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TSA PreCheck vs. CLEAR+: What to Know
TSA PreCheck speeds up the personal screening portion of airport security and is more widely available than CLEAR+.
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Updated · 6 min read
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Lead Writer TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+ can both get you through airport security faster. But which is better?
Here’s a look at the benefits, requirements and price of TSA PreCheck versus CLEAR+ to help you decide which will work best for you — and whether you should get both. Plus, learn all the ways you can get one (or both) on certain credit cards.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Under a new partnership between the Transportation Security Administration and CLEAR+, you can apply for TSA PreCheck at a participating CLEAR+ enrollment location without an appointment. Submit your application online first, then finish the process at a CLEAR+ kiosk at a participating airport. CLEAR+ will submit your TSA PreCheck application on your behalf; expect to hear back in three to five days. The difference between CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck
Here are three main differences between CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck:
- Bypassing security vs. shortening the wait. TSA PreCheck allows you to go through a shorter security line and undergo less strict screening requirements (i.e. don’t need to take off shoes). CLEAR+ allows you to skip the security line completely because instead of waiting in line, you approach a CLEAR kiosk where your ID and boarding pass are verified through biometric technology. Once that quick process is complete, a CLEAR agent escorts you right to the front of security. No waiting required.
- Cost. TSA PreCheck costs $77.95 (when applying through CLEAR+), $78 (when applying through Idemia) or $85 (when applying through Telos) for five years while CLEAR+ costs $209 per year. Apply for both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+ as a bundle (only available at certain airports) and the whole package will cost $209, with CLEAR+ membership only lasting one year, but PreCheck lasting for the full five.
- Organization type. CLEAR+ is owned by a private company while TSA PreCheck is a government program.
One program doesn’t replace the other. They are complementary to one another.
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+ aren’t available at every airport, so many frequent travelers find it best to have memberships to both. This improves the odds of faster and smoother airport experiences.
There are many credit cards that completely cover the cost of both programs, allowing you to pay nothing out of pocket for both benefits.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards might surprise you
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What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck, managed by the Transportation Security Administration, is available to low-risk travelers who undergo an advanced screening process. Open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents, this includes a background check to determine eligibility for passing through airport security without having to follow certain protocols.
Examples include removing your shoes and belt, taking out liquids or electronics (like laptop computers), and taking off outer garments, like a light jacket.
How does TSA PreCheck work?
Once you’re approved for TSA PreCheck, you’re issued a Known Traveler Number, which you provide to your airline by storing it in your frequent flyer account or entering it into your reservation. Your boarding passes will henceforth include a TSA PreCheck designation that authorizes you to use an expedited security screening lane in more than 200 domestic airports. More than 90 domestic and international airlines participate in the program.
TSA PreCheck members pass through a traditional metal detector rather than a full-body scanner (which some people find invasive). And you’ll usually get through security much faster: According to the TSA, about 99% of PreCheck-eligible passengers waited 10 minutes or less.
TSA doesn't guarantee expedited screening with PreCheck. Occasionally, you may have to go through a random secondary check of your bags by security personnel.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If the TSA PreCheck designation doesn't appear on your boarding pass, you can ask an airline agent to reenter your information. This usually fixes the problem, and an agent can reprint your boarding pass. Get more advice on adding PreCheck to your airline ticket. » Learn more: Skip long lines at the airport — without spending a dime
How to apply for TSA PreCheck
U.S. citizens and foreign citizens who meet particular residency requirements are eligible to apply online and pay the $78 fee when paid for through provider Idemia (good for five years and easy to renew online for $70 per renewal after five years). If you apply through provider Telos, the initial application fee is $85. After applying online and receiving conditional approval, your final application step is to visit an enrollment center for a brief interview.
If you'd like to skip the enrollment center, you can apply for TSA PreCheck online through CLEAR+ (whether on its own or as a package with CLEAR+) and complete your application at a CLEAR+ kiosk in an airport currently supporting this service.
Families with children under 12 can also apply, but if you travel with them, they can also access the TSA PreCheck line with you without paying to be a member. Children 13-17 years old can also accompany TSA PreCheck member parents/guardians but must have the TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass to do so.
» Learn more: A guide to TSA PreCheck with family
What is CLEAR+ at the airport?
Using facial identification technology (rather than manually checking photo identification), CLEAR+ machines allow flyers to bypass long security queues and get to a TSA screening point faster.
CLEAR+ does not include the membership features of TSA PreCheck, however.
After passing through a CLEAR+ kiosk, if you have PreCheck, you can go directly to the PreCheck lane (ahead of other passengers waiting in line); if not, you must use the regular screening line (also ahead of other passengers waiting in line).
The real benefit of CLEAR+ is saving time.
This means that if you value not having to remove shoes, electronics, liquids and outerwear, you will also want to apply for TSA PreCheck. If you only want to bypass the line, but don't mind removing items and passing through a body scanner, then CLEAR+ may be worth it on its own.
Unlike TSA PreCheck, CLEAR+ is only available at a few dozen domestic airports. Members use a faster line to scan their fingerprint or iris before moving directly to the security lane. Clear is also available at other venues that require lining up for a security check, like stadiums.
As an added perk, CLEAR+ membership will also get you complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status with Avis' loyalty program. Avis Preferred Plus status includes perks like:
- A free, single-car class upgrade upon availability.
- The ability to earn additional bonus points on each rental.
- Access to exclusive offers and promotional discounts.
You would typically need to spend $4,000 on qualifying Avis purchases or complete 10 rentals in a calendar year to qualify for Avis Preferred Plus.
How to apply for CLEAR+
You can apply for CLEAR+ online or at an airport CLEAR+ kiosk by showing valid government-issued identification. Unlike TSA PreCheck, there is no background check needed to apply for CLEAR+, although you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident 18 or older.
CLEAR+ costs $209 for an annual membership (auto-renewals are possible and do not require any additional verification), and members can add up to three family members for an additional $60 per person. Children under 18 can use a CLEAR+ lane for free if they are traveling with a CLEAR+ member.
If you are a Delta Diamond Medallion member, you get an annual membership free of charge. Other Delta Air Lines and United Airlines elite members get a discount, as well as cardholders of co-branded cards with both airlines.
Credit cards with TSA PreCheck
A number of popular travel credit cards reimburse you for the application fee for Trusted Traveler Programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. (A TSA PreCheck fee waiver is also available as an optional reward for Platinum members of the Orbitz Rewards program.)
Among those cards:
Cards with TSA PreCheck
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$795.
TSA PreCheck Benefit
Statement credit of up to $120 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS to the card. Available once every 4 years.
Statement credit of up to $120 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS to the card. Available once every 4 years.
Learn more
Here's a closer look, for example, at how the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s TSA PreCheck benefit works.
How to get credit card reimbursement
If your credit card offers reimbursement for the application fee for programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you must pay the fee with the card. You cannot submit a claim for reimbursement if you paid with some other method. Reimbursement will usually appear as a statement credit in your account within two months.
Cards typically offer reimbursement of only one fee once every four to five years. Check the terms and conditions of your card for the specific rules that apply. Note also that these cards only reimburse the application fee for a trusted traveler program. They don't automatically enroll you in the program or guarantee that you'll be accepted by the program. You still have to apply and go through the required screening, which in the case of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry includes an in-person appointment.
Cards that reimburse TSA PreCheck® fees
Terms apply.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you have been approved for Global Entry, you do not need to apply separately for TSA PreCheck. It comes automatically with Global Entry, so do not double pay. If you travel internationally often, applying for Global Entry would make more sense, but if you are a mostly domestic traveler, you should stick to TSA PreCheck as the application process is simpler.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards
Credit cards with CLEAR+ membership
Several cards will reimburse you if you pay for CLEAR+ membership with the card. This includes the American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Each offers a statement credit per year that covers the cost of purchasing CLEAR+ access.
| GENERAL TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS | ANNUAL FEE | HOW OFTEN DOES THE CREDIT RENEW? |
|---|---|---|
| $895. | Annual credit when paying for a CLEAR+ membership. Terms apply. | |
| $895. | Annual credit when paying for a CLEAR+ membership. Terms apply. |
Is CLEAR+ better than PreCheck?
Since TSA PreCheck is available at more airports and provides expedited security wait times, as well as an easier screening process, TSA PreCheck is better than
CLEAR+ if you want to only get one. Those with CLEAR+ membership only have access to faster security lanes. Without TSA PreCheck, CLEAR+ members must still remove electronics, liquids and outerwear.
But the choice of TSA PreCheck versus CLEAR+ doesn't have to be an either-or proposition. Many TSA PreCheck members value having CLEAR+, as it further expedites moving ahead of the occasionally long TSA PreCheck lane in dozens of airports.
Still, TSA PreCheck remains the best way to make your way airside without wasting time in lines.
The only real upside to having CLEAR+ alone, without TSA PreCheck, is if you plan to use it exclusively at stadiums, where it will get you to the front of the line faster.
Not all U.S. citizens will be approved for TSA PreCheck for various reasons, including problems with a background check. If that’s you, CLEAR+ alone can be worthwhile if you fly regularly from an airport that has CLEAR+ lanes.
» Learn more: How Known Traveler Numbers work
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. CLEAR+
Many travelers learning the differences between TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+ often have questions about another popular Trusted Traveler program, Global Entry. Here is a closer look at TSA PreCheck versus Global Entry versus CLEAR+.
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | CLEAR+® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of locations | 200+ airports. | 77 airports. | 88 locations: 72 airports and 16 stadiums. |
| Membership length | 5 years. | 5 years. | 1 year. |
| Cost | $76.75 - $85 ($58.75 - $70 online renewal), depending on application servicer. | $120. | $209 annually |
| Value proposition | Faster security lanes. Screening conveniences, such as no need to take off belts, electronics and liquids can be left in bags. | Expedited immigration. Preclearance available at some international locations. Includes TSA PreCheck. | No wait ahead of security at multiple venues, ranging from airports to arenas. Hertz Fast Lane access. |
| Flaws, but not dealbreakers | Sometimes TSA PreCheck lines can be longer. | Requires fingerprinting and background check. | High cost. Doesn't include the screening conveniences of TSA PreCheck. |
Final thoughts on choosing CLEAR+ or TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck is the best option for frequent travelers. If you can apply for and afford both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR+ (especially as part of the cheaper bundled product), you are even better off. Why waste time in line when you can be on your way to the gate or a comfortable airport lounge?
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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