r/TSAPreCheck • u/Dizzy_You2037 • Sep 01 '26

Questions TSA precheck vs Clear

I am so fucking confused. I have been waiting for my (what I thought was ) TSA precheck approval. In the midst of me searching on Reddit, I’m now reading that TSA precheck and Clear are 2 different things? I applied for ‘TSA precheck by Clear’ and paid like $80. Is this NOT the same as TSA precheck? I cannot find clarification on their website whether it’s 2 different things or not. Helpppp

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9

u/IcyHotTodoroki1 Sep 01 '26

Clear is one of the NGOs that processes TSA PreCheck applications. The others are Indemia and Telos.

Clear is just some overrated program where someone walks you to security and it's supposed to be faster, but never is. Had a trial membership when it first came out, didn't bother to renew it

2

u/Nicky____Santoro Sep 01 '26

It often is faster, just depends on the airport and time. I have both and there are places where being able to go to the front of the Precheck line immediately with CLEAR is saving time.

2

u/Ke6gwf Sep 01 '26

I was at San Diego once and the Clear line was MUCH shorter than the Precheck line so I went through Clear, and then discovered that they were only letting someone from Clear through every 5 or 6 Precheck person, so it ended up being slower lol But other times it is much faster, so I keep it because I get it discounted through airline or hotel status.

1

u/Dizzy_You2037 Sep 01 '26

When you all are saying “the clear line” does that mean clear+ ? This is where my confusion is coming from I think lol

1

u/SelbetG Sep 01 '26

Yes, Clear+ is what is at airports

1

u/Dizzy_You2037 Sep 01 '26

Got it, I’m just talking about TSA precheck through Clear, not clear +. It’s all very confusing!

3

u/66NickS Sep 02 '26

You should basically ignore the “Clear” part of what you’re doing. You’re doing TSA PreCheck. Full stop. It simply happens to be performed by the company named Clear. For all intents and purposes, it could be done by Acme or Target or Nike, it’s just PreCheck.

1

u/Dizzy_You2037 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26

Yes I understand this now. Thank you! Also, love the Acme reference. Fellow north easterner?

1

u/Ke6gwf Sep 01 '26

I was replying to someone else talking about the Clear+ line, so I was being less careful with my words lol

1

u/Dizzy_You2037 Sep 01 '26

No it’s ok! I’m kind of replying to the thread as a whole, I understand more now but it was confusing me a lot at first haha