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 1355343 times)

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4900 on: October 09, 2016, 06:21:16 PM »
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.
Any way to bypass agents?

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4901 on: October 09, 2016, 06:24:36 PM »
Any way to bypass agents?

On Davidka they don't usually ask, only the heimishe do.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4902 on: October 09, 2016, 06:29:59 PM »
On Davidka they don't usually ask, only the heimishe do.
So I am assuming the is a Golan retailer there?

ETA: Any retailers in TLV?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4903 on: October 09, 2016, 06:39:21 PM »
Any way to bypass agents?
You don't prepay. Just tell him ok and then just cancel. They can't stop you.

Offline yakov116

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4904 on: October 09, 2016, 06:44:31 PM »
You don't prepay. Just tell him ok and then just cancel. They can't stop you.
That would not be living with the truth
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4905 on: October 09, 2016, 06:46:49 PM »
That would not be living with the truth
I don't see why, the agent tells you that the company makes you have it at least 3 months, you say you agree and nonetheless want to proceed.
I don't see the lie. Distorting his impression maybe.

Offline yakov116

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4906 on: October 09, 2016, 06:50:56 PM »
I don't see why, the agent tells you that the company makes you have it at least 3 months, you say you agree and nonetheless want to proceed.
I don't see the lie. Distorting his impression maybe.
If you feel comfortable to tell that to God go ahead if not then rethink your argument
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4907 on: October 09, 2016, 06:55:50 PM »
If you feel comfortable to tell that to God go ahead if not then rethink your argument
I don't feel comfortable telling that to God but I feel comfortable telling it to the agent who just lied to me for a couple dollars. I'm not very religious.

Offline yakov116

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4908 on: October 09, 2016, 06:57:15 PM »
I don't feel comfortable telling that to God but I feel comfortable telling it to the agent who just lied to me for a couple dollars. I'm not very religious.
Hence
That would not be living with the truth
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4909 on: October 09, 2016, 07:13:00 PM »
Other than Golan (which IMHO could shut down any moment) which other carriers accept US credit cards?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Srsy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4910 on: October 09, 2016, 07:58:39 PM »
You get unlimited SMS and 2G data.
Hangouts Dialer usually works great for the US.
What is Hangouts Dialer
What if I want to call an Israeli number?

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4911 on: October 09, 2016, 09:20:21 PM »

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4912 on: October 09, 2016, 09:21:34 PM »
You don't prepay. Just tell him ok and then just cancel. They can't stop you.
Sweet!
That would not be living with the truth
Are you an agent?

Offline yakov116

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4913 on: October 09, 2016, 11:42:34 PM »
Sweet! Are you an agent?
No.

But I do work in the cell phone business.

But one has nothing to do with the next. A person who lives his live saving a dollar with a lie, is not a person I ever want to deal with.
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4914 on: October 10, 2016, 12:22:05 AM »
No.

But I do work in the cell phone business.

But one has nothing to do with the next. A person who lives his live saving a dollar with a lie, is not a person I ever want to deal with.
So keep away from the cell phone agent who lied to you.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4915 on: October 10, 2016, 01:04:16 AM »
I do work in the cell phone business.
I rest my case.

Offline Boruch999

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4916 on: October 10, 2016, 05:01:56 AM »
If you feel comfortable to tell that to God go ahead if not then rethink your argument

You are missing the point.  Some agents are very up front and honest.  They say that if you cancel within 3 months then we don't get out commision. We don't work for free, so please don't come to us if that is what you are planning to do.
I agree that to cancel in such a case would not make Hashem happy.

However, some agents chose instead to lie and say that Golan does not allow you to cancel within 3 months, hoping that will induce the customer not to try.  In such a case, there is no reason I can see why he should not try.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4917 on: October 10, 2016, 11:10:04 AM »
You are missing the point.  Some agents are very up front and honest.  They say that if you cancel within 3 months then we don't get out commision. We don't work for free, so please don't come to us if that is what you are planning to do.
I agree that to cancel in such a case would not make Hashem happy.

However, some agents chose instead to lie and say that Golan does not allow you to cancel within 3 months, hoping that will induce the customer not to try.  In such a case, there is no reason I can see why he should not try.
I agree with you 100% I have just reread his response and I take back what i said in case B.
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4918 on: October 10, 2016, 02:46:44 PM »
So I am assuming the is a Golan retailer there?

ETA: Any retailers in TLV?

Yes, most dealers sell Golan.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline ad120

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #4919 on: October 10, 2016, 05:21:36 PM »
Yes, most dealers sell Golan.
How about in TLV arrivals hall?