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Weighing tsa precheck vs global entry vs clear comes down to one number. Global Entry costs $120 for five years and already includes TSA PreCheck’s screening line, per Chase’s Global Entry cost guide. That beats buying TSA PreCheck alone for anyone who ever leaves the country. TSA PreCheck alone is the cheaper pick if you only fly domestically. CLEAR is the odd one out. It’s a private identity-verification lane that stacks on top of either program instead of replacing it.
I’ve cleared airport security often enough across nearly every state I’ve flown to. Shaving even five minutes off a line changes whether I make a tight connection. Between flights, road trips and the odd international departure, I’ve learned one thing: the line you skip matters more than the line you’re standing in.
Quick facts
TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR
| Program | Run by | What it speeds up |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | Transportation Security Administration | Domestic security screening: shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids and belts can stay in place, per TSA’s PreCheck page |
| Global Entry | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Customs re-entry into the U.S., plus it includes TSA PreCheck screening at no extra fee, per Chase’s Global Entry cost guide |
| CLEAR | A private company | An identity-verification lane that walks you to the front of the regular or PreCheck security line, per Capital One’s comparison |
Two of these three renew every five years, and one renews every year. So the sticker price alone is misleading. The table below spreads each program’s cost across five years, and the numbers then compare directly.
| Program | Listed price | 5-year cost | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | About $78 for a 5-year membership, per TSA | $78 | $15.60 |
| Global Entry | $120 for a 5-year membership, per Chase’s Global Entry cost guide | $120 | $24.00 |
| CLEAR | $209 a year, per Capital One’s comparison | $1,045 | $209.00 |
TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR Cost
Global Entry works out to about $24 a year across its five-year term. It already covers TSA PreCheck screening, so most flyers who travel internationally even occasionally get two benefits for one fee. TSA PreCheck alone runs about $15.60 a year, the cheapest of the three. But it does nothing for you at customs. CLEAR is by far the most expensive, at $209 a year, because it renews annually instead of every five years. It also doesn’t replace either federal program. It only adds a faster walk to whichever screening lane you already qualify for.
That last point trips people up. CLEAR does not check your carry-on liquids or your shoes. Instead, it verifies your identity and moves you to the front of the security line. A TSA PreCheck member with CLEAR still gets the PreCheck screening experience, just without the wait to reach it.
What is better, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
TSA PreCheck makes sense for someone who flies only within the U.S. and has no international trips planned in the next five years. At about $15.60 a year, per TSA’s own enrollment pricing, it’s the cheapest way to keep shoes on and laptops in bags at security. The tradeoff is real, though. Switching to Global Entry later still means paying the full $120 fee, on top of whatever’s left of the PreCheck term. So it’s worth thinking ahead, even for a domestic-only flyer.
If even one trip to Canada, Mexico, Peru or anywhere overseas is plausible in the next five years, the math changes. Global Entry is worth the extra roughly $8 a year, because it includes the PreCheck benefit automatically.
Benefits of Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck
Global Entry is built for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who cross back into the country by air with any regularity. It’s the one program of the three built around customs re-entry, not the security line before takeoff. The membership lasts five years, the same term as TSA PreCheck. It also folds PreCheck’s domestic security benefit in at no added cost, per Chase’s Global Entry cost guide.
Global Entry bundles both benefits into one $120 fee. So it usually beats buying TSA PreCheck alone, even for someone who only travels internationally once every year or two. The math only favors TSA PreCheck alone for a flyer who is confident no international trip is coming in the next five years.
Does CLEAR replace TSA PreCheck?
CLEAR is worth its $209 annual fee mainly for travelers who fly often through one of its home airports and already have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. CLEAR’s own lane still feeds into the same screening process, so it works best as an add-on, not a starting point. Someone without either federal program gets less value from CLEAR. They’d still remove shoes and unpack liquids once they reach the front of the line. CLEAR also can’t get you through customs. It does nothing for the international re-entry problem Global Entry solves.
Families and infrequent flyers are the group most likely to overpay here. At $209 a year per person, CLEAR is the most expensive of the three programs by a wide margin. It also adds the least for anyone who only flies a couple of times a year. This kind of cost-per-trip math is worth running before any big trip planning decision, not just this one.
Is TSA PreCheck included with CLEAR?
Skip buying CLEAR before you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. It speeds up the walk to security but does not remove the shoes-off, laptops-out screening step on its own. Skip letting a TSA PreCheck membership lapse if international travel is even a maybe. Reapplying under Global Entry later still costs the full fee. And skip assuming any of these three guarantees expedited treatment on every trip. TSA notes that screening procedures can still vary, so build in normal airport time regardless of which program you carry. That habit belongs on any general list of travel tips, not just this comparison.
What is better: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR?
I’ve stood in enough airport lines across enough states to trust the math over the marketing here. Global Entry is the better buy for nearly everyone. It buys both the TSA PreCheck lane and the customs shortcut in one $120, five-year membership. TSA PreCheck alone only makes sense for a strictly domestic flyer who is confident that won’t change for five years. CLEAR is worth layering on top of either program if you fly often enough to feel a few minutes at security. But it’s the one purchase to skip if you’re only an occasional traveler.
Frequently asked questions about tsa precheck vs global entry vs clear
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
Yes — Global Entry members automatically get TSA PreCheck’s screening benefit at no extra fee, per Chase’s Global Entry cost guide.
How long does a TSA PreCheck membership last?
A TSA PreCheck membership lasts five years before it needs renewal, per TSA’s own membership FAQ.
Is CLEAR the same as TSA PreCheck?
No — CLEAR is a private identity-verification lane that gets you to the front of security faster. TSA PreCheck is the federal program that determines whether you can leave your shoes and laptop in your bag during screening.
Can you get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry at the same time?
Yes — the three are not mutually exclusive. Many frequent flyers carry Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, along with a separate CLEAR membership for the walk-up lane.
How much is TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry?
TSA PreCheck alone is cheaper up front, at roughly $78 versus $120 for Global Entry. But Global Entry adds customs re-entry and still includes the PreCheck benefit. That makes it the better value for anyone who travels internationally.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the park, operator or provider before you go.
Updated September 23, 2026.