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 1371955 times)

Offline jose34

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5440 on: March 04, 2019, 06:07:18 PM »
Anyone know which company offers call forwarding of my Israel cell number to ring on my American phone ( when I am in America)?

Offline jmz

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5441 on: March 04, 2019, 07:48:46 PM »
Anyone know which company offers call forwarding of my Israel cell number to ring on my American phone ( when I am in America)?
There's a guy in Israel who does it. Pm me for his whatsapp

Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5442 on: March 04, 2019, 07:49:34 PM »
Anyone know which company offers call forwarding of my Israel cell number to ring on my American phone ( when I am in America)?
I wish they're was a free or even a cost affordable service like this.
 But if your willing to pay try CelluarIsrael.

 Iirc there was once such a company with the option for an american/israeli number and was able to help you with this.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5443 on: March 04, 2019, 07:57:31 PM »
Anyone know which company offers call forwarding of my Israel cell number to ring on my American phone ( when I am in America)?
In theory, for $2 per month Zadarma.com will give you a virtual Israeli mobile (or landline) number which you can forward to any SIP phone (or use their software). For incoming SMS to work they go crazy asking you to send copies of your passport and then reject them.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5444 on: March 04, 2019, 08:02:56 PM »
In theory, for $2 per month Zadarma.com will give you a virtual Israeli mobile (or landline) number which you can forward to any SIP phone (or use their software). For incoming SMS to work they go crazy asking you to send copies of your passport and then reject them.
No way to forward to a mobile number? Or you can but they charge more?
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5445 on: March 04, 2019, 08:06:53 PM »
No way to forward to a mobile number? Or you can but they charge more?
You can forward to a any number, but then you’re paying for the calls and texts.

Maybe you can set up something where it will make a SIP connection to an OBi device (or to some virtual PBX) and then have OBi or GV forward the call to another US number.

What are you trying to accomplish? What’s your specific goal?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5446 on: March 04, 2019, 10:39:46 PM »
You can forward to a any number, but then you’re paying for the calls and texts.

Maybe you can set up something where it will make a SIP connection to an OBi device (or to some virtual PBX) and then have OBi or GV forward the call to another US number.

What are you trying to accomplish? What’s your specific goal?
While I have many Israelis who would want to reach me, I have no way to check voice-mails nor know who called me.
 If I would forward it to a GV number I would be able to view the calls and all with my phone, that should work.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5447 on: March 04, 2019, 10:50:09 PM »
While I have many Israelis who would want to reach me, I have no way to check voice-mails nor know who called me.
 If I would forward it to a GV number I would be able to view the calls and all with my phone, that should work.
There are also Israeli companies (such as 012global.com local03.com and Bezecom) that offer local Israeli numbers.

If all you want is to be able to listen to voicemail, the Zadarma.com solution should work for you.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5448 on: March 04, 2019, 10:52:46 PM »
There are also Israeli companies (such as 012global.com local03.com and Bezecom) that offer local Israeli numbers.

If all you want is to be able to listen to voicemail, the Zadarma.com solution should work for you.
Thanks ExGingi, will take a look and see what's what.
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Offline ual902

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5449 on: March 05, 2019, 12:57:21 AM »
What is the best  plan for Israel and Europe? I use cricket wireless  within the USA Galaxy S7 Edge GSM.
Roaming with T-Mobile prepaid plan?.

Offline myi

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5450 on: March 05, 2019, 01:04:24 AM »
What is the best  plan for Israel and Europe? I use cricket wireless  within the USA Galaxy S7 Edge GSM.
Roaming with T-Mobile prepaid plan?.
Don't know what you should use in Europe but for israel just get a sim for the few weeks or days your there.
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Offline ual902

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5451 on: March 05, 2019, 01:21:45 AM »
Google Voice Number porting means that calls being dialed to my USA Cricket wireless phone number will ring on my GV and I will be able to answer the phone calls right away when traveling  Israel\Europe\ Global travel using the google voice app?



Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5452 on: March 05, 2019, 04:07:34 AM »
Google Voice Number porting means that calls being dialed to my USA Cricket wireless phone number will ring on my GV and I will be able to answer the phone calls right away when traveling  Israel\Europe\ Global travel using the google voice app?



No!

Number porting transfers over your phone number to GV, meaning that they take the number away from your carrier and set it as your GV number.

The only way you will then be able to recieve call will be through the app(btw the app to answer phone calls is hangouts and not Voice...), or by forwarding the calls to an other US phone number.

What you might be looking for is call forwarding, check with your carrier if there's any charges for them. There are several different types of forwarding, look it up.
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Offline chaaarvy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5453 on: March 06, 2019, 06:32:06 PM »
Will an Israeli kosher phone sim card work in a non-kosher world phone, both Cellcom and Golan?

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5454 on: March 07, 2019, 02:26:37 AM »
Short answer, No. Some stores are able to make it work in Samsung smartphones.
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Offline Yissroel

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5455 on: March 07, 2019, 03:00:19 AM »
Will an Israeli kosher phone sim card work in a non-kosher world phone, both Cellcom and Golan?
many phones besides Nokia can be opened to work with a kosher phone
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Offline chaaarvy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5456 on: March 07, 2019, 11:08:32 AM »
many phones besides Nokia can be opened to work with a kosher phone

@Yissroel - So, if I have a nokia world phone (model #c2-01, made in 2011), there's no way to use it with either golan or cellcom kosher sims?

Offline Yissroel

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5457 on: March 07, 2019, 04:59:02 PM »
@Yissroel - So, if I have a nokia world phone (model #c2-01, made in 2011), there's no way to use it with either golan or cellcom kosher sims?
correct, there is no way to kasher a nokia. Sometimes there are ways to do a pertza on a sim depending on the company, and until they catch the shtick and block it. no reliable so i dont like offering it.
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Offline Moe Ginsburg

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5458 on: March 07, 2019, 10:36:27 PM »
What's the point of having a kosher sim if you want to use it in a non-kosher phone anyways?

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5459 on: March 08, 2019, 02:17:07 AM »
What's the point of having a kosher sim if you want to use it in a non-kosher phone anyways?
A Kosher Sim just blocks Data, SMS, and a lot of hotlines. A kosher phone disables most of the phones features e.g. camera, Bluetooth, etc., and costs much more...
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