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While it might seem like a trivial thing, there are actually many choices to make when you need to buy cases or covers for your CDs.  The major types of clear CD cases are listed below, along with a summary of the pros and cons of each.

Standard 'Jewel' CD Case

This is the classic CD case that we all know and love, which has been in use since CDs first came into common commercial use in the 1980s.  This case typically consists of three pieces, the front and back covers which are made of clear plastic and which clip together using two small plastic clips, and the media tray, which holds the CD itself and is most commonly made of black plastic.  The media tray clips in to the back cover so that it can't move, and also holds the back cover liner in place.  They are also available with a clear media tray instead of black.

The standard clear CD cover is the best choice if you need to replace the existing cover of an original CD because it has broken or cracked.  This is because you can be sure that the front cover liner notes will fit into the new cover without any problems, and also that the back liner and spine will fit and be visible with no problems.  Some CD holders are also specifically designed to hold the standard size CD cases, so if you have one of them, this is again the best choice.

The only real downside of the standard case is that they are usually more expensive than other options, although the price is quite low to begin with, so if you're only replacing a few broken CD cases, the difference will be negligible.  However, if you're replacing entire collections or have a need for hundreds of covers, the price difference may become a factor.

Slimline 'Jewel' CD Case

The slimline has become popular for storage of CD-ROMs and other media, mainly because, as the name suggests, they are about half the width of a standard CD case and therefore take up much less space.  A typical slimline case consists of only two parts, the front cover and the media holder.  Generally you can't insert a back liner into a slimline case because the part that holds the CD is the back cover.  Because of their reduced width, inserting more than a single page into the front cover is also a problem, so slimlines are not recommended for anyone who is replacing existing CD covers which include liner booklets.  On the plus side, apart from taking up less space, slimline cases also tend to be slightly cheaper than the standard clear CD cases.

Plastic Sleeves

Plastic sleeves are simple small pieces of non-rigid plastic which hold a CD and protect it from dust and scratches when not in use.  They often contain binder holes on one side so that they can be stored together in a binder.  Sleeves offer less protection from damage than rigid plastic cases, and they also do not allow the keeping of any liner notes.  They also may necessitate touching the underside of the CD in order to remove them from the sleeve, which can lead to damage over time.  On the plus side, plastic sleeves are usually very cheap and very light, and they also take up very little space.  If you have a significant number of CDs which you don't need to be easily accessible and have a safe place to store them in, plastic sleeves may be a good alternative.

Other options, such as round plastic cases and spindles are also available, although less common.  Be sure to consider your needs fully before purchasing clear CD cases, and you should be happy with the result.