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 1568422 times)

Offline pghtown

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Cell Phones in Israel
« on: June 11, 2008, 10:33:28 PM »
I am interested in renting a cell phone while in Israel.  I am looking for advise on renting in the US vs Israel and which company is best.  Thanks !

Offline Dan

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2008, 12:04:02 AM »
How long are you going for?
Are you going by yourself or with other people?
Where will you be calling to while in Israel?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline pghtown

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2008, 12:50:46 AM »
About 3 weeks, with family.  Mostly will call to and receive calls from cell phones and landlines in Israel.  Very little to the US.  Quick search on the web seems to point towards Amigo.  Your thoughts?

Offline Dan

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2008, 01:02:35 AM »
Amigo is worthwhile if you're getting at least 2 phones and will take advantage of their free direct connect service.  Take a look at their short-term student plans which may be a better deal than the tourist plan.

Also be sure to have them disable the internet, Amigo charges a whopping 9 cents a kb, to put that into perspective loading dansdeals.com on your phone may just set you back $100!!!
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2008, 02:49:34 AM »
theres also a company called kol contacts which charges 1 dollar a day plus a flat 17 cents a minute to any phone in israel and to america and free incoming (and theres pickup in brooklyn)
« Last Edit: June 12, 2008, 02:54:58 AM by moish »

levi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2008, 02:52:05 AM »
theres also a company called kol contacts which charges 1 dollar a day plus a flat 17 cents a minute to any phone in israel and to america
Amigo is the way to go, take atvantage of their free direct connect

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2008, 02:58:15 AM »
Amigo is the way to go, take atvantage of their free direct connect
  he said that hes calling landlines thus doesnt need direct connect  so why is amigo the way to go?

levi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2008, 03:16:15 AM »
  he said that hes calling landlines thus doesnt need direct connect  so why is amigo the way to go?
"Mostly will call to and receive calls from cell phones and landlines in Israel.  Very little to the US"

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2008, 03:33:22 AM »
"Mostly will call to and receive calls from cell phones and landlines in Israel.  Very little to the US"

  true but it sounds like people with EXISTING cell phones not tourists like himself and most phones in israel dont have a wakie talkie feature  so its not worth paying more for a feature hes probably not going to be using too much

levi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2008, 03:40:49 AM »
  true but it sounds like people with EXISTING cell phones not tourists like himself and most phones in israel dont have a wakie talkie feature  so its not worth paying more for a feature hes probably not going to be using too much
About 3 weeks, with family.

levi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2008, 03:42:58 AM »
its not worth paying more for a feature hes probably not going to be using too much
The feature is FREE

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2008, 03:50:09 AM »
The feature is FREE
true but the whole plan is more expensive   also about the family thing
I am interested in renting a cell phone while in Israel.  I am looking for advise on renting in the US vs Israel and which company is best.  Thanks !
notice  CELL PHONE  singular which sounds like hes only looking to rent one phone!  :-)    We can go back and forth a whole day, levi,  btw im still waiting for you to get back to me in the pm
« Last Edit: June 12, 2008, 03:52:11 AM by moish »

levi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2008, 03:52:31 AM »
notice  CELL PHONE  singular which sounds like hes only looking to rent one phone!  :-)
The topic is Cell PhoneS in Israel  ;D 

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2008, 03:55:25 AM »
i have something to say but i think im going to let pghtown clarify his question  btw when are you going to get back to me in the message boards?

Offline pghtown

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2008, 06:34:11 AM »
Thansk folks.  I  need to rent ONE cell phone only.  Will be making/receiving calls to/from Israelis with their own cell phones as well as from landlines.  Hope this clarifies things
« Last Edit: June 12, 2008, 06:41:08 AM by pghtown »

Offline ash

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #15 on: June 12, 2008, 01:21:54 PM »
what about getting a pre paid cell phone in israel?

Offline moish

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #16 on: June 12, 2008, 01:32:28 PM »
Thansk folks.  I  need to rent ONE cell phone only.  Will be making/receiving calls to/from Israelis with their own cell phones as well as from landlines.  Hope this clarifies things
so there you have it  in this situation i think kol contact is the best route

Offline ash

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #17 on: June 12, 2008, 01:35:16 PM »
i loooked into it everyone wants money
how about unlocking you phone and getting a prepaid sim in israel

Offline yid

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #18 on: June 23, 2008, 02:11:32 PM »
prepaid sim cards are rarely worth it, unless you just want a phone for an emergency... especially with the low dollar and that orange prepaid raised their prices a lot about 10 months ago.

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israel cell phone rental
« Reply #19 on: June 30, 2008, 01:08:16 AM »
is there a short term cell phone rental that gives you good rates on mobile 2 mobile
@around 2 cents a minute? or that comes with a nextel style walkie talkie?