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 1355562 times)

Offline David Smith

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4580 on: October 29, 2015, 02:47:46 AM »
No sim detected

I had that with my phone too, and thought it was a problem with the service not being compatible. I just had to shave down the sim till the contacts were touching. Don't ask how long it took me to figure that out. I was using an old T-Mobile phone for a month. IINM it'll realize that there's a sim, even if it's incompatible. That's how i realized something was up with the sim itself.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4581 on: October 29, 2015, 02:50:03 AM »

I had that with my phone too, and thought it was a problem with the service not being compatible. I just had to shave down the sim till the contacts were touching. Don't ask how long it took me to figure that out. I was using an old T-Mobile phone for a month.
Well thanx for telling me now
Wish I would've known this a year + ago
BTW I did try more then one sim

Offline David Smith

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4582 on: October 29, 2015, 02:50:48 AM »
Well thanx for telling me now
Wish I would've known this a year + ago
Yup. A bit useless to know now. I didn't want to risk ruining the sim, but my month was up and i was throwing it out at the end if the day anyways, so i decided to play around with it and bingo! I wish i would've seen this somewhere online. Google can be spectacularly useless, and phone reps even more so. They should have told you in a second that if the phone says no sim detected, the card needs to be adjusted. I haven't found a single site that told me that.
« Last Edit: October 29, 2015, 02:55:15 AM by David Smith »
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4583 on: October 29, 2015, 07:24:03 AM »
are orange, cellcom and pelephone the same in terms of reception, or is there a clear winner?

Offline sammy n

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4584 on: October 29, 2015, 07:27:09 AM »
are orange, cellcom and pelephone the same in terms of reception, or is there a clear winner?
Orange is a clear winner by far!

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4585 on: October 29, 2015, 08:13:50 AM »
Orange is a clear winner by far!
+100000

Offline gedman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4586 on: October 29, 2015, 07:24:57 PM »
I need help on getting short-term cell service in Israel. Needed starting Nov 25th.

Here's what I need:
A short-term (7 day) SIM
Nano size
Available to me immediately upon arriving in Israel (either get it in the US and bring it with me, or obtain it at Ben Gurion when I land).

Orange has a 50nis plan for 7 days which would be great that includes unlimited Israel calls/SMS and 1GB of data.

But, how do I get the plan/card?

Offline D93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4587 on: October 29, 2015, 07:38:31 PM »
I need help on getting short-term cell service in Israel. Needed starting Nov 25th.

Here's what I need:
A short-term (7 day) SIM
Nano size
Available to me immediately upon arriving in Israel (either get it in the US and bring it with me, or obtain it at Ben Gurion when I land).

Orange has a 50nis plan for 7 days which would be great that includes unlimited Israel calls/SMS and 1GB of data.

But, how do I get the plan/card?
Have someone in Israel get it for you.

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4588 on: October 30, 2015, 08:37:03 AM »
Orange is a clear winner by far!
+100000
hmm... i was quite happy with cellcom, and am currently unhappy with hot

any good deals with orange currently?

Offline sammy n

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4589 on: October 30, 2015, 08:59:38 AM »
hmm... i was quite happy with cellcom, and am currently unhappy with hot

any good deals with orange currently?
I think there a plan for 49shek a month with talk txt and 8gb of data and I think 500 min to America.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4590 on: October 30, 2015, 09:00:47 AM »
I think there a plan for 49shek a month with talk txt and 8gb of data and I think 500 min to America.
+1 that's the one

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4591 on: October 30, 2015, 09:50:40 AM »
Orange is a clear winner by far!
+100000

thanks, can i assume that you guys have used cellcom and pelephone as well to make a proper comparison?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4592 on: October 30, 2015, 09:51:36 AM »
thanks, can i assume that you guys have used cellcom and pelephone as well to make a proper comparison?
Never had pelephone but had cellcom

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4593 on: October 31, 2015, 03:26:07 PM »
I think there a plan for 49shek a month with talk txt and 8gb of data and I think 500 min to America.
where are you seeing that deal?

its not on the website

https://shop.orange.co.il/he-il/cellular/plans-lobby/

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4594 on: October 31, 2015, 07:46:16 PM »
where are you seeing that deal?

its not on the website

https://shop.orange.co.il/he-il/cellular/plans-lobby/
go into an orange store im sure they can help

Offline gedman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4595 on: November 01, 2015, 06:35:05 PM »
I need help on getting short-term cell service in Israel. Needed starting Nov 25th.

Here's what I need:
A short-term (7 day) SIM
Nano size
Available to me immediately upon arriving in Israel (either get it in the US and bring it with me, or obtain it at Ben Gurion when I land).

Orange has a 50nis plan for 7 days which would be great that includes unlimited Israel calls/SMS and 1GB of data.

But, how do I get the plan/card?
Can anyone suggest something better than "have someone in Israel get it for you"?  I'd like to have the SIM when I arrive at Ben Gurion.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4596 on: November 02, 2015, 01:03:05 AM »
Can anyone suggest something better than "have someone in Israel get it for you"?  I'd like to have the SIM when I arrive at Ben Gurion.
Golanusa.net

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4597 on: November 15, 2015, 10:56:06 AM »
Anyway to port away from golan without calling the Israeli 800 number from the golan sim. Cousin has golan sim in Canada right now and ported to cellcom but would rather not wait until they get to Israel to complete the port.

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4598 on: December 04, 2015, 01:30:24 AM »
Golan reduced their prices on 2nd lines for some plans.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Kabrams1618

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4599 on: December 06, 2015, 01:53:28 AM »
Just upgraded my golan plan to unlimited and also bought a windows based nokia smart phone.  Can get internet on wifi but not on network.  Any ideas before i call the company