TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR: which is worth it?

The short answer

Start with TSA PreCheck. It gives you a shorter, faster screening lane and costs about $77 to $85 for five years — roughly $16 a year. CLEAR Plus is $209 a year and solves a different problem: it skips the ID-check line and walks you to the front. If you fly often through busy airports, or a travel card covers the fee, CLEAR can be worth it too. The two aren't rivals — at many airports you can use both at once.

What each one actually does

They speed up different parts of the same walk to your gate.

• PreCheck — faster screening. Run by the TSA. It opens a dedicated lane where the screening itself is quicker: your laptop and quart-size liquids bag stay inside your carry-on, and you keep a light jacket and belt on. The lane is usually shorter than the standard one, so you move through with room to breathe.
• CLEAR — front of the line. Run by a private company. At the checkpoint you step up to a CLEAR kiosk, confirm your identity with a quick eye or face scan, and an agent walks you past the document-check podium straight to the front of the screening line. CLEAR doesn't change the screening you go through — it just gets you there faster.

One thing neither pass decides anymore: shoes. As of 2026, no traveler has to take their shoes off at the checkpoint, PreCheck or not. And a quick reality check on where each works: PreCheck lanes are at nearly every U.S. airport, while CLEAR is only at a few dozen, so it pays to confirm your airport has a CLEAR lane before you buy.

What they cost

Global Entry is often the smartest spend if you ever fly abroad: for $120 over five years it includes PreCheck and speeds your way back through customs. CLEAR Plus has discounts too — military and some airline elites pay less, and a few travel cards refund the fee in full. Renewals also cost less than the first sign-up: PreCheck runs about $59 to $70 when you renew online, so the long-run price is even gentler than it first looks.

Getting either one takes a short visit. For PreCheck you apply online, then stop by an enrollment center for a five-minute fingerprint and photo. For CLEAR you can finish most of the sign-up right at the airport kiosk on your next trip. Plan a few weeks of lead time for PreCheck so your Known Traveler Number is ready before you fly.

They're not rivals — many airports let you use both

Here's the part people miss: at many airports, CLEAR can drop you straight into the PreCheck lane. CLEAR walks you to the front; PreCheck makes the screening quick. Together they're the fastest way through a crowded checkpoint. You'll feel it most at big hubs — check the live wait at Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), or Denver (DEN) and you'll see why front-of-line plus fast screening adds up.

Weighing Global Entry too? Our PreCheck vs CLEAR vs Global Entry guide compares all three side by side.

Which one is worth it for you

Match the pass to how you fly.

• Occasional domestic flyer on a budget: PreCheck. Best value, and the PreCheck line is usually short already.
• International traveler: Global Entry. It includes PreCheck and speeds customs on the way home, for only a little more.
• Frequent flyer through crowded airports: CLEAR Plus, ideally with PreCheck. The front-of-line skip pays off when the standard line is long.
• Someone whose card covers CLEAR: CLEAR Plus. If a travel card refunds the fee, the math gets easy.
• You rarely fly:maybe neither yet. Check your airport's live wait first — some days the regular line is already short. It also helps to know how early you should really arrive.

Before you go: the 3-1-1 rule still applies

Neither pass changes what you can pack. Liquids still follow the 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, packed in one clear quart-size bag, one bag per person. Medications, baby formula, and breast milk are exempt. The difference with PreCheck is small but nice — you can leave that quart bag inside your carry-on instead of pulling it out. For the rest of your bag, see what you can bring through security.

Frequently asked questions