Three programs promise to get you through the airport faster.
Only one combination actually delivers. Here is the 2026 breakdown with current pricing, wait times, and the strategy that saves you the most time per dollar.
The Quick Comparison
TSA PreCheck: $78 for 5 years. Shorter security line. Keep shoes, belt, and laptop in bag.
CLEAR Plus: $189/year. Biometric identity verification. Skips the ID check line entirely.
Global Entry: $100 for 5 years. Includes TSA PreCheck. Adds expedited customs when returning from international trips.
TSA PreCheck: The Baseline
Cost: $78 for 5 years ($15.60/year).
What it does: dedicated security lane with fewer requirements. No removing shoes, belts, light jackets, or laptops. No liquids bag removal. The line moves faster because everyone in it has been pre-vetted.
Average time savings: 10-25 minutes per trip depending on airport and time of day.
Who needs it: anyone flying more than twice a year domestically. At $15.60 per year, the math works after a single trip.
Application process: online application at TSA.gov, then a 10-minute in-person appointment at an enrollment center for fingerprinting. Approval takes 3-5 days for most applicants.
2026 update: TSA now offers renewal entirely online. No second in-person visit required.
CLEAR Plus: The Speed Upgrade
Cost: $189/year (or $149/year with Delta status, free for some credit card holders).
What it does: uses biometric data (fingerprints or iris scan) to verify your identity. Instead of waiting in line to show your ID to a TSA officer, you walk to a CLEAR pod, scan your eyes or fingers, and get escorted to the front of the security screening line.
Average time savings: 5-15 minutes on top of PreCheck, depending on how long the ID verification line is.
The catch: CLEAR does not replace PreCheck. It only skips the ID check portion. You still go through physical screening. Without PreCheck, you still remove shoes and laptops after CLEAR verifies your identity.
The combination that works: CLEAR Plus + PreCheck together. CLEAR skips the ID line. PreCheck gives you the faster physical screening. Combined time savings at a busy airport: 20-40 minutes.
Who needs it: frequent flyers at airports with long PreCheck ID check lines (ATL, DFW, LAX, ORD, DEN). If your airport's PreCheck line is already short, CLEAR adds minimal value.
Available at: 50+ major US airports. Check TSA.gov for the full list.
2026 update: CLEAR expanded to 8 new airports this year including AUS, BNA, and RDU.
Global Entry: The International Traveler's Move
Cost: $100 for 5 years ($20/year). Includes TSA PreCheck at no extra cost.
What it does: everything PreCheck does, plus expedited customs and immigration when returning to the US from international trips. Instead of waiting in the standard customs line (which can run 30-90 minutes at peak times), you use a Global Entry kiosk. Scan passport, answer a few questions on screen, collect your bag, leave.
Average time savings: 15-60 minutes per international return trip.
Who needs it: anyone taking at least one international trip per year. Since it includes PreCheck and costs only $22 more over 5 years, it is the better value for any international traveler.
Application process: online application at CBP.gov, background check (2-4 weeks), then an in-person interview at a Global Entry enrollment center or during "Enrollment on Arrival" after an international flight.
2026 update: interview wait times have improved significantly. Most major airports now offer interviews within 2-3 weeks. Enrollment on Arrival is available at 70+ airports for those who want to skip scheduling entirely.
The Decision Framework
Domestic only, fly 2+ times per year: get TSA PreCheck ($78/5 years).
Any international travel: get Global Entry ($100/5 years, includes PreCheck).
Fly weekly from a busy hub airport: add CLEAR Plus ($189/year) on top of Global Entry.
Fly once or twice a year from a smaller airport: PreCheck alone is plenty. Save the $189.
The Credit Card Angle
Many premium travel cards reimburse the Global Entry or PreCheck fee. The Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, and Citi Prestige all cover the $100 Global Entry application as a statement credit. If you already hold one of these cards, Global Entry is effectively free.
The Bottom Line
Get Global Entry. It costs $22 more than PreCheck over five years, includes PreCheck, and saves you 30+ minutes every time you return from abroad. Add CLEAR only if you fly weekly from a major hub.
Apply at CBP.gov today. Most approvals take under a month.
For more airport strategies, browse our Airport Guides. And if you want to know which airport lounges are worth visiting while you wait, we have you covered there too.