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 1355501 times)

Offline nafnaf12

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4192
  • Total likes: 251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5060 on: June 21, 2017, 04:07:23 PM »
sorry forgot to mention it's a second line. Making it ₪29 instead of ₪39
if anyone is planning on getting this plan, they just added to the T&C that you only get 240min international calling.
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline David Smith

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 8075
  • Total likes: 212
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5061 on: June 21, 2017, 04:09:44 PM »
if anyone is planning on getting this plan, they just added to the T&C that you only get 240min international calling.
Are old lines grandfathered in?
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 nafnaf12

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4192
  • Total likes: 251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5062 on: June 21, 2017, 04:21:12 PM »
Are old lines grandfathered in?
I'm not sure I just noticed it today, definitely wasn't there last week when I opened my line
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline Live N Learn

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3799
  • Total likes: 332
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5063 on: June 21, 2017, 05:12:08 PM »
Anybody? B4 I switch

GV has a much nicer and easier interface then Hangouts, but Hangouts has a it's own dialer, and GV dials through your phone.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Online skyguy918

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 3810
  • Total likes: 826
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Queens, NY
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5064 on: June 21, 2017, 05:25:44 PM »
Dose the Moto g5 plus support 4g LTE in israel?
Also it has 2 sim card slots, can I use 1 for us sim and other for Israeli sim to use at the same time? any experience?
Yes:
https://www.frequencycheck.com/country-compatibility/vzz0v/israel/devices?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q%5Bfull_name_cont%5D=G5+plus&q%5Bdevice_brand_id_eq%5D=&commit=Search

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15620
  • Total likes: 7712
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive PlatinumŽ
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5065 on: June 21, 2017, 08:46:27 PM »
Are old lines grandfathered in?
Looks like this is a new plan/promo. It used to be offered with unlimited international calling with a promo price valid for 12 months or 24 months (depending on what the offer was when you signed up) after which it would switch to 99 shekel plan.

Current promo offers 24 month price lock and only 240 minutes of international calling, with plan going up to 55 shekel after the promo period.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Hjay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 1345
  • Total likes: 93
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5066 on: June 22, 2017, 12:35:29 AM »
GV has a much nicer and easier interface then Hangouts, but Hangouts has a it's own dialer, and GV dials through your phone.
Fwiu that would mean that I can't use GV in Israel because it calls through my phone as opposed through data which google hangouts does?

Offline mend89

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 63
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: new york

Offline mend89

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 63
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: new york
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5068 on: June 22, 2017, 11:34:43 AM »
why do you need 2 sims at once ?
US sim to view/receive calls/text to that number. Israeli sim for Data and VOIP calls.

Is there a way to forward all calls and text to Google Voice?

Online skyguy918

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 3810
  • Total likes: 826
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Queens, NY
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5069 on: June 22, 2017, 11:48:04 AM »
US sim to view/receive calls/text to that number. Israeli sim for Data and VOIP calls.

Is there a way to forward all calls and text to Google Voice?
Which version are you looking at? I don't think all the versions are dual sim, but the ones that are usually do have the international LTE bands, including Israel's. On the flip side, they also don't usually have the appropriate bands for US.

The version numbers should be something like XT16**.

Offline Israel b

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 6
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ny
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5070 on: June 29, 2017, 05:40:35 PM »
will the zte z222 be good enough  in Israel ,it will only work on 3g 850 Mhz ,not on 2g  http://willmyphonework.net/

Offline cozmohoot

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4440
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5071 on: June 29, 2017, 08:44:00 PM »
will the zte z222 be good enough  in Israel ,it will only work on 3g 850 Mhz ,not on 2g  http://willmyphonework.net/
That's not really ideal.

Offline Hjay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 1345
  • Total likes: 93
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5072 on: June 30, 2017, 03:15:35 AM »
If I ported from hot to golan do I still need to close my hot acct or it's automatic?

Offline mark da man

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 58
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5073 on: June 30, 2017, 07:37:56 AM »
If I ported from hot to golan do I still need to close my hot acct or it's automatic?
no you dont

Offline mark da man

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 58
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5074 on: June 30, 2017, 07:39:07 AM »
will the zte z222 be good enough  in Israel ,it will only work on 3g 850 Mhz ,not on 2g  http://willmyphonework.net/
it works fine, may need to be unlocked and  for kosher you have to change the imei

Offline dantorah

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 55
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5075 on: July 05, 2017, 10:42:33 AM »
Not sure if discussed previously, anyone have recommendations for student cell service in Israel for the yeaR?

Offline nissang

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2016
  • Posts: 17
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5076 on: July 06, 2017, 06:39:27 AM »
I would also like a recommendation for a cell phone for a student next year. Last year I used cellular israel but they seem to be having a problem with golan.

Offline nafnaf12

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4192
  • Total likes: 251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5077 on: July 06, 2017, 06:40:22 AM »
Not sure if discussed previously, anyone have recommendations for student cell service in Israel for the yeaR?
I would also like a recommendation for a cell phone for a student next year. Last year I used cellular israel but they seem to be having a problem with golan.
why don't you start your own plan with Golan?
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline nissang

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2016
  • Posts: 17
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5078 on: July 06, 2017, 06:41:18 AM »
I think golan discontinued unlimited international calling.

Offline nafnaf12

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4192
  • Total likes: 251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5079 on: July 06, 2017, 06:46:27 AM »
I think golan discontinued unlimited international calling.
-1 that's only for the 39nis plan.
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.