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 1355132 times)

Offline yitrap

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 3288
  • Total likes: 55
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4420 on: September 09, 2015, 11:50:19 AM »
If I signed up with Golan when the plan with the American number was 59 for the first 12 months, when it goes up to 100 will it also transfer the 6gb of high speed data that was in the plan then into the 20gb that's now?
I believe mine did.

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4421 on: September 09, 2015, 12:32:41 PM »
If I signed up with Golan when the plan with the American number was 59 for the first 12 months, when it goes up to 100 will it also transfer the 6gb of high speed data that was in the plan then into the 20gb that's now?
Yes.

Offline yochiek93

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2015
  • Posts: 4456
  • Total likes: 92
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile

Offline Flying Fish

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 217
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4423 on: September 16, 2015, 01:17:17 PM »
When I logged on to Golan to change plans from 9.99 to 99, it says there will be a one-time fee of 49NIS for switching plans. Is this a new thing? And appears I'll have to pay again when changing back. Makes it not wothwhile to change plans at all, I'll just stay on 9.99 and pay per min/MB.

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4424 on: September 16, 2015, 01:21:39 PM »
When I logged on to Golan to change plans from 9.99 to 99, it says there will be a one-time fee of 49NIS for switching plans. Is this a new thing? And appears I'll have to pay again when changing back. Makes it not wothwhile to change plans at all, I'll just stay on 9.99 and pay per min/MB.
That's nothing new.

Offline Flying Fish

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 217
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4425 on: September 16, 2015, 03:10:06 PM »
That's nothing new.
Last sukkos I don't think there was a plan change fee. Could be I just don't recall.

Offline Emkay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 14295
  • Total likes: 376
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 35
    • View Profile
  • Location: Where I ought to be
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4426 on: September 16, 2015, 03:19:40 PM »
Last sukkos I don't think there was a plan change fee. Could be I just don't recall.
Wasn't always a charge

Offline Yitzshpitz

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 662
  • Total likes: 55
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4427 on: September 16, 2015, 06:07:28 PM »
Im going to israel for Succos and have an iphone and would like to have a little data and be able to use my iphone and not have to get an israeli phone. Whats the best idea for me?

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4428 on: September 16, 2015, 06:21:54 PM »
Im going to israel for Succos and have an iphone and would like to have a little data and be able to use my iphone and not have to get an israeli phone. Whats the best idea for me?
Iphone from which carrier?

Offline Yitzshpitz

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 662
  • Total likes: 55
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4429 on: September 16, 2015, 06:30:05 PM »

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4430 on: September 16, 2015, 07:20:32 PM »
Verizon
That will work in israel with a israeli sim no problem.

Offline Yitzshpitz

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 662
  • Total likes: 55
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4431 on: September 16, 2015, 07:21:44 PM »
That will work in israel with a israeli sim no problem.

Ok thanks

Offline shimmy

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 51
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4432 on: September 20, 2015, 03:38:36 AM »

does anyone know if anyone else BESIDES golan offers an international number. Ie a US/american number that will forward to the Israeli cell phone???





[here is the backstory:
so it seems like I am finally getting fed up with golan!!
I am also having billing issues.
I have called their service center a few times and have been put on hold for over 20 minuted. their callback service is really slow, it had taken them about a day each time to get back to me. as of now I am unsure if I will be keeping them..
]]

Offline yochiek93

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2015
  • Posts: 4456
  • Total likes: 92
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4433 on: September 20, 2015, 07:44:36 AM »
does anyone know if anyone else BESIDES golan offers an international number. Ie a US/american number that will forward to the Israeli cell phone???





[here is the backstory:
so it seems like I am finally getting fed up with golan!!
I am also having billing issues.
I have called their service center a few times and have been put on hold for over 20 minuted. their callback service is really slow, it had taken them about a day each time to get back to me. as of now I am unsure if I will be keeping them..
]]
iinm its only golan, but there are plenty of other ways to get an american number i.e. localphone

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4434 on: September 20, 2015, 08:12:12 AM »
iinm its only golan, but there are plenty of other ways to get an american number i.e. localphone
+1 on local phone I used that about 5 years ago.

Offline Hidden

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 744
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4435 on: September 20, 2015, 08:23:58 AM »
You can get an American number to cell phone for ten dollars a month

Offline sammy n

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2813
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4436 on: September 20, 2015, 08:30:54 AM »
You can get an American number to cell phone for ten dollars a month
From where?

Offline Hidden

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 744
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4437 on: September 20, 2015, 09:05:06 AM »

Offline zer0k1

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 582
  • Total likes: 5
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: Canada
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4438 on: September 20, 2015, 10:40:24 AM »
It seems that Golan will no longer give out plans without an Israeli cc. I am going to Israel today and I was planning on going to bug tomorrow to set up the plan and keep it for 8 months. What can I do??

Offline yitrap

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 3288
  • Total likes: 55
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4439 on: September 20, 2015, 11:09:03 AM »

It seems that Golan will no longer give out plans without an Israeli cc. I am going to Israel today and I was planning on going to bug tomorrow to set up the plan and keep it for 8 months. What can I do??
Was reported up thread. Find someone with Golan who will add you to their existing account.