Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: which one do you actually need?
If you’ve ever watched the PreCheck line move while you stood in the regular one, you’ve thought about this. Here’s the difference that actually matters.
TSA PreCheck: faster security, domestic
PreCheck speeds you through airport security at U.S. airports — shoes, belt, and laptop stay where they are, and the line is almost always shorter. It costs about $80 for five years and covers you on domestic flights. If you never (or rarely) leave the country, this is all you need.
Global Entry: PreCheck, plus customs
Global Entry includes everything PreCheck does, and adds expedited U.S. Customs when you arrive home from abroad — you skip the long immigration hall and use a kiosk or a face scan instead. It’s about $120 for five years. So for roughly $40 more across five years, you get the domestic perk and the international one.
The simple rule
If you fly internationally at all — even once every couple of years — get Global Entry. It already includes PreCheck, so there’s little reason to buy PreCheck on its own unless you’re certain you’ll never need a passport. If you’re a purely domestic flyer, PreCheck is the cheaper, right-sized choice.
A few things worth knowing:
- Both require a short in-person interview. Global Entry now offers “Enrollment on Arrival,” where you finish the interview when you land from an international trip — handy when appointment slots are scarce.
- Many travel credit cards reimburse the application fee. Check yours before you pay out of pocket — getting more out of cards like that is exactly what our points & miles consultations are for.
- Your Global Entry card counts as REAL ID-acceptable ID at the airport, too. If that’s on your radar, see our REAL ID guide.
The official programs and current fees live at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov. When we book your flights, we’ll make sure your Known Traveler Number is on the reservation, so the benefit actually shows up on your boarding pass.
Entry rules change often, and the details above reflect what we knew on June 19, 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book or travel — or let us check it for your specific trip.