By Press Room
CLEAR offers a bundle package: You can enroll in CLEAR Plus for $121.05 and TSA PreCheck for $77.95. The TSA PreCheck is valid for five years, but the discounted CLEAR Plus membership is good for only a year. The following year the CLEAR Plus membership will renew at $199.
If you travel internationally on a regular basis, Global Entry may have the edge. Applying for Global Entry allows you to expedite the U.S. customs process — which could save you a lot of time when you return to the U.S. Plus, Global Entry gives you access to TSA PreCheck, while CLEAR Plus alone does not.
Global Entry is also available at more airports. Global Entry kiosks can be found at 75 airports in the U.S. and abroad. And since membership includes TSA PreCheck, you get expedited security at more than 200 airports altogether. CLEAR, on the other hand, is available at 59 airports in the U.S. — but depending on where you live and where you travel most, that may be all you need. It also has access to over 15 sports venues.
If you travel with others, CLEAR may have an advantage by making it easy to add people to your account — and it’s easy to cancel if you find you’re not using it. Family members or travel companions have to apply for their own Global Entry memberships, and those under 18 years of age are required to have parental or legal guardianship permission.
Ultimately, these two programs don’t really compete with each other, so frequent flyers who want to minimize the time spent at the airport should consider getting both. Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, travelers who combine Global Entry and CLEAR can save time in three ways:
By confirming their identity more quickly
By clearing the security line more quickly
By passing through U.S. customs more quickly
Many of today’s top travel rewards cards offer credits toward CLEAR or Global Entry as a perk. For example, select American Express credit cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, offer statement credits to cover the cost of your annual CLEAR Plus membership. Delta SkyMiles members and United MileagePlus members can also receive discounted pricing.
Many travel credit cards also offer statement credits to offset the cost of your Global Entry application, including some with annual fees under $100, such as the:
The CLEAR Plus application process is simple, and once approved, you can cancel your membership at any time. To apply, you’ll need to provide:
Basic identifying information, such as a U.S. driver’s license or a U.S. passport
Biometric information, such as an eye scan or a fingerprint
You can complete the entire application in a few minutes at a CLEAR airport kiosk, or you can begin the application online and complete it at the airport.If you only want to use the CLEAR lane at participating stadiums and event venues, you don’t need a full membership. All you have to do is download the free CLEAR app. You can also store your vaccine card in the app for free.
Unlike with Clear, the $120 fee for Global Entry is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied.
Applying for Global Entry is more complicated than applying for Clear. Here are the steps:
Create a Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) account. This will allow you to apply for Global Entry, as well as other TTP programs.
Begin the Global Entry application process online. You’ll have to pay that $120 nonrefundable fee to do so.
After your application is reviewed, complete an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. You’ll need to bring a valid passport and an additional identifying document, such as a driver’s license, to your interview.
You may need to travel a few hours from your home to attend your in-person interview, and it could take months to secure an interview slot. But rather than scheduling an appointment, you might be able to score a walk-in interview next time you arrive back in the U.S. from an international destination.
The Global Entry application process, which includes a background check, can be time-consuming, so make sure to plan your application well in advance of when you hope to use it. At the very least, get your application in ahead of your next international trip so you can perhaps take advantage of a walk-in interview option when you next travel abroad. Once your application is accepted, your membership lasts for five years.
And since your Global Entry membership enables you to participate in TSA PreCheck, you can take advantage of the benefits offered by both Trusted Traveler Programs.
CLEAR and Global Entry are both programs that allow frequent travelers to expedite different security processes. Global Entry is designed for travelers who want to save time when going through U.S. customs, and CLEAR is designed for travelers who want to quickly confirm their identity before beginning the airport (and, in some cases, sports arena) security screening process.
CLEAR Plus is easier to access and cancel, but considerably more expensive than Global Entry. Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck, giving you even more opportunity to save time as you travel. And Global Entry has the edge if you travel abroad.
If you’re considering CLEAR vs. Global Entry, you may want to apply for both, especially if you have a lot of international travel in your future — or better yet, consider getting a top travel credit card that provides statement credits for these programs.
*Information about the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer. The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on February 13, 2025.
If you spend a lot of time in airports, you know how much of a hassle it can be to wait in airport security lines. And if you travel internationally, you know that customs lines often come with even longer waits. CLEAR Plus and Global Entry can help. These membership programs help travelers spend less time waiting in line, giving you more opportunity to enjoy your trip!
However, you may wonder whether CLEAR or Global Entry is better, especially for your travel goals. Each program lightens the load for travelers through a different stage of the security process.
We break down the differences between the two programs, so you can decide which one makes the most sense for you.
CLEAR is a biometric technology company whose services allow members to quickly verify their identity at 59 airports in the United States as well as at some event venues, such as Madison Square Garden. CLEAR is used for event venues, while CLEAR Plus is used at airports. At airports, CLEAR Plus uses facial recognition, fingerprinting and/or eye scans to clear members’ identification at security. Unless you purchase the bundle package that includes TSA PreCheck®, you will still need to proceed to the regular TSA security line for carry-on luggage and bodily security checks however.
Global Entry is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and allows pre-approved members traveling intentionally to expedite U.S. customs clearance upon arrival in the U.S. Members use processing technology at airport kiosks to scan their passport, complete customs declarations and questions and have their photo taken to help bypass typically long lines at customs. Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck.
CLEAR and Global Entry have different objectives. Global Entry is aimed to expedite U.S. customs clearance for international travel, while CLEAR Plus does not include any expedited customs security checks.
With CLEAR Plus, you use biometric security pods to scan your boarding pass and quickly confirm your identity through an eye scan or fingerprint match. Once verified, a CLEAR ambassador escorts you to the airport baggage and physical security screening line. You can use CLEAR Plus to help you get through the first part of security whether it’s for an international or domestic flight, and you can find CLEAR Plus lanes at TSA checkpoints.
With Global Entry, on the other hand, you can quickly move through U.S. customs after arriving via overseas flights. With Global Entry membership, you can verify your identity at designated Global Entry kiosks near customs as well as complete customs declaration forms. Like CLEAR Plus, Global Entry uses biometric screening. Unlike CLEAR Plus, TSA PreCheck® is included, which expedites baggage and physical security at airports domestically.
Here are the biggest differences between CLEAR Plus and Global Entry:
| CLEAR Plus | Global Entry | |
| How is this program run? | By a private company authorized for use in airports | As a federal Trusted Traveler Program offered through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| When is this program used? | Before you go through airport security for your departure | After your arrival into the U.S. while you navigate U.S. Customs |
| How much does this program cost? | $199 with the option to add up to three adults to your account for $119 per person (children under 18 years old can accompany a CLEAR member free of charge – no account needed) | $120 as a nonrefundable application fee (free membership for children under 18 years old if a parent or guardian is a member or applying for membership) |
|
How long does membership last? Does it include TSA PreCheck? |
1 year No, but you can add it as part of a discounted bundle package |
5 years Yes |
To put the cost differences in perspective, a family of four with two adults and two children under 18 years old would pay up to $318 annually for a CLEAR Plus membership but $240 every five years for a Global Entry membership (that’s about $48 per year).
CLEAR Plus and Global Entry offer different benefits, and each may suit your situation better than for someone else. Here’s a breakdown of those benefits:
If you travel internationally on a regular basis, Global Entry may have the edge. Applying for Global Entry allows you to expedite the U.S. customs process — which could save you a lot of time when you return to the U.S. Plus, Global Entry gives you access to TSA PreCheck, while CLEAR Plus alone does not.
Global Entry is also available at more airports. Global Entry kiosks can be found at 75 airports in the U.S. and abroad. And since membership includes TSA PreCheck, you get expedited security at more than 200 airports altogether. CLEAR, on the other hand, is available at 59 airports in the U.S. — but depending on where you live and where you travel most, that may be all you need. It also has access to over 15 sports venues.
If you travel with others, CLEAR may have an advantage by making it easy to add people to your account — and it’s easy to cancel if you find you’re not using it. Family members or travel companions have to apply for their own Global Entry memberships, and those under 18 years of age are required to have parental or legal guardianship permission.
Ultimately, these two programs don’t really compete with each other, so frequent flyers who want to minimize the time spent at the airport should consider getting both. Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, travelers who combine Global Entry and CLEAR can save time in three ways:
By confirming their identity more quickly
By clearing the security line more quickly
By passing through U.S. customs more quickly
Many of today’s top travel rewards cards offer credits toward CLEAR or Global Entry as a perk. For example, select American Express credit cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, offer statement credits to cover the cost of your annual CLEAR Plus membership. Delta SkyMiles members and United MileagePlus members can also receive discounted pricing.
Many travel credit cards also offer statement credits to offset the cost of your Global Entry application, including some with annual fees under $100, such as the:
The CLEAR Plus application process is simple, and once approved, you can cancel your membership at any time. To apply, you’ll need to provide:
Basic identifying information, such as a U.S. driver’s license or a U.S. passport
Biometric information, such as an eye scan or a fingerprint
You can complete the entire application in a few minutes at a CLEAR airport kiosk, or you can begin the application online and complete it at the airport.If you only want to use the CLEAR lane at participating stadiums and event venues, you don’t need a full membership. All you have to do is download the free CLEAR app. You can also store your vaccine card in the app for free.
Unlike with Clear, the $120 fee for Global Entry is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied.
Applying for Global Entry is more complicated than applying for Clear. Here are the steps:
Create a Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) account. This will allow you to apply for Global Entry, as well as other TTP programs.
Begin the Global Entry application process online. You’ll have to pay that $120 nonrefundable fee to do so.
After your application is reviewed, complete an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. You’ll need to bring a valid passport and an additional identifying document, such as a driver’s license, to your interview.
You may need to travel a few hours from your home to attend your in-person interview, and it could take months to secure an interview slot. But rather than scheduling an appointment, you might be able to score a walk-in interview next time you arrive back in the U.S. from an international destination.
The Global Entry application process, which includes a background check, can be time-consuming, so make sure to plan your application well in advance of when you hope to use it. At the very least, get your application in ahead of your next international trip so you can perhaps take advantage of a walk-in interview option when you next travel abroad. Once your application is accepted, your membership lasts for five years.
And since your Global Entry membership enables you to participate in TSA PreCheck, you can take advantage of the benefits offered by both Trusted Traveler Programs.
CLEAR and Global Entry are both programs that allow frequent travelers to expedite different security processes. Global Entry is designed for travelers who want to save time when going through U.S. customs, and CLEAR is designed for travelers who want to quickly confirm their identity before beginning the airport (and, in some cases, sports arena) security screening process.
CLEAR Plus is easier to access and cancel, but considerably more expensive than Global Entry. Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck, giving you even more opportunity to save time as you travel. And Global Entry has the edge if you travel abroad.
If you’re considering CLEAR vs. Global Entry, you may want to apply for both, especially if you have a lot of international travel in your future — or better yet, consider getting a top travel credit card that provides statement credits for these programs.
*Information about the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer. The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on February 13, 2025.
