Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: Global Entry includes PreCheck

The short answer: who should pick which

Start with where you fly. Both programs give you the faster security lane in the U.S.; only one of them also speeds the customs line when you come home.

• Pick Global Entry if you fly abroad even once every few years. It includes PreCheck and clears you through customs fast on the way back.
• Pick TSA PreCheck if you only fly inside the U.S. You save a few dollars and still skip the regular security line.
• Add CLEAR on top of either only if your home airport runs long lines and you want to reach the scanner first. It is a separate, pricier membership.

What each program actually does

TSA PreCheck speeds the security checkpoint before your flight. Global Entry does the same and adds a fast path through customs when you re-enter the U.S. — you skip the paper form and the long line, and use a kiosk or the app instead. Here is the side-by-side.

Cost: is Global Entry worth the extra money?

For most people who leave the country, yes. Global Entry is $120 for five years — about $24 a year. TSA PreCheck runs roughly $77 to $85 for the same five years, depending on which enrollment provider you use. That is a difference of only about $8 a year, and it buys you the faster customs line every time you fly home.

• New PreCheck: about $76.75 to $85 for five years, by provider. Renewals cost a bit less.
• New Global Entry: $120 for five years, with PreCheck built in.
• Check your wallet first: many travel credit cards refund the application fee every few years, so you may pay nothing out of pocket.
• Pick your provider: PreCheck enrollment runs through IDEMIA, CLEAR, or Telos at slightly different prices, so book the cheapest one with a location near you.

Where CLEAR fits in

CLEAR is a different kind of pass. It does not replace PreCheck or Global Entry — it uses your eyes or fingerprints to walk you to the front of the line, and then you still go through the scanner. CLEAR Plus costs about $209 a year, far more than either trusted-traveler program. It can help at a handful of very busy airports, but most flyers do fine with PreCheck alone. For a closer look, read our guide to TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR, or compare all three in our PreCheck vs CLEAR vs Global Entry guide.

How to apply — and how to get the fee back

Both programs follow the same path: apply online, book a short in-person visit, then add your number to every trip. Plan a few weeks of lead time before you go.

• Apply online. PreCheck through the TSA enrollment site; Global Entry through the Trusted Traveler site run by Customs and Border Protection.
• Book the appointment. You show ID, and for Global Entry you do a quick interview. You can often finish that interview right when you land from a trip abroad, called Enrollment on Arrival.
• Get your Known Traveler Number. Add it to every booking so the PreCheck mark prints on your boarding pass.
• Use a card that pays you back. Many travel cards reimburse the fee, so the cost can be zero.

What doesn't change in either lane

Whichever pass you hold, pack the same way before you go. The 3-1-1 rule still applies: liquids in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less, all inside one quart-size bag. In a PreCheck lane you usually keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on, and your laptop and liquids bag can stay packed. Want the full list? See what you can bring through airport security. And no pass beats a head start, so check today's live wait for your airport — Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), or Miami (MIA) — so you still leave with room to breathe.

Frequently asked questions