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CLEAR vs PreCheck
TSA PreCheck changes how you are screened; CLEAR changes how your ID is checked. With PreCheck, electronics and 3-1-1 liquids stay in your bag; belts, light jackets and shoes stay on. With CLEAR+, you scan your boarding pass, verify your identity with your face at a CLEAR pod or eGate, then go on to bag screening. CLEAR+ can be used together with TSA PreCheck, so the two stack.
CLEAR vs PreCheck side by side
| TSA PreCheck | CLEAR+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | TSA (a federal program) | CLEAR, a private company |
| What it does | Lighter screening: electronics and 3-1-1 liquids stay in your bag; belts, light jackets and shoes stay on | Faster ID check: scan your boarding pass, verify your identity with your face at a CLEAR pod or eGate, then go on to bag screening |
| Cost | $85 or less for five years | $219 a year |
| Family | children 17 and under can join an adult in the PreCheck lane for free | up to 3 family members or friends for $125 each; under-18s use the lane free with a member |
| Where | Dedicated lanes across the U.S. (TSA) | over 150 CLEAR+ lanes across 63 airports |
| Wait | TSA says about 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes | CLEAR says CLEAR+ members save 4 hours per year on average |
Sources: TSA PreCheck, CLEAR+. Prices change; check before you buy. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or CLEAR and earns nothing from either.
Which one helps at your airport
Either is worth most where security stays busy for long stretches. Each airport page shows how busy its checkpoints are hour by hour; PreCheck wait times ranks the 30 airports by busy hours a week.
CLEAR vs PreCheck: questions
Is CLEAR the same as TSA PreCheck?
No. PreCheck is TSA's own program and changes how you are screened: electronics and 3-1-1 liquids stay in your bag; belts, light jackets and shoes stay on. CLEAR is a private service that replaces the ID check: scan your boarding pass, verify your identity with your face at a CLEAR pod or eGate, then go on to bag screening.
Can I use CLEAR and PreCheck together?
Yes. CLEAR says CLEAR+ can be used together with TSA PreCheck.
Which costs more?
PreCheck is $85 or less for five years; CLEAR+ is $219 a year.