Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck

Updated October 26, 2026. General information from the official program pages at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov and cbp.gov; rules change, so confirm there.

Slots open and vanish in minutes. The free app checks constantly and alerts you the moment one opens

The short answer: Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck. If you fly internationally even once a year or so, Global Entry is usually the better buy, because for a little more money you get both the faster security line at US airports and the faster line back into the country. If you only fly within the US, PreCheck alone is enough.

What each one does

TSA PreCheck is run by the Transportation Security Administration. It gets you into a separate security line at US airports where you usually keep your shoes, belt and light jacket on and leave your laptop and liquids in the bag.

Global Entry is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It speeds up your return to the United States from abroad: you skip the regular passport control line and are cleared at a kiosk or with a photo at the Global Entry lane. Members get a Known Traveler Number that also unlocks PreCheck when you add it to your airline reservations.

Cost

Both memberships last five years. Global Entry costs $120 for five years. PreCheck costs somewhat less, and the price depends on the enrollment provider you use. Many travel credit cards reimburse the fee for one or the other, so check your card benefits before paying. Check the official sites for current fees, since they change.

Who can apply

PreCheck is open to US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents. Global Entry is open to US citizens and lawful permanent residents, and to citizens of a list of partner countries. Global Entry needs a valid passport (or a permanent resident card for green card holders); PreCheck does not.

The application and interview

PreCheck is an online form followed by a short in-person visit to an enrollment location for fingerprints and an ID check. These locations are common and appointments are easy to get.

Global Entry is an online application with a background check, then an interview with a CBP officer once you are conditionally approved. Interview slots are the hard part: popular enrollment centers are often booked weeks or months out. You can also finish at the airport after an international trip with Enrollment on Arrival, and cancellations open earlier dates at random. See how to find an earlier appointment.

Kids and families

This is where the two differ the most. Every traveler who wants to use Global Entry needs their own membership, including babies and children. With PreCheck, children 17 and under can usually go through the PreCheck line with an enrolled parent on the same reservation. Families who travel abroad often sometimes give everyone Global Entry for that reason; families who mostly fly domestically often find PreCheck for the adults is enough.

Which one to choose

• You fly internationally at least once a year or so: Global Entry. You get PreCheck as well.
• You only fly within the US: PreCheck.
• You are not a US citizen or permanent resident: check whether your country is a Global Entry partner; PreCheck is not open to you.
• You need it soon: PreCheck is faster to complete. For Global Entry, apply now and look for an early interview slot at a nearby center; the soonest-slots list shows the nearest open date at every enrollment center.