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 1354962 times)

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1020 on: December 25, 2012, 12:59:30 PM »
ugh, noticed the offers mentioned 3G. thanks, guess i will stick to using wifi at hotels etc. in January. isn't there free wifi in the center of Jerusalem anyway?

Offline Centurion

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1021 on: December 25, 2012, 01:37:35 PM »
my iphone 5 (verizon) not working in israel
is this something i have to change on my phone setting? or something i have to call verizon about?
you can only make a first impression ONCE

Offline sky121

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1022 on: December 25, 2012, 01:43:20 PM »
my iphone 5 (verizon) not working in israel
is this something i have to change on my phone setting? or something i have to call verizon about?

With a local sim?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1023 on: December 25, 2012, 03:11:36 PM »
my iphone 5 (verizon) not working in israel
is this something i have to change on my phone setting? or something i have to call verizon about?
mines working
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Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1024 on: December 25, 2012, 08:15:22 PM »
or go to hot mobile in the central bus station and sign up a new line at their intro offer of 49 shekel a month with unlimited to isral/states/3gb of data and they give you a iphone 5 sim- for another 45 shekel. then when you leave israel call them and switch the plan to the 10 agurot plan which is pay only for what u use and no monthly fees- and you will have a sim for life with the same number.
It seems that no matter how many times the above and similar plans are discussed here and at length - spoon fed, there are still these folks who are more comfortable spending hundreds of dollars on some outrageously priced "travelcell", "talk'nsave" or whatever. 

Mind boggling.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1025 on: December 26, 2012, 02:32:13 AM »
It seems that no matter how many times the above and similar plans are discussed here and at length - spoon fed, there are still these folks who are more comfortable spending hundreds of dollars on some outrageously priced "travelsell", "talk'nspend" or whatever. 

Mind boggling.

FTFY.

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1026 on: December 26, 2012, 02:43:29 AM »
FTFY.
Really batchy, do you understand these people?  What are they thinking?  Any limmud zchus?
!פּשוט אַ שאָד די אידישע געלט

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1027 on: December 26, 2012, 04:17:49 AM »
Saw this in the mir
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Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1028 on: December 26, 2012, 05:27:07 AM »
Really batchy, do you understand these people?  What are they thinking?  Any limmud zchus?
!פּשוט אַ שאָד די אידישע געלט

+1

It's called "too lazy to venture out of their comfort zone".

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1029 on: December 26, 2012, 05:45:47 AM »
Really batchy, do you understand these people?  What are they thinking?  Any limmud zchus?
!פּשוט אַ שאָד די אידישע געלט
+1

It's called "too lazy to venture out of their comfort zone".
+1
I had a relative who came to Israel for 10 days...paid ~$100-150 for a SIM.
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1030 on: December 26, 2012, 06:26:19 AM »
+1
I had a relative who came to Israel for 10 days...paid ~$100-150 for a SIM.

:o

As Kevin O'leary would say: "They should be brought up on criminal charges... for the murder of money."

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1031 on: December 26, 2012, 06:52:45 AM »
:o
As Kevin O'leary would say: "They should be brought up on criminal charges... for the murder of money."
Like!

Offline rots5

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Re: Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1032 on: December 26, 2012, 06:54:03 AM »
Like!

sad but that defines my parents (more my father by now) lol  :-[ :)
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Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1033 on: December 26, 2012, 07:15:33 AM »
sad but that defines my parents (more my father by now) lol  :-[ :)
You got to start teaching him how to get good deals  ;)
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1034 on: December 26, 2012, 11:08:39 AM »
If I have an Israeli Sim card (Hot) and I put it in my iphone in the USA will it work? ( I just want to test it to make sure it work prior to going to Israel. ) (I am a bit confused, hence the expensive rental plans) I can call my house number and not pick up so no charge?

Thank You

Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1035 on: December 26, 2012, 11:35:17 AM »
If I have an Israeli Sim card (Hot) and I put it in my iphone in the USA will it work? ( I just want to test it to make sure it work prior to going to Israel. ) (I am a bit confused, hence the expensive rental plans) I can call my house number and not pick up so no charge?

Thank You
It should work but you can be charged a connecting fee, so beware of using it.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1036 on: December 26, 2012, 11:50:54 AM »
It should work but you can be charged a connecting fee, so beware of using it.

Try the other way around - use your house phone to call the cell, and don't pick up.

Offline real-brisker

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1037 on: December 26, 2012, 12:38:57 PM »
Be careful. Getting connected to voicemail counts as if the call was picked up.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1038 on: December 26, 2012, 12:51:15 PM »
Be careful. Getting connected to voicemail counts as if the call was picked up.

Maximum price (from a phone card): 12 cents.

Offline real-brisker

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1039 on: December 26, 2012, 01:17:05 PM »
Calling from the mobile itself can cost a dollar or two if picked up by voicemail.