Topic Wiki

*=More info below
Company  Price  Sim  Talk/SMS  Web  Free Int'l  Signup Bonus  Israeli CC  Real TZBlackerry
Hot99₪49₪Unlimited3GB31 countries49₪/6 months*  Yes*Yes*
Golan99₪49₪UnlimitedUnlimited  53 countries  ₪59 /1st yearYesNoNo
01292₪Unlimited3GB42 countries*44₪/6 months  YesYes29₪
Rami Levy89₪59₪Unlimited1GB  No1₪/3 monthsYesYesNo
PelephoneYes*Yes*Free
Partner129/135₪*0₪*Unlimited  1GB/3GBAdd'l 20₪NoNoNo*39₪
CellcomA lot of $180₪  NoNo75₪

Rule #1- The Israeli cell phone service market is difficult. But cheap.
Rule #2- It is illegal for a company to "lock you in" a contract. ALL plans may be cancelled at any time with no penalty. Though, they do prevent you from opening and closing plans by charging a sim card "fee". This fee must always be paid even if paid for once before, and ranges from 39₪ to 180₪.
Rule #3- For those places that need an Israeli credit card, you may need to get one from an Israeli bank with a passport and income information although YMMV.
Rule #4- It is rarely, if ever, worthwhile to rent a "vacation plan" or prepaid, as the price for a regular unlimted plan for a month is less that a vacation plan for a week. Get a GSM phone that covers 900/1800 bands and save your money
Rule #5- All Israeli plans, whether regular or prepaid, include free incoming calls/texts.

Hot- 99₪ a month - includes unlimited calls, text and data (3 gb, then slow) and unlimited to 32 countries. Free home internet supply included. They currently have an offer if you port a number from a different network, to get the first six months for just 49₪ a month. You can move your package to a 10₪ a month plan, which includes 50 minutes and texts. You can also freeze the line once a year for up to 3 months. Regarding signup- you can use an American CC and fake TZ over the phone as one user has done.

Golan - Service is passable, but can be subpar in certain areas. There are two plans with Golan. There's the 99₪ unlimited talk/text/internet/international calling plan, which also gives you up to 2 virtual foreign numbers. This plan also includes for many countries unlimited global data roaming (6GB high-speed), incoming calls & texts, and calls & texts to Israel. They also offer a ₪29 per day data-roaming plan which gives 100MB a day in these countries. These roaming options can be very useful for foreigners regardless of whether they need Golan for Israel. See their website for details.There's a promo deal to get the 99 plan for ₪59 /month for the 1st year. There's also a ₪10 a month plan, which includes 60 min for domestic/US & CA and landlines in many countries, unlimited SMS and 10 MB of Internet, with add'l mins ₪.18 domestic, ₪.08 to US/CA and landlines in many countries, and data ₪.09 /MB. Its great for those short trips here. SIM should work in an iPad for data; you can also order a car SIM which will allow you to have 2 SIMs which draw from same plan.
[To get the sim in the USA before your trip:  golanusa.net will ship it to you for $14 (more for rush) and the 49 nis for the sim. Golan bills on the 25th of the month.  The days before the first 25th are freeprorated.(So for a trip between the 26th and the 24th of the month, you don't pay the 59 nis or 99 nis plan fee.)]

012mobile - Runs on Partner service, you will get an 054 number (unless you ported). Unlimited - 49₪ for the first 6 months and 92₪ from thereon after for unlimited everything too. Includes 3GB Data and 500 minutes to US/CA (any phone) and 40 other countries (landlines only). 9₪ plan includes 60 minutes, 60 SMS, and 100MB data. Additional domestic minutes/SMS are ₪ .09, Int'l calls to to US/CA (any phone) and 40 other countries (landlines only) are ₪ .25 per min. Add'l data bundles are available starting from ₪ 19 for 1 GB. 5GB Laptop/Tablet (data only) is 98₪.

Pelephone - Online, they accept fake TZ and US CC.

Partner - 129₪ a month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB. 135₪ for 3GB. Family plans are cheaper.Free sim for online orders. Extra 20₪/mo. for 500 min. int'l calling. Extra 39₪ for Blackberry. May need to give 500₪ deposit that you (may) get back when you cancel the plan.  One can freeze line without charges for up to 3 months when not needed (not sure if allowed more than once per 12 months).

Freedomhot.com - 2/19/2023 - They have local pickup in lots of major frum areas and delivery too. They accept US CC. Runs on Hot Mobile. Copying and pasting from their website.
All monthly plans include: Unlimited Calls & Texts to Israeli phone numbers Unlimited outgoing calls to USA and Canada and landlines to 33 additional countries.
Unlimited incoming calls and texts from anywhere in the world. Prices include all taxes.
59 Shekels - 70GB LTE Internet Data
79 shekels - 150GB LTE Internet Data
KOSHER - Voice Only - 64 Shekels
One-time SIM card fee: 49 Shekels
Optional: add a virtual USA number for $15 per month

Misc. Info
APN settings

On Hot Mobile you can check how much data was consumed either by downloading the app or by texting גלישה  to phone number 530 from your hot mobile phone,you can as well try calling this number *6733.

Note by Menucha:
Please note: as of 4/1/13, most carriers reduce period of intro rates and at times increased cost for monthly intro. I suggest we leave the above as is, but please keep in mind new changed, which are not negotiable and based on govt agreements. monthly flat rate is still great and same. (post intro)
Also, while reps wont tell you, typically you will get longer intro rate if you activate account on your own on line, and not via rep (phone or store). confirmed with carrier. Enjoy! flat monthly, even without intro rate is still one of the lowest you will come across in the west!

Israeli cellphone rentals:

1) Talkinisrael.com
Phone: +972587564477
Whatsapp: +972536299365
Email: info@talkinisrael.com 
if you should have any problems feel free to send me a pm and I will try to help you the best I can.
Plans for sale here are primarily for long term rentals.(students and the like.)


2) Israel Rent-a-cell SIM card or eSIM with calling and data. Also you can get SIMs for Israel Kosher phones!
Contact at Israelrentacell@gmail.com or WhatsApp 972-55-333-1234
Overnight or standard delivery in USA/delivery in Israel! Pickup locations in Lakewood and Israel.
* Unlimited calls and texts in Israel
* Unlimited calls to USA, Canada and landlines in 35 countries
* Unlimited incoming calls
* 70 GB of data (can add an extra 80GB of data)
* eSIMs available!
* Free voicemail
Student discount available, $29.97 monthly, including tax! Never surprise charges or hidden fees!

3) Cellular Israel - 072-224-3300 or 718-289-0195 Full Service - short term and long term, rent phones, Kosher phones, SIM cards, mifi devices, Waze by the day or month. American Customer Service!
info@cellularisrael.com

4) Simforisrael@gmail.com free delivery to anywhere

5) UnlimitedIsrael (DansDeals Advertiser with many positive reviews on DDMS & DDF) is the leading provider of SIM card & iPhone rentals for Israel in the US.
  • Unlimited calls & texts within Israel
  • Unlimited calling to the US and Canada
  • Lightning Fast 4G Internet Speeds
  • Unlimited 4G data
  • Sim Cards - $5/day
  • iPhones - $45/week
  • Kosher Phone - $4/day
  • Mifi Hotspot - $6/day
Use code SUAVE10 for 10% off any order
« Last edited by shmuelb on August 06, 2023, 12:48:30 PM »

Author Topic: Cell Phones in Israel  (Read 1354991 times)

Offline MnM1130

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #60 on: December 13, 2010, 04:14:36 AM »
when you use a sim card- u not only pay for a sim card but u also pay almost double for your calls.. especially when you call america- you dont get any deals for that. I happened to have liked using a sim card becuase your on top of your own plan, but in hindsight you pay much more money in the end. 

Offline elikay

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #61 on: December 13, 2010, 01:08:48 PM »
when you use a sim card- u not only pay for a sim card but u also pay almost double for your calls.. especially when you call america- you dont get any deals for that. I happened to have liked using a sim card becuase your on top of your own plan, but in hindsight you pay much more money in the end. 
All I know is that I once rented a phone for a month and it ended up costing 100 dollars, I used a prepaid sim this past summer and spent about $50 on two phones!!
PS Sim card prices have come down, they used to be 100 shekel. I think you can now get them for about 20 at davidka. Click here to see on map

Offline how

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #62 on: December 13, 2010, 01:17:25 PM »
All I know is that I once rented a phone for a month and it ended up costing 100 dollars, I used a prepaid sim this past summer and spent about $50 on two phones!!
PS Sim card prices have come down, they used to be 100 shekel. I think you can now get them for about 20 at davidka. Click here to see on map
yes you can get them for 20 = shekel. if u have ur own sim u get 2 keep the same number every time u come to israel

Offline ygift

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #63 on: December 18, 2010, 11:21:53 PM »
where is the best deal on prepaid sim cards in yerushalayim and how much is it per minute local in israel (land line and cell phones0 and also to usa? I need an answer asap for this week
thanx

Offline how

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #64 on: December 19, 2010, 02:41:23 AM »
the cell phone store off kikar davidka

its about 80 agurat a minute

Offline ygift

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #65 on: December 19, 2010, 09:42:45 AM »
Is davidka where prima palace is? Do u know what time they close? I'm coming thurs eve and I would like to get a sim card asap

Offline elikay

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #66 on: December 19, 2010, 10:35:32 AM »
I posted a map link ;-)

Offline how

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #67 on: December 19, 2010, 01:57:41 PM »
yes across from the prima palace
i dont know what time they close

Offline yid

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #68 on: December 19, 2010, 02:57:47 PM »
at "taam po" bagel store near the mir orange big talks are 29 shekel and i think at the pitzuchim store on shmuel hanavi and rechov yoel they are even cheaper.

Offline how

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #69 on: December 19, 2010, 03:00:17 PM »
at "taam po" bagel store near the mir orange big talks are 29 shekel
The store next to the mir stopped selling sim cards or calling cards

Offline ash

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #70 on: December 19, 2010, 03:24:55 PM »
sky 2000 has a promo with travel cell here is the link http://www.sky2000.com/free_cell.html
i got in the past its free and u just pay for outgoing calls

Offline MnM1130

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #71 on: December 19, 2010, 03:59:20 PM »
sky 2000 has a promo with travel cell here is the link http://www.sky2000.com/free_cell.html
i got in the past its free and u just pay for outgoing calls
sorry.. i hate to break the news to you but that is the biggest ripoff ever. my husband worked for talk and save and now he works for another competition cell phone company here in israel- and that by far is the most expensive rates... just in general u should know- all israel phones have free incoming calls, its no special. and you can just about get free cell phone rental just by ASKING a rep in any cell phone company for one (their all such a huge competition that they'll give you anything the competitor is offering and +++  contact my husband at nachi@ampcellular.com hell give you the best rates youll get anywhere... and going with sim cards are the biggest waste of money- your payin almost a shekel a minute- and each shek is above 25 cents.. just think about that.

Offline MnM1130

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #72 on: December 19, 2010, 04:49:28 PM »
sky 2000 has a promo with travel cell here is the link http://www.sky2000.com/free_cell.html
i got in the past its free and u just pay for outgoing calls
im sorry i made a mistake i thought u wrote talk n save- you wrote travel cell... but its the same deals.. (travel cell happens to be an uncle of mine)

Offline elikay

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #73 on: December 19, 2010, 05:56:09 PM »
With all due respect, those rental places nickel and dime you. AND never include taxe (15%) in their quotes.

Offline MnM1130

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Re: Cellphone rental in Israel - short term 10 days
« Reply #74 on: December 20, 2010, 05:49:29 AM »
With all due respect, those rental places nickel and dime you. AND never includoe taxe (15%) in their quotes.
oh i couldnt agree with you more! but hey.. you cant fight the system. Truth is.. it says everythin straight out in the contracts- just people dont realize how much they talk so it ends up with long expensive bills. rates are not so cheap anywhere- and israel they take you for a ride. but as i repeat.. you cant fight the system. and all those sim cards/big talk cards.. if you would only know how much your payin per call including VAT also.. you would think its a crime to talk altogether. Just people think its cheaper because they TALK less on those phones cus their pay as you go and your more on top of your calls. honestly the best way to go about it, is not talking.. but whos ginna do that??

Offline twentie4hrs

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #75 on: October 23, 2011, 12:26:47 PM »
I rented from Amigo last time and wouldn't touch the data...they wanted 9 cents a KB!
http://www.amigo-us.com/tourist.cfm

would you or do you still rent from Amigo?
A penny saved is 1 cent

Offline pghtown

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #76 on: October 23, 2011, 02:49:29 PM »
I have a DROID 2 Global Cellphone from Verizon.  I think I can unlock and swap the sim card because it is a "global" phone (unlike most other Verizon phones). Has anyone experience with swapping in the Sim card on a verizon global phone? I am going to Israel in December- where can I get a Sim card and how much would it cost? Thanks

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #77 on: October 23, 2011, 02:54:47 PM »
where can I get a Sim card and how much would it cost? Thanks
In Israel all plans don't carry contracts, so just buy a SIM from one of the 3 providers Orange, Pelephone, Cellcom. The problem is they charge an activation fee (they say its for the SIM card) of 100-200 shekel. Than a month of unlimited data cost approx 100 shekel. Pelephone is the fastest internet by far. They have unlimited data for 79/month, but it will take coaxing. They charge more than Orange for the SIM though.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #78 on: October 23, 2011, 03:00:02 PM »
In Israel all plans don't carry contracts, so just buy a SIM from one of the 3 providers Orange, Pelephone, Cellcom. The problem is they charge an activation fee (they say its for the SIM card) of 100-200 shekel. Than a month of unlimited data cost approx 100 shekel. Pelephone is the fastest internet by far. They have unlimited data for 79/month, but it will take coaxing. They charge more than Orange for the SIM though.
i went into an orange store on malchie yisroel, spoke to roy, he wanted to charge me 150 shekel for a sim - only 100 if i sign that day. i said forget it and started walking out out. he said you know what i'll give it to you for free it you sign now.... needless to say... it was free

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #79 on: October 23, 2011, 03:02:53 PM »
i went into an orange store on malchie yisroel, spoke to roy, he wanted to charge me 150 shekel for a sim - only 100 if i sign that day. i said forget it and started walking out out. he said you know what i'll give it to you for free it you sign now.... needless to say... it was free
Everything is possible! but chances are you'd get charged that fee anyway. I always record conversations like those.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים