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 1355454 times)

Offline yudamaan

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 445
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5520 on: July 09, 2019, 03:19:35 PM »
Pretty cool card, Service decent?

 So for a 10 day trip thats $12.50, not bad at all.
 And calls to the USA and call forwarding(not sure how that works.)
Not there yet.
But will report back

Also just spoke to them. The call forwarding feature is only available with the upgraded plan, think its 47 dollars
« Last Edit: July 09, 2019, 03:31:00 PM by yudamaan »

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5521 on: July 10, 2019, 02:32:17 AM »
Not there yet.
But will report back

Also just spoke to them. The call forwarding feature is only available with the upgraded plan, think its 47 dollars
Lol , can do that for free with GV.
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

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 #5522 on: July 10, 2019, 04:25:17 PM »
Lol , can do that for free with GV.
U can forward from your USA number to an Israeli number? Probably not so that's why u need the virtual USA number from them.
They give a virtual number that rings on the Israeli sim

Offline avadah

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 2516
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5523 on: July 13, 2019, 03:18:14 PM »
I'm looking to score a good deal for a new smartphone on prime day to use in Israel. Is there anything I need to know about compatibility besides that it needs to be unlocked?

Offline grodnoking

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 5847
  • Total likes: 767
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 17
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5524 on: July 13, 2019, 10:20:25 PM »
I'm looking to score a good deal for a new smartphone on prime day to use in Israel. Is there anything I need to know about compatibility besides that it needs to be unlocked?
Data should be GSM with 900 and 1800 MHz
I'm not who you think I am.

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 #5525 on: July 14, 2019, 08:00:00 AM »
Data should be GSM with 900 and 1800 MHz
That's only the 2g network. How about 3g and LTE?
3g uses 850 and 2100 band.
LTE they use band 3.

Offline avadah

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 2516
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5526 on: July 14, 2019, 09:25:55 AM »
And 4g?

Offline yeshivabucher

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2018
  • Posts: 2140
  • Total likes: 660
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Monsey
  • Programs: Travel Agent, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National EE, Uber VIP, SPG Gold
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5527 on: July 14, 2019, 04:37:00 PM »
Somebody in my family brought a pixel 3a here and it worked even on the LTE bands for hot mobile

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5528 on: July 15, 2019, 11:56:23 PM »
I'm looking to score a good deal for a new smartphone on prime day to use in Israel. Is there anything I need to know about compatibility besides that it needs to be unlocked?
The S9 for 350 will work flawlessly.  ;)

Most newer smart phones should work perfectly.
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Offline shmooz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 2289
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5529 on: July 16, 2019, 10:14:32 AM »
Saw that 012 is selling Israeli Sims here in stores, pics attached. $1.25 day. Anyone with experience with this plan?

Regarding this sim, it says pay $5 for sim get $5 towards service, but when signing up, lists the full fee ($35/$47) anyone know how do you get the $5?

Offline yudamaan

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 445
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5530 on: July 21, 2019, 11:40:31 PM »
Not there yet.
But will report back

Also just spoke to them. The call forwarding feature is only available with the upgraded plan, think its 47 dollars
Was mostly in yerushalyim and service was great.

However just pointing out that when dialing outside of israel you need to dial through a access number. Though if you have the 012 app you can dial directly from within the app.

Offline yudamaan

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 445
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5531 on: July 21, 2019, 11:41:53 PM »
Regarding this sim, it says pay $5 for sim get $5 towards service, but when signing up, lists the full fee ($35/$47) anyone know how do you get the $5?
The sim kit comes with a 5 dollar promo code. Add it in the promo section when checking out

Offline shmooz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 2289
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5532 on: July 22, 2019, 09:39:07 AM »
The sim kit comes with a 5 dollar promo code. Add it in the promo section when checking out

thank you

Offline shmooz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 2289
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5533 on: July 22, 2019, 09:48:51 AM »
U can forward from your USA number to an Israeli number? Probably not so that's why u need the virtual USA number from them.
They give a virtual number that rings on the Israeli sim

So if you forward a tmobile number to the virtual number, which then forwards to israeli number, would tmobile possibly charge as an israeli call? i think i had an issue with that once with a calling card.

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 #5534 on: July 23, 2019, 11:08:04 AM »
So if you forward a tmobile number to the virtual number, which then forwards to israeli number, would tmobile possibly charge as an israeli call? i think i had an issue with that once with a calling card.
Never had such an issue with any carrier.

Offline shmooz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 2289
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5535 on: July 29, 2019, 07:08:51 PM »
So we took two of these 012global cards, one works, but the other says 'not registered on network' or something like that.

It is a Nokia 2. Have used this many times with golan.

Their customer service isn't helping.

Any ideas?

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 #5536 on: July 29, 2019, 07:10:30 PM »
So we took two of these 012global cards, one works, but the other says 'not registered on network' or something like that.

It is a Nokia 2. Have used this many times with golan.

Their customer service isn't helping.

Any ideas?

Did you try switching the SIMS between phones, to see if it's a phone problem or a problem with the SIM?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline shmooz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 2289
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5537 on: July 29, 2019, 07:14:42 PM »
Actually yes forgot that part, had put it in an unlocked s8, says same thing.

Do they have stores you could go into to switch a sim? Couldn't find any on their site.

Offline Dena

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2019
  • Posts: 1
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5538 on: August 07, 2019, 04:42:56 AM »
What are the latest cheapest pay-as-you-go options for a KOsher phone?

Offline yaakov

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 269
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: new jersey
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #5539 on: August 08, 2019, 12:38:58 PM »
What are the latest cheapest pay-as-you-go options for a KOsher phone?
i think cellularisrael.com 3.50 day or 2.85 a day if you take for 2 weeks