TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. CLEAR Value Calculator

Making Sense of Trusted Traveler Programs

Frequent flyers juggle multiple options to speed through airport security and customs: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR Plus. Each program charges a membership fee, offers varying durations, and saves different amounts of time per trip. Many premium credit cards reimburse enrollment fees, while family plans add complexity. This calculator translates those variables into net annual value so you can decide which combination—if any—delivers the most return for your travel pattern.

TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership and grants access to expedited security lanes at U.S. airports. Global Entry costs $100 for five years, includes TSA PreCheck benefits, and accelerates customs processing on international arrivals. CLEAR Plus is an annual membership that uses biometrics to skip ID checks at participating airports, complementing either standard or PreCheck lanes. Because each program operates differently, the calculator analyzes standalone value and synergies when combining them.

Input Fields Reflect Real-World Scenarios

Start by entering the number of domestic and international trips you take per year. A roundtrip counts as one trip; if you fly 12 roundtrips annually, enter 12. The calculator multiplies trips by time saved to quantify benefits. The time value field converts minutes saved into dollars by dividing the value per hour into per-minute increments. Travelers who bill clients for time or who miss fewer meetings due to shorter lines might assign a high value, while leisure travelers may choose a lower number.

Enrollment fees and credits capture out-of-pocket costs. Many credit cards reimburse PreCheck or Global Entry every four to five years. CLEAR offers discounts through airlines or card issuers, and family plans let you add adults or children for reduced rates. Enter the net amount you expect to pay after applying credits. Time saved estimates should reflect your home airport’s wait times; TSA data suggests PreCheck saves 10–20 minutes per trip on average, while CLEAR can save an additional 5–10 minutes at busy hubs. Customs wait times vary widely, so Global Entry’s benefit is especially pronounced at congested airports.

Computation Methodology

The calculator annualizes membership fees by dividing them by the program’s duration: five years for PreCheck and Global Entry, one year for CLEAR. Credits are subtracted before annualization. For example, a $78 PreCheck fee fully reimbursed by a credit card reduces the annual cost to zero. If you pay $80 net for CLEAR after discounts, the annual cost remains $80.

Time savings are converted into dollars by multiplying minutes saved per trip by trips per year and by the per-minute value of time. PreCheck savings apply to all domestic and international departures. Global Entry savings apply to international arrivals only. CLEAR savings apply to domestic departures (and international departures when flying from a participating U.S. airport). The calculator estimates value for five scenarios: PreCheck alone, Global Entry alone, CLEAR alone, PreCheck plus CLEAR, and Global Entry plus CLEAR. Because Global Entry includes PreCheck, the Global Entry combinations assume you have PreCheck benefits when using CLEAR.

Understanding the Output

The result summarizes annual cost, time value, and net benefit for each scenario. It ranks them from highest to lowest net benefit so you can see whether stacking programs yields incremental value. For example, if PreCheck saves $270 worth of time annually and costs nothing after credit reimbursement, its net benefit is $270. If CLEAR saves an additional $150 but costs $80, the combination provides a $340 net benefit. The output also notes breakeven trip counts—the number of trips required for each program to pay for itself given your time value.

The copy button produces a detailed breakdown you can share with colleagues or family members when deciding which memberships to renew. If you cover multiple travelers, the calculator multiplies annual costs by the number of family members and assumes time saved applies to each member’s trips. You can adjust trip counts for each traveler by rerunning the calculation.

Example Scenario

Suppose you fly domestically 12 times per year and take two international trips. You value your time at $75 per hour, receive full credits for PreCheck and Global Entry, and pay $80 net for CLEAR after an airline discount. PreCheck saves 18 minutes per trip, translating to $270 in annual value. Global Entry saves 30 minutes on each international arrival, worth $75 annually. CLEAR saves an extra 10 minutes per domestic trip, adding $150 in value. The calculator shows that PreCheck alone yields $270, Global Entry alone yields $75, CLEAR alone yields $70 (after subtracting the $80 annual cost), PreCheck plus CLEAR yields $420, and Global Entry plus CLEAR yields $495. The ranking indicates that Global Entry plus CLEAR offers the highest net benefit, primarily because Global Entry effectively costs zero after the credit yet adds customs time savings.

If you rarely fly internationally, the calculator will show Global Entry’s benefit shrinking relative to PreCheck. Likewise, if your home airport lacks CLEAR lanes, the CLEAR scenarios may produce negative net value. Adjust the inputs to match different airports or future travel projections; the long explanation includes tips for estimating wait times using TSA’s MyTSA app and Customs and Border Protection statistics.

Strategic Tips

The explanation section discusses how to leverage credit card benefits, combine family plans, and synchronize renewal dates. Many households stagger memberships so one partner uses a credit card reimbursement one year and the other uses a different card the next. CLEAR frequently offers promotional pricing through airlines like Delta and United; entering those discounts into the calculator helps you evaluate whether to wait for a sale. The narrative also covers alternative programs such as NEXUS (for U.S.-Canada travelers) and SENTRI (for U.S.-Mexico travelers), which include Global Entry benefits at lower costs but require interviews in specific locations.

Travelers should also consider non-monetary benefits: reduced stress, improved likelihood of making tight connections, and the ability to arrive at the airport later. These factors may justify membership even if the calculator shows a modest net benefit. Use the copy summary to document your assumptions for employer travel policy requests or tax records if you deduct the fees as unreimbursed business expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Global Entry benefits extend to family members? No. Each adult needs their own Global Entry membership. Children under 18 can accompany parents in SENTRI or Global Entry kiosks but must enroll for their own PreCheck benefits. Use the family member input to multiply costs appropriately.

How accurate are time savings estimates? They depend on airport conditions. Review historical wait times or keep your own log to refine estimates. The calculator is flexible so you can update numbers over time.

Can I combine CLEAR with PreCheck? Yes. CLEAR expedites the ID check portion and directs you to the PreCheck lane for screening. Enter CLEAR’s time savings on top of PreCheck savings to model the combined benefit.

What if I receive partial reimbursements? Enter the net fee after partial reimbursements. For example, if your employer pays $50 toward CLEAR and you pay the remainder, input the remaining amount as the credit.

Does the calculator account for interview travel costs? Travel to enrollment centers is not included. You can add those costs manually to the fee inputs if they are significant.