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 1355245 times)

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4660 on: January 04, 2016, 02:31:19 AM »
With Sprint you get unlimited data and texts. Phone calls are.20/min.
I think you only get 1 GB of data.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline sawlw

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4661 on: January 16, 2016, 10:57:44 PM »
Anyone know if Samsung a157 works on golan?

Psa: sprint HTC m8 was major headache on golan, did not receive incoming calls

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4662 on: January 16, 2016, 11:03:29 PM »
Anyone know if Samsung a157 works on golan?

Psa: sprint HTC m8 was major headache on golan, did not receive incoming calls

Odd.  I use my HTC one m8 with Golan often.  Never have any problems.
You Sure you had the settings correct?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline sawlw

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4663 on: January 16, 2016, 11:14:30 PM »
Odd.  I use my HTC one m8 with Golan often.  Never have any problems.
You Sure you had the settings correct?

 Am I sure, no
But I tried everything

U used sprint m8?

Offline sawlw

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4664 on: January 16, 2016, 11:39:36 PM »
Odd.  I use my HTC one m8 with Golan often.  Never have any problems.
You Sure you had the settings correct?


Tried 2 different Golan sim cards, no go
Hot mobile a worked perfectly

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4665 on: January 16, 2016, 11:45:21 PM »
Am I sure, no
But I tried everything

U used sprint m8?
Yup. Many times.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline sawlw

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4666 on: January 17, 2016, 12:03:27 AM »
Yup. Many times.

Any ideas What kind of settings would affect incoming calls?
The fact that HOT mobile worked makes it even more interesting
Another issue I had , I was unable to end a call, if other party ended call then call disconnected if not I had to put phone into airplane mode to disconnect/end phone calls

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4667 on: January 17, 2016, 12:04:27 AM »
Any ideas What kind of settings would affect incoming calls?
The fact that HOT mobile worked makes it even more interesting
Another issue I had , I was unable to end a call, if other party ended call then call disconnected if not I had to put phone into airplane mode to disconnect phone
Could be an issue with the phone

Offline sawlw

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4668 on: January 17, 2016, 12:05:40 AM »
Could be an issue with the phone
Possibly, phone is fairly new

Online moko

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4669 on: January 17, 2016, 10:37:05 PM »
I think you only get 1 GB of data.
incorrect. On the Sprint Framily (and possibly other) plans you get unlimited 2g data.
http://www.sprint.com/landings/international-value-roaming/

Online nafnaf12

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4670 on: January 25, 2016, 07:48:58 PM »
anyway to get around the 14$ shipping fee for golan sim?
im in no rush to get it..
 traveling in march for a week stop over in turkey both ways
want the golan unlimited..
« Last Edit: January 25, 2016, 08:01:25 PM by nafnaf12 »
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline golanusa

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4671 on: January 26, 2016, 10:01:44 AM »
anyway to get around the 14$ shipping fee for golan sim?
im in no rush to get it..
 traveling in march for a week stop over in turkey both ways
want the golan unlimited..
Sure.
order directly from Golan to somewhere in Israel. Then find someone to get that sim and bring it to you in the USA. or walk into a golan store in israel and buy a sim. (sorry we'd love to give you everything for free..... but then how would we make money)

Offline avadah

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4672 on: January 29, 2016, 06:07:58 AM »
Hangouts keeps adding a +972 to any number I try texting. How do I fix this?

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4673 on: February 02, 2016, 03:56:43 PM »
Does anyone know if there is an easy way to check data usage with Golan?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline D93

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4674 on: February 02, 2016, 05:38:33 PM »
Does anyone know if there is an easy way to check data usage with Golan?

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Online gubevo18

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4675 on: February 02, 2016, 10:24:13 PM »
can i put any sim card into a sprint iphone 5?

Offline sammy n

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4676 on: February 03, 2016, 02:06:51 AM »

can i put any sim card into a sprint iphone 5?
Not sure if your asking if it'll fit or if it'll work but either way yes it'll fit and you must get sprint to unlock it for international use in order for it to work.

Offline Mech

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4677 on: February 07, 2016, 08:20:35 AM »
Can I still add a line to my plan (need it for a week) and cancel before the 25th and not get charged? (Besides for the sim). I was told in a Golan store that any line that I add has a minimum of 3 months. Does that mean I can't cancel within the month?

Offline sammy n

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4678 on: February 07, 2016, 08:28:31 AM »

Can I still add a line to my plan (need it for a week) and cancel before the 25th and not get charged? (Besides for the sim). I was told in a Golan store that any line that I add has a minimum of 3 months. Does that mean I can't cancel within the month?
Yes you can. The reason they tell you that is bec they won't get commission on the sim of you don't keep for 3 months.

Offline Mech

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4679 on: February 07, 2016, 08:41:48 AM »

Yes you can. The reason they tell you that is bec they won't get commission on the sim of you don't keep for 3 months.
Thanx