TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR: Which Is Better?
-
Written by
Jon Nickel-D'Andrea
-
Edited by
Jasmin Baron
No one likes waiting around in the airport any longer than necessary. Luckily, Trusted Traveler Programs such as TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry and CLEAR® Plus make that journey shorter and easier by allowing members to bypass long airport security lines.
When deciding between TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR, knowing what each offers can help you understand which program (or programs) suit your travel habits best. You may also have a travel credit card that will reimburse your program application fee and save you money.
We’ll give you a rundown of how TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR Plus work — and show you which cards can help you join for no cost — so you can make an informed decision about what’s right for you.
Side-By-Side Comparison: TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | CLEAR+ | |
| Cost | New enrollment: Starting at $76.75 Renewal: Starting at $58.75 | $120 (includes TSA PreCheck) | $199 |
| Approval Time | Typically a few days, potentially weeks | Weeks, potentially months | Minutes |
| Number of Airports | 200+ airports | 75+ airports | 55+ airports |
| Validity Period | Five years | Five years | One year |
What Is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is an expedited security system at nearly every major U.S. airport that allows members to join shorter, dedicated lines and bypass the winding rows of beleaguered travelers. With TSA PreCheck, you can leave items like laptops in your bag, and even keep your shoes, belt and light jacket on (a huge time saver).
If you’ve got little ones under the age of 12, they’re able to go through the line with you without having their own TSA PreCheck membership. Typically, when my husband and I travel, we can get through security and to the airport lounge or gate in under 15 minutes.
To apply for TSA PreCheck, you’ll need to be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, pass a background check, and submit biometric data. Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI members, including citizens of partner countries like Canada, also receive TSA PreCheck privileges.
Credit Cards That Offer TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck application fee credits have become a staple in the premium credit card space, and a large number of cards offer this benefit, usually once every four years. When you use your card to pay for your TSA PreCheck application fee, you’ll automatically be reimbursed, up to a set amount, as a statement credit.
Consumer credit cards that offer a TSA PreCheck credit include:
- Aeroplan® Credit Card
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Centurion® Card from American Express**
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (an advertising partner)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (an advertising partner)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Navy Federal Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card
- One Key+™ Card
- PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (an advertising partner)
- The New United Club℠ Card
- The New United℠ Explorer Card
- The New United Quest℠ Card
- USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
**All information about the Centurion® Card from American Express**, One Key+™ Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, The New United Club℠ Card, The New United℠ Explorer Card, and The New United Quest℠ Card have been collected independently by CardCritics™.
What Is Global Entry?
For those returning to the U.S. from abroad, there’s nothing worse than seeing a massive line of tourists waiting to clear customs and realizing that you’re about to be one of them. Global Entry gets you expedited entry after landing in the U.S. or at one of the overseas pre-clearance facilities.
As a Global Entry member, instead of waiting in an hours-long line, you can head up to a kiosk, scan your passport or use biometrics, and speed through the rest of the process. Simply let the officer know if you’ve got anything to declare and as long as they don’t have further questions, you’ll be on your way to baggage claim. Since we travel so frequently with a carry-on, this means that we’re off the plane and in the Uber many times in under 20 minutes.
Global Entry requirements are a little bit more stringent than TSA PreCheck. You’ll have to go through a deeper background check and conduct an in-person interview before being accepted. If you decide to sign up for Global Entry (non-refundable $120 application fee), you’ll get TSA PreCheck benefits for no additional cost, so there’s no need to enroll in both programs.
Now that you’re required to have a REAL ID to travel, the Global Entry card is one of the accepted documents that you can use if your driver’s license isn’t Real ID compliant. Consider bringing this with you as well to avoid headaches at the airport security lines.
As a side note, NEXUS, a Trusted Traveler Program for those traveling between Canada and the United States, offers the ability to use Global Entry kiosks at select airports when returning to the U.S., in addition to getting expedited entry into Canada. The application fee is also $120, but you’ll have to interview with both U.S. and Canadian officials before you’re approved.
A few cards reimburse the NEXUS application fee, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve and a handful of other premium Chase credit cards.
Credit Cards That Offer Global Entry
Most cards that offer a TSA PreCheck credit also reimburse the Global Entry application fee, though you can’t double-dip and receive twice the credit if you apply for both programs. All of the cards in the previous list, including the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture Card, Capital One Venture X and Amex Platinum, offer a Global Entry application fee credit.
Again, you’ll need to charge the application fee to your card, and the credit will usually appear on your statement in one or two billing cycles.
What Is CLEAR?
If you’re tired of having to take your ID out every time you head through the security line, CLEAR Plus is the perfect program for you. It’s an annual subscription program that uses either fingerprints or eye scans to verify your identity and get you through security even faster.
Most airports that use CLEAR Plus have a TSA PreCheck line and a regular line option. This means that if you have CLEAR Plus and TSA PreCheck, you can move even faster through the lines. Once you pass the checks at the CLEAR Plus kiosk, a CLEAR ambassador will escort you to the front of the line and scan their device with TSA to show them you’ve been cleared. The TSA agent will either ask you to take a picture or check your boarding pass, and you can proceed through security as normal afterward.
No appointments are necessary to sign up for CLEAR, as you can do it in as quickly as 15 minutes once you get to the airport. If you do enroll at the airport, very often there will be a special promotion to give you a couple of months free while you try out the service.
CLEAR doesn’t stop at airports, as it’s expanding its reach to sporting events as well. Recently, I was at a game at Lumen Field in Seattle and used the special CLEAR entrance to pass through security and avoid the long entrance lines.
Credit Cards That Offer CLEAR
Not as many cards offer CLEAR Plus application fee credits. If you charge your CLEAR Plus membership to one of these cards, you’ll get a statement credit of up to $199 within one or two billing cycles:
- Amex Platinum
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- American Express® Green Card**
- Centurion Card (up to $369 per year)
**All information about the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and American Express® Green Card** have been collected independently by CardCritics™
Some credit cards offer a discounted CLEAR Plus membership to cardholders, as well. For example, if you have an Amex Delta credit card, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (an advertising partner), Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve, you can get $40 off an annual membership ($159 instead of $199).
Pro tip: Don’t sign up for a family plan if you have more than one of these credit cards, as the credit won’t cover the entire enrollment fee. Instead, you can use different cards to pay for individual memberships to offset more of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR
Can I get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR for free?
While technically not free, the credits offered by many cards can offset the application fee for one or more of these programs. For example, the Amex Platinum comes with a CLEAR Plus credit of up to $199 every year, and a credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every four and a half years). Since TSA PreCheck benefits are included with Global Entry, this single credit card can take care of all of the application fees.
Do I need to have both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR?
While it’s OK to have one or the other, having both means that you get an even faster experience. TSA PreCheck lines can be long during peak periods, and having CLEAR Plus means that you cut to the front of that line as well. On top of that, CLEAR isn’t available at the same number of airports as TSA PreCheck, meaning that you might not be able to use both at all locations.
Which is better, NEXUS or Global Entry?
Global Entry is useful for those who are flying internationally and also want to take advantage of a TSA PreCheck membership. NEXUS comes with similar benefits, but also grants expedited entry into Canada, so it’s most useful for folks who cross between Canada and the U.S. frequently. Consider your own travel habits to know which is better for you.
Why can you be turned down for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
There are lots of reasons that you might fail a background check or have your access revoked. Some of the reasons are obvious, like assaulting an airline employee or bringing guns or explosives through security checkpoints. Other criminal offenses may also disqualify you from TSA PreCheck and/or Global Entry. Keep in mind that you will have to go through another check every few years, so your access could be limited at any time if your situation changes.
Does TSA PreCheck work for international flights?
Yes, so long as you are departing a U.S airport that has TSA PreCheck and are flying on an eligible airline. Most major airlines participate in TSA PreCheck.
