Global Entry vs CLEAR Plus vs TSA PreCheck in 2026: Which to Get First
Three expedited-security programs, three different use cases, three different credit card reimbursements. Here is the order to buy them in and which cards to put them on.
Travel · 8 min read · 2026-04-12
The Three Programs at a Glance TSA PreCheck: $85 for 5 years ($17/yr). Shorter domestic security lines. Laptops and shoes stay on. Global Entry: $100 for 5 years ($20/yr). Includes TSA PreCheck. Kiosk-based customs reentry to the US. CLEAR Plus: $189/year. Biometric identity verification that gets you to the front of the TSA line (still goes through PreCheck or standard screening after). The Buy Order Step 1: Global Entry (Not PreCheck) If you fly internationally even once every two years, Global Entry is strictly better than standalone PreCheck: same five-year term, $15 more, plus customs reentry. The interview backlog has shrunk in 2026 to about 4–8 weeks at most enrollment centers. Step 2: CLEAR Plus (Only If Covered by a Card) CLEAR is rarely worth paying out of pocket. At $189/year it requires about 10+ airport trips to break even on time savings, and it doesn't bypass the actual screening (TSA PreCheck does). But if your card reimburses it, treat it as free. Which Card to Charge It To Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit Cards that reimburse Global Entry or PreCheck every 4 years: Chase Sapphire Reserve Amex Platinum (personal and business) Capital One Venture / Venture X Citi / AAdvantage Executive Most Marriott and Hilton premium cards Pick the card you will still have in 4 years. The credit only triggers once per 4-year window per cardholder, not per card, so there's no stacking. Put it on your most durable card—usually CSR or Platinum. CLEAR Plus Credit Amex Platinum: $189/year reimbursement. Full coverage. Amex Green: $189/year reimbursement. Full coverage. If you