Key takeaways
- Clear and Global Entry are two programs that allow you to expedite your airport travel clearances.
- Clear is a private program that lets you breeze through security clearance at airports and some other venues while Global Entry is a government program that speeds you through U.S. customs formalities upon arrival into the U.S.
- While both of these programs cost to join, some credit cards offer a credit toward membership in these programs.
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. 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 are designed to help travelers spend less time waiting in line, giving you more opportunity to enjoy your trip!
However, many travelers wonder whether Clear Plus is better than Global Entry, or vice versa. The truth is that each program is designed to help 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 to purchase.
Differences between Clear and Global Entry
Clear allows members to quickly verify their identity before clearing security at 57 airports in the United States, as well as at some event venues. Clear is used for event venues like stadiums, while Clear Plus, the paid membership, is used at airports. For comparison purposes, we’ll mainly focus on Clear Plus.
At the airport, Clear Plus members use biometric security pods to scan their boarding pass and quickly confirm their identity through an eye scan or fingerprint match. Once verified, a Clear ambassador escorts members to the airport physical security screening line, allowing members to save time at airport security.
Global Entry, on the other hand, allows members to quickly move through U.S. customs after arriving via overseas flights and also makes you eligible for TSA PreCheck, which expedites security at airports domestically. Global Entry gives members the opportunity to verify their identity through biometric screening at designated Global Entry kiosks. These kiosks also allow members to complete their customs declaration forms.
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? | $189 with the option to add up to three adults to your account for $99 per person (children under 18 years old can accompany a Clear member free of charge). | $100 as a nonrefundable application fee |
| How long does membership last? | 1 year | 5 years |
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 $288 annually for a Clear Plus membership, but $400 every five years for a Global Entry membership.
Which is better: Clear or Global Entry?
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:
Clear benefits
Clear offers numerous benefits to members, such as the ability to:
- Move through airport security more quickly
- Reserve a spot in the airport security line
- Streamlines access to concerts and events
- Use the Clear app as a health pass or digital vaccine card
- Apply for TSA PreCheck through Clear for $77.95.
Global Entry benefits
Global Entry is designed to benefit frequent international travelers who want to save time when they arrive in the United States. The Global Entry program allows you to:
- Navigate the U.S. customs process faster than usual
- Bypass long lines and exit the airport faster
- Take advantage of TSA PreCheck with no added fee
TSA PreCheck allows members to pass through the security line without removing shoes, liquids, gels or laptops, meaning they can move through the airport security screening process faster at more than 200 airports throughout the U.S. That’s why being eligible for this program at no extra charge can be a huge benefit while traveling.
Which program is right for you?
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 free access to TSA PreCheck, while Clear Plus 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 57 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 20 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.
Should you get both Clear and Global Entry?
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
How to get Clear and Global Entry
Many of today’s top travel rewards cards offer credits toward Clear or Global Entry as a benefit. 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:
In the end, if you receive Clear or Global Entry access as a perk on a travel credit card that you’re taking on for other reasons, you may find you get enough value out of either one to justify your annual fee.
Clear application process
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.
Global Entry application process
Unlike with Clear, the $100 fee for Global Entry is nonrefundable, even if your application is denied. Additionally, children aren’t free like they are with Clear — they have to also go through the application process.
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 $100 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.
The bottom line
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. It may still prove beneficial if you travel with family, but Global Entry has the edge if you travel abroad. Global Entry membership also includes TSA PreCheck, giving you even more opportunity to save time as you travel.
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 June 14, 2024.
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