TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR vs Global Entry: Which Should You Get?

What each program actually does

TSA PreCheck

• Where: US airport security screening only.
• What: Shorter line, no shoes/belt/laptop removal, no quart bag for liquids.
• Cost: $77.95 for 5 years. Often reimbursed by travel credit cards.

CLEAR

• Where: US airport security and some stadiums.
• What: Skips the ID-check portion of the security line via biometrics. Doesn't replace screening.
• Cost: $189/year (frequent discounts via airline status).

Global Entry

• Where: US customs/immigration on inbound international flights.
• What: Includes TSA PreCheck. Skips the inbound passport line via kiosk or facial-recognition lane.
• Cost: $120 for 5 years. Many cards reimburse.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

• Where: Inbound US international arrivals.
• What: A free app from CBP that lets you skip the regular passport line at participating airports.
• Cost: Free.

How to choose

• Travel internationally even once a year? Get Global Entry. It includes PreCheck for free, and at $24/year it's the best deal in travel.
• Fly mostly domestic and value time at security? Just get TSA PreCheck if you don't qualify for Global Entry.
• Connect through a busy hub like ATL, ORD, or LAX often? Add CLEAR on top of PreCheck — the savings stack.
• Don't want to pay for anything? Use Mobile Passport Control for inbound trips. It's free and surprisingly fast.

Practical tips

• Apply for Global Entry early. Interviews can take months. You can also do enrollment-on-arrival at most US international airports.
• PreCheck is per traveler. Kids 17 and under can use the line with a PreCheck-enrolled parent.
• Check that your airline ticket has your KTN. No KTN means no PreCheck on the boarding pass.

Once you're past security, pin your flight in FlightyFlow so you don't have to refresh the airline app every five minutes.