CLEAR and TSA PreCheck fix different queues. CLEAR is a private company that checks your identity with your face, so you skip the line to the ID check; TSA PreCheck is a government programme that changes the screening itself, so shoes, belts and laptops stay put. As of October 2026, CLEAR+ is listed at 219 dollars a year and TSA lists five years of PreCheck for 85 dollars or less. If you only get one, get PreCheck; add CLEAR when the ID line is your bottleneck.
The two are often sold side by side, and CLEAR is even one of TSA's own PreCheck enrollment providers, which adds to the confusion. I read CLEAR's CLEAR+ page and TSA's PreCheck page and FAQ. Here's the difference in plain terms, as of October 2026.
CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck compared
| CLEAR+ | TSA PreCheck | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | CLEAR, a private identity company | TSA, part of the US government |
| What it replaces | The queue to show ID: you verify with your face at a pod or eGate | Standard screening: laptops and 3-1-1 liquids stay in the bag, shoes and light jackets stay on |
| After that | You still go to bag screening | You use the dedicated PreCheck lane |
| Where | Over 150 CLEAR+ Lanes across 62 airports | Dedicated lanes across the US |
| Fee | 219 dollars a year | Five years for 85 dollars or less |
| Children | 17 and under join a member free | 17 and under join an adult free, with age rules |
| Who can join | Adults 18 and over with a REAL ID-compliant licence or an eligible passport | Apply online, then an in-person visit |
What each one does at the checkpoint
CLEAR's page describes the routine: scan your boarding pass at the CLEAR+ Lane, walk up to a CLEAR Pod or eGate, verify with its face-first technology, then head to bag screening. In other words, CLEAR takes you past the ID check. It doesn't change what happens at the scanners.
PreCheck is the opposite. TSA's page says PreCheck lets you leave electronics and 3-1-1 liquids in your bag and keep belts, light jackets and shoes on, in lanes TSA says move faster, with about 99% of passengers waiting less than 10 minutes. CLEAR's own FAQ says CLEAR+ can be used with TSA PreCheck for the fastest way to the gate, which tells you they're designed to stack.
How the fees fit together
CLEAR+ is a yearly membership: CLEAR lists 219 dollars a year, with up to 3 adults added at 125 dollars each and military and government employees at 125 dollars a year. PreCheck is a five-year membership, and TSA's page lists CLEAR as an enrollment provider at 84.95. TSA's page also carries CLEAR's offer: complete PreCheck enrollment or online renewal with CLEAR and you get a one-time code to join CLEAR+ for 134 dollars, or 146 for renewals, which TSA describes as the CLEAR+ fee minus the PreCheck fee. Those are CLEAR's terms, so read them before you sign up.
Families and travelling companions
Both are kind to families, with one catch each. CLEAR says kids 17 and under can join a member in the CLEAR+ Lane for free; to use the CLEAR+ with PreCheck lane, the child must be on the same reservation and have the PreCheck indicator. For PreCheck, TSA says children 12 and under can join you without the indicator, while 13 to 17 year olds need it on their own boarding pass. Adults travelling with you need their own memberships, or CLEAR's add-on.
Which one to choose
- You fly a few times a year: start with PreCheck, because it changes the slowest part of security.
- You fly most weeks from a big airport with CLEAR lanes: add CLEAR+ on top of PreCheck.
- Your home airport has no CLEAR lane: check CLEAR's locations first, because the membership only helps where it operates.
- You fly abroad: look at Global Entry instead of PreCheck alone, since it includes PreCheck.
- You travel with family: keep everyone on one reservation so teenagers get the PreCheck indicator.
For the rest of the trip, my guide to travel backpacks and this business traveller's guide to Los Angeles might help.
My advice on CLEAR or PreCheck
Get PreCheck first, every time. It's the lower yearly outlay and it changes the part of security that takes longest, the unpacking. CLEAR+ is a luxury that pays off for frequent flyers at busy airports with CLEAR lanes, and it works best stacked on top of PreCheck rather than instead of it. If you're deciding for a team, PreCheck for everyone who travels is the simple policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Is CLEAR the same as TSA PreCheck?
No. CLEAR is a private company that verifies your identity with your face so you skip the ID line, while TSA PreCheck is a government programme that lets you keep shoes, belts and laptops in place at screening. CLEAR says the two can be used together.
How much is CLEAR+ a year?
CLEAR lists CLEAR+ at 219 dollars a year as of October 2026, with up to 3 adults added at 125 dollars each and kids 17 and under free.
Do I still go through security with CLEAR?
Yes. CLEAR's page says that after you verify at a CLEAR Pod or eGate, you head to bag screening.
Can I get TSA PreCheck through CLEAR?
Yes. TSA lists CLEAR as one of its three authorised PreCheck enrollment providers, alongside IDEMIA and Telos.
Which should I get first?
For most travellers, TSA PreCheck: it lasts five years and changes the screening itself. CLEAR+ is worth adding if you fly often from airports with CLEAR lanes.
