TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. CLEAR: Which to Get (and Get Free)

Three programs promise to get you through the airport faster — TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR — and they’re easy to confuse. They do different things, cost different amounts, and in many cases your credit card will pay the fee for you. Here’s how to choose.

TSA PreCheck — the security line speed-up

TSA PreCheck gets you a dedicated, faster security lane at US airports where you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on and leave laptops and liquids in your bag. It costs about $78 for five years. For domestic travelers, this is the single highest-impact program — it’s the one that turns a 25-minute security slog into a few minutes.

Global Entry — PreCheck plus customs

Global Entry does everything PreCheck does and speeds you through US customs and immigration when returning from abroad, using kiosks instead of the long arrivals line. It costs $120 for five years and includes TSA PreCheck. The math is simple: for $42 more than PreCheck alone, you also get expedited customs. If you travel internationally even occasionally, get Global Entry instead of PreCheck — it’s the better value.

CLEAR Plus — skip to the front of the line

CLEAR is different: it uses your eyes or fingerprints to verify your identity and walks you to the front of the security line (where you then go through PreCheck screening if you have it). It’s a private service, not a government program, and it’s pricier at about $209 per year. CLEAR is most worth it at busy home airports where the lines are long — and it pairs best with PreCheck, not instead of it.

How to get the fee for free

Here’s the part most people miss: many travel credit cards reimburse these fees automatically. A card with this benefit pays for itself on this perk alone.

• TSA PreCheck / Global Entry: Premium cards like the Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture/Venture X reimburse the application fee (up to $120) every four years. More affordable options like the Bank of America Premium Rewards and U.S. Bank Altitude Connect offer up to $100 every four years.
• CLEAR Plus: The Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, Green, and Hilton Aspire cards reimburse CLEAR Plus (around $209) per calendar year — enrollment required.

If you already carry one of these cards, simply pay the application fee with it and the statement credit posts automatically.

Which should you get?

• Fly mostly domestic? Get TSA PreCheck (or Global Entry, since it includes PreCheck for just a bit more).
• Travel internationally at all? Get Global Entry — it’s the best overall value.
• Home airport with brutal lines and you already have PreCheck? Add CLEAR on top.
• Either way: put the fee on a card that reimburses it so you pay nothing.

Bottom Line

For most travelers, Global Entry is the smart pick — it includes TSA PreCheck and adds expedited customs for just $42 more, all for five years. CLEAR is a worthwhile add-on at busy airports but it’s a yearly cost. Best of all, premium cards like the Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture reimburse these fees, so the right card makes airport speed essentially free. Just remember to pay the application fee with that card.