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 1381031 times)

Offline bznt

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5860 on: June 27, 2023, 11:48:40 PM »
I just got the tripletel sim which seems great for trips. Getting it for my daughter's flip phone, so don't need data. Although they have data options.
I am confused by their voice options because it says that all plans include Voice and text to Israel and us but then they have a plan with voice only kosher, voice only non-kosher, and Voice and text
Kosher plan will only work in a kosher phone that is certified kosher in Israel, if you don’t have that type of phone then don’t select kosher.

About text. If you select a text plan then it includes text to and from the USA

Offline thaber

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5861 on: June 27, 2023, 11:53:37 PM »
Kosher plan will only work in a kosher phone that is certified kosher in Israel, if you don’t have that type of phone then don’t select kosher.

About text. If you select a text plan then it includes text to and from the USA
Thanks. Weird because it says all plans include text. Appreciate it.

Offline Legends666

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5862 on: July 05, 2023, 05:21:50 AM »
does anybody know where I can rent an iPhone in Israel that I can use for travel out of the country?

Offline SHL

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5863 on: July 05, 2023, 05:24:59 AM »
does anybody know where I can rent an iPhone in Israel that I can use for travel out of the country?
Cellular Israel

Offline thaber

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5864 on: July 05, 2023, 09:39:17 PM »
Just a short TR - tripletel had been fantastic four my kids flip phones and the two numbers ( us and Israeli) is an appreciated feature, as was the local LA pickup.
Only strange thing is that text messages received when phone doesn't have reception or is off are never delivered. But would use again in a heartbeat

Offline TzviR

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5865 on: July 07, 2023, 01:32:25 AM »
Does anyone know if my LG classic flip will work in israel?

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Offline Sam 77

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5866 on: July 07, 2023, 04:17:25 AM »
Does anyone know if my LG classic flip will work in israel?
If its unlocked yes

Offline NTorch

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5867 on: July 28, 2023, 08:50:33 AM »
My SiL has locked T-Mobile phones and is wondering what their service is like in Israel if she opts to go with the T-Mobile International plan.

Offline elikay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5868 on: July 31, 2023, 05:50:04 AM »
She'll be using Israeli towers. The only question is what carrier they roam on, but I'd assume it is good enough.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5869 on: July 31, 2023, 08:54:49 AM »
She'll be using Israeli towers. The only question is what carrier they roam on, but I'd assume it is good enough.

T-Mobile roams on Cellcom towers in Israel.

Btw, somebody is selling Pelephone sim cards on Amazon for $5. (I would guess one can charge them straight by dialing *997 on arrival in IL with a credit card).

Offline NTorch

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5870 on: July 31, 2023, 12:03:35 PM »
T-Mobile roams on Cellcom towers in Israel.

Btw, somebody is selling Pelephone sim cards on Amazon for $5. (I would guess one can charge them straight by dialing *997 on arrival in IL with a credit card).

How good is the service on the Cellcom. Some of my kids used Golan and it was very spotty.

Offline AMH

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5871 on: July 31, 2023, 12:18:50 PM »
How good is the service on the Cellcom. Some of my kids used Golan and it was very spotty.
It all depends on areas
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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5872 on: August 11, 2023, 10:56:13 AM »
gollan and cellcom use the same strictures and in my opinion golan is beater 

Offline yfr bachur

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5873 on: August 14, 2023, 01:02:35 AM »
gollan and cellcom use the same strictures and in my opinion golan is beater

It all depends on areas

Especialy in the mountainous areas (Like JLM and Beit Shemesh!)
for example: People in Ramat Polin know that they can only use certain carriers if they want to have reception in their house - no matter who has "better reception" overall.
I live literaly next to Tachana Merkazit in JLM, which should be an area that has omung the best coverage in the city, but have ZERO reception anywhere in my house from certain carriers. While all the rest are fine.

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5874 on: August 14, 2023, 02:01:20 AM »
Especialy in the mountainous areas (Like JLM and Beit Shemesh!)
for example: People in Ramat Polin know that they can only use certain carriers if they want to have reception in their house - no matter who has "better reception" overall.
I live literaly next to Tachana Merkazit in JLM, which should be an area that has omung the best coverage in the city, but have ZERO reception anywhere in my house from certain carriers. While all the rest are fine.
Contrast this to my house, where I have terrible reception from ALL carriers.
 :(
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Offline shmuelb

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5875 on: August 14, 2023, 10:28:20 AM »
From what I recall with talking to the cell phone company years ago, sometimes it is an issue of (2G vs) 3G vs 4G. So you need to know what your phone and carrier is giving you. I had a phone, if I put the SIM into 1 slot, it had 3G, but if I put it into the other slot, it only had 2G.
siyag lachachma :-)

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5876 on: August 14, 2023, 12:29:39 PM »
From what I recall with talking to the cell phone company years ago, sometimes it is an issue of (2G vs) 3G vs 4G. So you need to know what your phone and carrier is giving you. I had a phone, if I put the SIM into 1 slot, it had 3G, but if I put it into the other slot, it only had 2G.
We're on our fifth phone and we tried everything from 3G+ to 5G with the same results.
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Offline shmuelb

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5877 on: August 14, 2023, 01:12:09 PM »
Do you have reception outside your building?
siyag lachachma :-)

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5878 on: August 14, 2023, 01:38:26 PM »
Do you have reception outside your building?
It is fine outside, but not in the lobby or stairs.
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Offline Spoon

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5879 on: August 14, 2023, 01:45:48 PM »
My SiL has locked T-Mobile phones and is wondering what their service is like in Israel if she opts to go with the T-Mobile International plan.


The past couple of times I used it, I was not happy with it at all. Very spotty service (maybe because it kept on switching between carriers every few seconds), would not show my American number as caller ID (rather a different Israeli # every phone call) and worse of all after a couple of minutes on the phone it would start replaying the earlier conversation.