fee. Check your specific card's benefits page before paying full price.

Use the card credit on Global Entry (the better value) rather than PreCheck alone. And if your card covers CLEAR too, stacking CLEAR + PreCheck is genuinely fast — but only lean on it if someone else is footing the $209.

When CLEAR is actually worth it

CLEAR's pitch is speed at the front of the line, which matters most at specific airports and specific times. It's worth considering if:

• You fly frequently through congested hubs like Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), Orlando (MCO), or the New York and DC airports, where even PreCheck lines get long.
• You travel during peak periods — holidays, early-morning banks of flights, or Monday business rushes — when a few minutes saved is meaningful.
• Your credit card reimburses it, dropping your real cost to near zero.

Two things to keep in mind. CLEAR isn't at every airport, and its lanes have limited hours at some locations. And CLEAR without PreCheck just moves you to the front of the regular screening line — you'll still take off your shoes and pull out your laptop. The combo of CLEAR + PreCheck is the real time-saver: CLEAR gets you to the front, PreCheck gets you through the lighter screening.

Which one should you pick?

One family note: children 12 and under can use the PreCheck lane with an enrolled parent or guardian without their own membership. Teens 13–17 can use PreCheck too, as long as it appears on their boarding pass and they're on the same reservation. If you're traveling with little ones, our guide on flying with a baby or infant covers what else to expect at the checkpoint.

What these programs won't do

None of these help once you're past security. They don't get you rebooked when a flight cancels, they don't recover a lost bag, and they don't pay you for delays. The US, unlike the EU, has no mandatory delay-compensation law — airlines only owe you a refund if your flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel, per the DOT's 2024 automatic-refund rule.

The exceptions where you're owed real money are getting bumped from an overbooked flight (federally required denied-boarding compensation, up to $1,075 or $2,150 depending on the delay) and lost checked bags (DOT liability up to $3,800 on domestic flights). If an airline won't make things right, you can always file a DOT complaint. And if you get to the gate late, a fast security line helps — but read what to do if you miss your flight just in case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?

No. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck automatically. If you buy Global Entry, don't also pay for PreCheck — it's already covered. Your Global Entry PASSID works as your Known Traveler Number when booking flights.

Is CLEAR worth it if I already have PreCheck?

Only if you fly often through crowded airports or your credit card covers the $209 annual fee. With PreCheck alone you already get lighter screening; CLEAR just moves you faster to the front of the line. For occasional flyers, the yearly cost is hard to justify on its own.

How far in advance should I apply?

Apply at least two to three months before a big trip. PreCheck often comes through in days, but Global Entry approval and interview scheduling can take weeks to months. You can, however, do the Global Entry interview on arrival at many airports through Enrollment on Arrival, which saves a trip.

Can I put my Known Traveler Number on a flight I already booked?

Yes. Log into your airline reservation or frequent-flyer profile and add your KTN (or Global Entry PASSID) to the booking before check-in. Make sure the name matches your enrollment exactly, or PreCheck won't print on your boarding pass.