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 1502913 times)

Offline Yoko

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5780 on: August 03, 2022, 01:20:57 PM »
Is it worth getting eSim like Airalo? Anyone use it in Israel?
bump

Offline JudahMcB

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5781 on: August 03, 2022, 02:48:12 PM »
Is it worth getting eSim like Airalo? Anyone use it in Israel?

Update: I'm back from Israel. I bought a data-only eSIM plan from Airalo. The specific brand they gave me was Ahava. Paid $15 for 5GB of cellular data (no phone or text access, though it's possible to buy a card that includes those). Anyway it worked well! And I didn't have to mess with shipping and installing a physical SIM card. I'd recommend eSIM to others. I bought one for my teenage daughter's phone too, worked fine.

Offline Izzzy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5782 on: August 04, 2022, 09:56:14 AM »
Cellularisrael.com
I am dealing with them now. Keep in mind, they are not picking up their phones or responding to their emails.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5783 on: August 09, 2022, 09:48:31 AM »
Which Israeli carrier has the best coverage in צפת?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5784 on: August 11, 2022, 10:37:49 AM »
Anyone have a tripletel sim card that I can buy off them? That's not using it anymore?
Quote
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Offline sddd

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5785 on: September 14, 2022, 09:46:40 PM »
Newbie question.
I have a redpocket 1 year plan i just activated but am looking to go to ISrael next week. I would like to keep my USA number. Alternatively I would like at least to get my texts forwarded to whatever ISraeli number I get. Is there any way to do that? Thanks in advance.

Offline sddd

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5786 on: September 17, 2022, 11:01:27 PM »
Newbie question.
I have a redpocket 1 year plan i just activated but am looking to go to ISrael next week. I would like to keep my USA number. Alternatively I would like at least to get my texts forwarded to whatever ISraeli number I get. Is there any way to do that? Thanks in advance.

if anyone has simlair issue i found solution.
*72 will forward to USA number
there are apps that fwd sms to email.

Offline sddd

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5787 on: September 18, 2022, 12:20:24 AM »
Anyone have a tripletel sim to rent for a month?

Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5788 on: September 19, 2022, 02:17:13 AM »
Anyone have a tripletel sim to rent for a month?
  I was told he was losing money by people buying the SIM cards for so cheap because people came for a week, and or yt. He's looking for people that plan on using it for a whole year. If you do,he would offer it at half price.

 Vs the price now at 99 ₪.
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Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline sddd

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5789 on: September 19, 2022, 11:31:09 AM »
  I was told he was losing money by people buying the SIM cards for so cheap because people came for a week, and or yt. He's looking for people that plan on using it for a whole year. If you do,he would offer it at half price.

 Vs the price now at 99 ₪.

thanks. no - I am looking for couple of weeks.

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5790 on: September 20, 2022, 01:50:49 PM »
any of the short term (1-2 weeks) plan supports Esim?

Offline bestdealsever

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5791 on: September 27, 2022, 04:39:32 AM »
Hey, eSIMs aren't widely supported... maybe find the carriers here that support the apple watch with data... then by extension, they should also support phones with eSIMs... otherwise I think its worth buying a cheap unlocked android phone, get a sim plan... then call using VOIP or whatsapp, and you can create a hotspot and use that for wifi on your iPhone!

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5792 on: October 02, 2022, 11:58:31 PM »
Has anyone had recent experience with Cellular Israel? Where/when can I pick up and return the phone?

Offline yfr bachur

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5793 on: October 03, 2022, 02:06:47 AM »
Has anyone had recent experience with Cellular Israel? Where/when can I pick up and return the phone?
check their website, they now have multiple pick up locations.
https://cellularisrael.com/walk-ins
aside from the main location near the mir

Offline jye

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5794 on: October 04, 2022, 12:48:45 AM »
I’m on T-Mobile (sprint) kickstart plan. iPhone 13. Might be going to Israel for a few days. Can I simply take my phone to Israel and use it at a per minute cost? Thanks

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5795 on: October 08, 2022, 11:55:11 PM »
Cellular Israel questions(I tried emailing them but not sure how quick their response time is). Anyone who's used their service before might be able to answer this in a few seconds...

1) My mother has the phone, so I don't have the phone in front of me, can you please describe exactly how to turn on? Can't try things out because it warns you not to turn it on outside Israel, and my mother says there's no obvious power button. I don't know the official model number for the phone, so can't search for a manual, it's called the "safe 10."

2) How does she dial US from her phone - their website gives a number of examples, but some of them seem to use other carrier's codes...so if she wanted to dial a 718#, what does she need to put in front of it?

Offline yfr bachur

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5796 on: October 10, 2022, 01:00:44 PM »
1) My mother has the phone, so I don't have the phone in front of me, can you please describe exactly how to turn on? Can't try things out because it warns you not to turn it on outside Israel, and my mother says there's no obvious power button. I don't know the official model number for the phone, so can't search for a manual, it's called the "safe 10."

The same way you turned on almost all phones pre-smartphone days: Long press the end call key.
You can take out the sim and turn it on with no worries (other than losing the sim :) )

2) How does she dial US from her phone - their website gives a number of examples, but some of them seem to use other carrier's codes...so if she wanted to dial a 718#, what does she need to put in front of it?

It depends which carrier the service she rented is using. theres no way for anyone to answer that without seeing the phone. The paperwork that came with the phone should tell her exactly what to do.

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5797 on: October 11, 2022, 09:12:07 PM »
Does Cellular Israel use multiple carriers? I was hoping someone was familiar with them, having used them.

Offline yfr bachur

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5798 on: October 12, 2022, 01:14:32 PM »
Does Cellular Israel use multiple carriers? I was hoping someone was familiar with them, having used them.

depending on what exactly you rented, as far as i know, yes.

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5799 on: October 12, 2022, 02:00:48 PM »
Got it - they did respond pretty quickly!

The on/off buttons I was able to figure out once I got a clearer picture of the phone.

Calling to America they told me what I need to do, so fingers crossed and hope it works!