You may be planning one or more trips this year, after spending more time at home over the past two years. But who wants to start a vacation — particularly a well-earned trip after all of the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic — by standing in a long line at the airport?

If you’re fully vaccinated and ready to start traveling again, there are three programs — TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear — that can help you get through airport security faster.

Before you book your next vacation, keep reading to learn about TSA PreCheck versus Global Entry versus Clear, the costs, application process and benefits of each, plus how you can get them for free.

The choices and opinions below are based on independent testing by our editors, based on their travel experiences before the pandemic, who hope to once again attend product announcements, trade shows and conventions in person — in addition to traveling for pleasure. It’s a big world out there!

Our recommendations

Detailed examinations of the services follow, but here’s the express version of TSA PreCheck versus Global Entry versus Clear.

Global Entry is the best overall option. One CNET writer once called it «the best $100 I ever spent» — and the first time you use it, you’ll agree. Global Entry folds in all of the advantages of TSA Pre — much faster and less invasive TSA security checks — and adds an express line through customs and immigration on your way back to the US from international airports and destinations. If you have a passport, this is the one to get.

TSA Pre is the best option if you don’t have a passport. If you only travel domestically, TSA Pre will make flying a far less onerous process. But if you take even one international trip or head to one international airport in the next five years, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t pay the extra $15 for Global Entry.

We don’t recommend Clear at its current price. The base price of Clear feels prohibitive unless you are a frequent flyer, particularly a Delta or United frequent flyer. It’s almost $200 a year, versus just $20 per year for Global Entry. And that application fee doesn’t buy you the quicker TSA PreCheck security check, so you’re probably still going to want to invest in Global Entry or TSA Pre as well anyway. Delta and United Airlines frequent flyers can get a discount, but Clear just doesn’t seem to be worth it for most travelers planning to take only a trip or two a year. However…

Clear Sports is worthwhile for sports fans and concertgoers in select cities. No, this doesn’t really have anything to do with airports or traveling. But Clear Sports, the free tier of Clear, will give you expedited entry into 14 stadiums around the country, which could be a huge time-saver for season ticket holders who attend many games each year. If you live in one of the cities in which it’s offered — and you’re OK with the company Clear having your biometric data — this free service is worth checking out. Clear has another free service called Health Pass that works as a vaccine passport, letting you gain entry into venues that require proof of vaccination.

And, as you might suspect: If you’re a real stickler for privacy, you might want to skip all of these services.

Want a deeper dive into each of these? Read on.

TSA PreCheck

With more than 7 million members, TSA PreCheck is the most popular of the expedited airport security screening programs. It’s run by the Transportation Security Administration and lets you use special TSA PreCheck security lines at the airport instead of fighting your way through the main security lines with everyone else. In addition to the shorter security lines, the screening itself is expedited because you don’t need to remove your shoes or laptop, among other items, when going through a TSA PreCheck checkpoint. According to the TSA, 92% of TSA PreCheck members waited less than 5 minutes for screening this past May.

Who’s it for?

Any frequent flyer within the US. To be eligible, you need to be a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident. Also, TSA PreCheck members’ kids 12 and under can go through the TSA PreCheck line with their parents.

What does it do?

Not only will the line at the TSA PreCheck likely be shorter than what you’ll encounter at the regular airport security checkpoint, but you’ll go through more quickly because you won’t need to remove your shoes, belt or light jacket, or take out your laptop or liquids.

Where can I use it?

At more than 200 participating US airports and 80 participating airlines across the US.

What’s the cost?

TSA PreCheck costs $85 for five years. You can pay for your PreCheck application with a credit card, debit card, money order, company check or certified/cashier’s check. Renewing your TSA PreCheck after your first five years costs only $70 for another five years if you renew online.

How do I apply?

It’s a two-step process:

1. Fill out an online TSA PreCheck application and schedule an in-person appointment for a background check. There are more than 380 enrollment centers for the in-person interview. Unlike the early years of the program, they’re not all located in airports anymore, either.

2. Go to the appointment to answer questions for the background check and get fingerprinted.

The TSA estimates the online application will take 5 minutes to fill out, and the in-person appointment will take 10 minutes.

How does it work?

Once you’ve been approved and paid your $85, you’ll get a Known Traveler Number. When you book a flight, you must add your KTN to your reservation, which will allow you to use the TSA PreCheck lane at the airport.

Global Entry

Global Entry is a no-brainer if you like the idea of TSA PreCheck and travel internationally. Run by the US Customs and Border Protection, this program includes free TSA PreCheck and in addition lets you get through customs more quickly when entering the US from travel abroad.

Who’s it for?

International travelers going by air, land or sea. To be eligible, you need to be a US citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a citizen of the following countries: Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan or the UK. Kids will need their own Global Entry membership at the same cost as adults.

What does it do?

It lets you skip the long line at customs as well as the paperwork and awkward interviews with a customs agent when returning to the US. In place of that unpleasant process, Global Entry members can skip through customs by using a self-serve kiosk. And on exit from the US, Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck to get you through airport security faster.

Where can I use it?

You can use Global Entry at dozens of airports in the US, including Guam, Saipan and Puerto Rico. It’s also available in some major Canadian airports (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg) as well as a handful of other international airports (Abu Dhabi, Aruba, Bermuda, Dublin, Grand Bahamas, Nassau). Again, that’s in addition to the advantages of a full TSA Pre membership, which you can use at over 200 domestic US airports.

What’s the cost?

Global Entry costs $100 for five years — only $3 more per year than TSA PreCheck. You can pay by credit card or through an electronic bank transfer.

How do I apply?

Similar to TSA PreCheck, you need to fill out an online application. Start by creating a Trusted Traveler Program account. Then, complete the application for Global Entry (which includes the nonrefundable $100 fee). Once you’re conditionally accepted, schedule an in-person appointment at an enrollment center and pass a background check. For your in-person interview, you will need a valid passport and one other form of identification such as a driver’s license or ID card. Lawful permanent residents must present their machine readable permanent resident card.

How does it work?

There is no additional paperwork needed beyond your US passport. Once you’re accepted, just look for the dedicated Global Entry kiosks at customs when entering the US at participating airports. The ATM-style kiosk snaps a photo and asks you about five of the same sort of questions you’d get on hand-written immigration forms (are you bringing in fruit, are you carrying $10,000 in cash) that you answer on the touchscreen. If the answers to those questions is no, you can hand off the printed receipt to an immigration officer as he or she checks your passport. You can be on your way to the luggage carousels in as little as 2 minutes.

You will also get a Global Entry ID card, but that’s only needed for land and sea port entry from Mexico or Canada. (If you’re not familiar with the SENTRI and NEXUS programs related to crossing to and from those respective countries, you probably don’t need to worry about this.)

Clear

Unlike TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, Clear is run by a private company and not the government. It lets you jump right to the front of the main security line or the TSA PreCheck line at the airport. Instead of waiting in line to show your ID and boarding pass to the TSA agent, you can scan your eye and fingerprint at a Clear kiosk and then be escorted directly to the front of the security line.

You still may want to use it along with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry because it only lets you skip the line — you’ll still need to remove your shoes, belt, laptops and liquids when you go through security, unless you also enjoy TSA PreCheck benefits.

Who’s it for?

Air travelers who hate long lines and are willing and able to scan their eyes and fingers. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and have one of these types of photo ID: US driver’s license, US passport, US passport card, US-issued Permanent Resident Card, state-issued ID or US military ID.

What does it do?

Clear lets you skip the airport security line, but you’ll still need to go through the regular security screening. It saves you from needing to present your ID and boarding pass to a TSA agent after standing in the security line to do so. Instead, you can use a Clear kiosk to scan your iris and fingerprints, and then a Clear employee escorts you directly to the front of the line for security screening. You’ll need to take off your shoes and belt and remove your laptop and liquids from your carry-on for screening, unless you also have TSA PreCheck to expedite the screening and boarding process.

Where can I use it?

Clear isn’t as widespread as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. It’s available in a select number of airports as well as a handful of stadiums to get you through security and to the game or concert faster.

What’s the cost?

Clear is pricier than TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. It has an annual fee of $179 per year, and you can add up to three family members for $50 each per year. Kids under 18 can use the Clear kiosk when traveling with a Clear family member.

Clear is the priciest of the three programs, but it’s the only one that offers a free trial. You can try the service free for two months.

Delta and United frequent flyers can get a deal on Clear. For Delta, it’s free for Diamond Medallion members, $109 a year for Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members, and $119 a year for General SkyMiles members. For United, it’s free for Premier 1K members, $109 a year for United credit cardmembers in the US and Platinum, Gold and Silver Premier members. And it’s $119 a year for MileagePlus members.

What is Clear Sports?

For stadium entry only, a Clear Sports membership is free and lets you bring one guest with you through the Clear security lane.

How do I apply?

Clear is the most expensive but easiest to join. You fill out an application online and then finish the process at an airport or stadium that offers Clear. No need for a separate trip to an enrollment center — you can start using Clear on the same day you enroll.

How does it work?

Your iris and fingerprints are scanned when you enroll and linked to your account. You can then use those biometrics to zip through the Clear lane at an airport or stadium instead of the regular security line. With the Health Pass, you can add a digital vaccine card to prove your vaccination credentials.

Security and privacy concerns

Global Entry and TSA Pre are US government programs, while Clear is a private corporation. But if you use any of the services, you’ll be surrendering quite a lot of personal information, including fingerprints — and your face.

In the case of Clear, the company’s website says: «We never sell or rent personal information. Personal information is only used to deliver a frictionless and secure experience with Clear.»

For Global Entry and TSA Pre, you’re surrendering that information to the federal government. That gives many people pause, especially since the government has shown it’s no better than corporations at keeping data safe. From the SolarWinds breach to the US Treasury and Commerce departments getting hacked, the feds already have a pretty dismal reputation. And US Customs and Border Protection — the very agency that administers Global Entry — has admitted that traveler photos were compromised in a cyberattack.

So, yes: None of these systems will be comfortable for folks who value privacy. And if any of that makes you uncomfortable, none of these services are for you. But while arguing for a higher level of travelers’ rights is a worthy debate, it’s not going to get you through the security line or boarding any faster for your next flight. For better or worse, increased convenience will mean sacrificing some degree of privacy, at least to the airlines, the governments of the nations you’re traveling through and their various subcontractors.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.