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 1354966 times)

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4880 on: August 24, 2016, 11:36:25 AM »
i dont understand, just get an unlimited voice only plan you wont have to think twice before each call and its way cheaper
He had 8 years to figure that out :-)

Offline coupongal

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4881 on: August 24, 2016, 08:59:40 PM »
I tried my amazon fire phone last year that I bought just for this reason and we couldnt get the sim to work, wouldn;t recognize the sim :( did you get a nano sim that wasnt cut?? did you buy in israel or US?

I ask because I tried in Israel with a nano sim cut from regular sim and it didn't work. How do I unlock phone?

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4882 on: August 24, 2016, 09:22:28 PM »
Anyone use the international Verizon plan in Israel for $10 day? How does it work? Happy? Wondering if I should do this or buy a SIM card. Need data for navigation

Perfect for Waze whatsApp etc.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4883 on: August 24, 2016, 09:23:19 PM »
Anyone with details on Golan's prorated charges?
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline gabba

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4884 on: August 25, 2016, 11:31:30 AM »
Does anyone have comparison info regrading Golan vs Hot in regrds to service around Israel? Is one better than the other. Thanks

Offline stv17

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4885 on: August 25, 2016, 01:27:44 PM »
Does anyone have comparison info regrading Golan vs Hot in regrds to service around Israel? Is one better than the other. Thanks

They're the same almost throughout the country.
Golan actually just signed a deal with HOT and will be using HOT's infrastructure and antennas.(instead of Cellcom)

Offline madhatter349

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4886 on: October 06, 2016, 09:16:10 AM »
Anyone have any experience with walla mobile, read you can purchase a sim from cofix for 5 shekels. Any experience cancelling after a month or 2?

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4887 on: October 07, 2016, 02:47:05 PM »
They're the same almost throughout the country.
Golan actually just signed a deal with HOT and will be using HOT's infrastructure and antennas.(instead of Cellcom)
However, it seems like that ended before it even started. It has been disallowed since Golan doesn't hold an MVNO license, it is actually required to have it's own infrastructure.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline madhatter349

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4888 on: October 08, 2016, 04:47:41 PM »
anyone have any experience with picking up a 5 shekel walla sim card from coffix and cancelling after a month or 2?

Was thinking about getting there 40 shekel 10gb plan, unless there are other recommendations, seems like they offer the cheapest sim.

thanks!

Offline madhatter349

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4889 on: October 09, 2016, 09:34:09 AM »
anyone have any experience with picking up a 5 shekel walla sim card from coffix and cancelling after a month or 2?

Was thinking about getting there 40 shekel 10gb plan, unless there are other recommendations, seems like they offer the cheapest sim.

thanks!

Just an update, got the sim from cofix, 1,2,3, super easy.

Does not seem like walla will allow a US credit card or I'm doing something wrong. Tried 8 different ways, with 2 different CC's (amex/chase) now have 8, $5 dollar pending charges from pelephone lol.........

any ideas?

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4890 on: October 09, 2016, 01:01:12 PM »
Just an update, got the sim from cofix, 1,2,3, super easy.

Does not seem like walla will allow a US credit card or I'm doing something wrong. Tried 8 different ways, with 2 different CC's (amex/chase) now have 8, $5 dollar pending charges from pelephone lol.........

any ideas?

You could buy a reloadable debit card at the post office. Although there is a one time fee for it and I havn't tried using it with a cellphone provider.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4891 on: October 09, 2016, 02:11:36 PM »
I will be visiting in November.
From my research it seems that I would need to pay for 4 months up front for Golan service. Is that true?

Offline Srsy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4892 on: October 09, 2016, 04:45:53 PM »
My Sprint Plan charges .20 a minute for incominf and outgoing calls and free data.  Would I be charged if I make calls thru whatts app? 

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4893 on: October 09, 2016, 05:03:16 PM »
My Sprint Plan charges .20 a minute for incominf and outgoing calls and free data.  Would I be charged if I make calls thru whatts app?
No.

Offline Srsy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4894 on: October 09, 2016, 05:21:28 PM »
No.
Sprint told me I might get charged.
Any other ways I can make calls thru the internet if I don't want to use whats app

Offline yakov116

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4895 on: October 09, 2016, 05:23:39 PM »
Sprint told me I might get charged.
Any other ways I can make calls thru the internet if I don't want to use whats app
Just keep in mind the the data is very very trottled
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4896 on: October 09, 2016, 05:36:35 PM »
Sprint told me I might get charged.
Any other ways I can make calls thru the internet if I don't want to use whats app
Sprint is wrong.
Magicjack.

Offline Srsy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4897 on: October 09, 2016, 05:51:29 PM »
Just keep in mind the the data is very very trottled
If I am in hotel I can use hotel wifi

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4898 on: October 09, 2016, 06:15:38 PM »
Sprint is wrong.
Magicjack.

You get unlimited SMS and 2G data.
Hangouts Dialer usually works great for the US.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4899 on: October 09, 2016, 06:19:49 PM »
I will be visiting in November.
From my research it seems that I would need to pay for 4 months up front for Golan service. Is that true?

No. Agents only make profit if the line is open for more than 3 months, so some of them won't open an account for you if you're planning to close before 3 months.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"