THE FAMILY DECISION SERIES · 02
Fewer lines.
Only the fees that earn it.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, CLEAR+ or the free app? Find the airport upgrade that fits how your family actually flies—and the fees you can skip.
Find our fit
Your travel, before the fees. We price each option for your whole household, show what the extra money buys, and say plainly when the free option is enough.
Official sources checked October 7, 2026THE FACTS AT A GLANCE
What it costs, before it’s personal.
Published terms checked October 7, 2026. Prices and rules can change; each fact links to its source.
- Global Entry
- $120 for five years and includes TSA PreCheck. Background check and in-person interview for first-time enrollment. Source
- Children and Global Entry
- No application fee for minors with a parent who is a member or applying at the same time. Source
- TSA PreCheck
- $85 or less for five years, depending on the enrollment provider. Children 17 and under can join an adult in the lane. Source
- CLEAR+
- $219 a year. Add up to three adults at $125 each; children under 18 join free. Source
- Mobile Passport Control
- A free CBP app for returning travelers at participating airports. Groups of up to 12 can submit together. It does not include PreCheck. Source
MAKE IT PERSONAL
How do you travel?
BEFORE YOU PAY
The fee should fit how you travel.
Sometimes the right answer is every lane. Often it’s one inexpensive program. And sometimes the free app is all you need.
1 Tell us how you travel.
2 Compare five-year costs and real differences.
3 Keep the useful lanes. Skip the rest.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers.
The same sourced facts the comparison uses, without the form.
Is Global Entry worth it if we only travel abroad once a year?
Usually, if you would get TSA PreCheck anyway. Global Entry costs $120 for five years and includes PreCheck, which costs up to $85 on its own, so faster customs costs about $35 more per adult over five years. If you go abroad less often, CBP suggests TSA PreCheck plus the free Mobile Passport Control app.
What is the difference between Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?
PreCheck speeds up security screening when you depart from participating U.S. airports. Global Entry speeds up customs when you return from abroad, and includes PreCheck. Both memberships last five years.
Do I still need TSA PreCheck if I have CLEAR?
Yes, if you want the easier screening. CLEAR+ replaces the ID check with a biometric lane; it does not change how you are screened. Without PreCheck or Global Entry, you continue into standard screening.
Do kids need their own Global Entry, PreCheck or CLEAR?
For PreCheck, children 17 and under can join an adult in the lane. For CLEAR+, children under 18 join a member free. For Global Entry, each child needs their own membership to use it at customs, but there is no fee for minors when a parent is a member or applies at the same time.
Is CLEAR worth it for a family?
CLEAR+ costs $219 a year for the first adult and $125 for each added adult, up to three, with children free. It makes sense if you fly often from an airport where CLEAR operates, or if a card or status covers it. For occasional flyers, PreCheck alone solves most of the problem.
What is Mobile Passport Control?
A free CBP app for eligible travelers returning to participating U.S. airports. You submit your details before arrival and use a dedicated line, and families can submit together. It is not a trusted traveler program and does not include PreCheck.
THE BASIS FOR THE BRIEF
Clear sources. Clear limits.
Official terms reviewed October 7, 2026. Fees come from the sources listed; whether a fee is worth it is our stated judgment, based on cost per airport visit and the priority you choose. Prices and rules can change.
An independent planning tool from Fat Finances. We are not affiliated with CBP, TSA or CLEAR and earn nothing from these programs. AI features are not currently available.