Three programs promise to get you through the airport faster, and they do very different things. TSA PreCheck speeds up the security screening itself. Global Entry speeds up US immigration and customs when you return from abroad — and includes PreCheck. CLEAR skips the ID-check line but not the screening. Here is how they compare in 2026.
TSA PreCheck
PreCheck gives you a dedicated security lane at more than 200 US airports where you keep shoes, belts and light jackets on and leave laptops and liquids in your bag. Most PreCheck waits are under 10 minutes. Enrollment costs about $77 to $85 for five years depending on the provider (IDEMIA, Telos or CLEAR handle enrollments), takes a 10-minute in-person appointment with fingerprinting, and approval usually arrives within a few days. Children 12 and under can use the lane with an enrolled parent; ages 13–17 can if their reservation carries the parent's Known Traveler Number.
The catch: you must add your Known Traveler Number to every reservation — we ask for it at checkout — and airlines occasionally fail to print the PreCheck mark on a boarding pass, in which case the standard lane applies.
Global Entry
Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection program that lets you clear immigration on return to the US at a kiosk or, increasingly, through facial-recognition 'touchless' portals in under a minute instead of waiting in the passport line. It costs $120 for five years (raised from $100 in October 2024) and includes TSA PreCheck. Enrollment requires an online application, a background check that can take weeks to months, and an in-person interview — often completed on arrival at an international airport through 'Enrollment on Arrival' without an appointment.
For anyone who takes even one international trip a year, Global Entry is the better buy: it costs $35–$45 more than PreCheck over five years and includes it. Many premium credit cards reimburse the fee.
CLEAR Plus
CLEAR is a private company that verifies your identity with fingerprints or an eye scan at a kiosk, then escorts you to the front of the screening line at about 60 US airports. It does not change the screening itself, so it works best combined with PreCheck: CLEAR takes you to the front of the PreCheck lane. CLEAR Plus costs $209 per year (with discounts for some credit-card holders and airline members), and family members can be added for $119 each. It is worth it mainly for frequent flyers at busy hubs such as Atlanta, Denver, Newark and San Francisco, where even the PreCheck line can stretch to 20 minutes at peak times.
REAL ID and what you need at the checkpoint
Since May 7, 2025, TSA has enforced the REAL ID requirement: a driver's license or state ID must be REAL ID-compliant (usually marked with a star) to be accepted at security. A valid passport, passport card, Global Entry card, military ID or permanent resident card also works. Travelers without compliant ID face extra verification, delays and possible denial. None of the trusted-traveler programs replaces this requirement — you still need acceptable ID in the PreCheck lane.
Which to choose
Match the program to how you fly.
- Fly domestically 2+ times a year, never abroad: TSA PreCheck ($77–$85 / 5 years)
- Any international travel: Global Entry ($120 / 5 years, includes PreCheck)
- Frequent flyer through busy hubs: Global Entry + CLEAR Plus ($209 / year)
- Occasional traveler: skip all three and arrive two hours early, or use the free MPC (Mobile Passport Control) app on return to the US
- Families: enroll adults in Global Entry; children under 13 ride along in PreCheck but need their own Global Entry membership ($120 each) for the immigration kiosk
Enrollment tips
Apply for Global Entry three to six months before an international trip; conditional approval can take that long. Use Enrollment on Arrival to finish the interview when you land from abroad. Check whether your credit card reimburses the fee — most premium travel cards do every four to five years. And add your Known Traveler Number to your airline profiles and to every booking, including those made through Air1 Tickets, so PreCheck prints on your boarding pass.
Frequently asked questions
How much does TSA PreCheck cost in 2026?
About $77 to $85 for a five-year membership depending on which enrollment provider you use. Renewals are slightly cheaper online.
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
Yes. Global Entry membership ($120 for five years) includes PreCheck benefits; your PASSID doubles as your Known Traveler Number.
Is CLEAR worth it?
Only if you fly often through large hubs where lines are long even for PreCheck. For most travelers, PreCheck or Global Entry alone is enough.
Written by Air1 Tickets Editorial Team. First published ; fees, rules and prices verified as of the update date above. Airline policies change: always confirm the fare rules shown at checkout for your specific ticket.
