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 1355416 times)

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1040 on: December 26, 2012, 01:24:13 PM »
Calling from the mobile itself can cost a dollar or two if picked up by voicemail.

Pay attention to the shiur, tzaddik'l...

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

Offline Centurion

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1041 on: December 26, 2012, 01:26:31 PM »
no sim needed
i paid $25 dollars to verizon and have unlimited data and text ( pro rated per day)
1.99 each call on verizon (skype +google voice free)
you can only make a first impression ONCE

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1042 on: December 26, 2012, 01:43:33 PM »
no sim needed
i paid $25 dollars to verizon and have unlimited data
sure its unlimited? link?

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1043 on: December 26, 2012, 03:08:33 PM »
Try the other way around - use your house phone to call the cell, and don't pick up.

I know the sim card works, just want to make sure it will work in my Verizon iphone b4 I go (they claim its unlocked)

Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1044 on: December 26, 2012, 03:13:44 PM »
I know the sim card works, just want to make sure it will work in my Verizon iphone b4 I go (they claim its unlocked)
So check if you can get a signal. If it doesn't work then it will say that the sim card isn't good.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1045 on: December 26, 2012, 03:42:36 PM »
Grooveip doesn't work on Golan

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1046 on: December 26, 2012, 04:53:05 PM »
Grooveip doesn't work on Golan

Eh? Why not?!

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1047 on: December 26, 2012, 06:48:42 PM »
Eh? Why not?!

Don't know, didn't work for me this week

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1048 on: December 26, 2012, 09:31:13 PM »
So check if you can get a signal. If it doesn't work then it will say that the sim card isn't good.

True, but then rack up charges for data use out of Israel if the phone pushes data automatically!

But I guess I gotta try:)

Thank You for all your help

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1049 on: December 27, 2012, 03:10:30 AM »
True, but then rack up charges for data use out of Israel if the phone pushes data automatically!

But I guess I gotta try:)

Thank You for all your help

Disable data.

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1050 on: December 27, 2012, 04:24:01 AM »
Does any that lives here use HOT mobile ?

How is their Cell Service ?
And how does their Internet speed on IPhone compare to other providers ?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1051 on: December 27, 2012, 11:21:26 AM »
Does any that lives here use HOT mobile ?

How is their Cell Service ?
And how does their Internet speed on IPhone compare to other providers ?
Just got hot a week ago and I constantly drop calls as per data I'm using a blackberry on that plan and browser dosnt work with hot

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1052 on: December 27, 2012, 11:43:58 AM »
Just got hot a week ago and I constantly drop calls as per data I'm using a blackberry on that plan and browser dosnt work with hot

Thanks ... For 49 nis it sounds to cheap to be good

Offline sky121

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1053 on: December 27, 2012, 11:55:32 AM »
Thanks ... For 49 nis it sounds to cheap to be good

Been using it for a week. Have had a dropped call. And I've noticed service disappearing sometimes but otherwise I'm happy.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1054 on: December 27, 2012, 12:37:30 PM »
Thanks ... For 49 nis it sounds to cheap to be good
why not use golan?
i am pretty happy with it
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1055 on: December 27, 2012, 01:03:18 PM »
why not use golan?
i am pretty happy with it

Also poor service

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1056 on: December 27, 2012, 01:54:28 PM »
Also poor service


+1 compared to orange it's really bad

Offline mmermss

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1057 on: December 27, 2012, 01:55:26 PM »


+1 compared to orange it's really bad
I'm pretty happy with Orange.
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1058 on: December 27, 2012, 01:57:15 PM »
I'm pretty happy with Orange.
Me 2 until the bill comes :)

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1059 on: December 28, 2012, 07:53:17 AM »
Hi I've read a bit of this thread so i feel like i can ask this now.  Im looking to rent 3 cell phones for my family for 10 days.  I dont need data or to call america. we will not be using them that much. I know there are multiple companies. Any ideas on what the best option is?
Perhaps a Hot mobile, with their 10 agurot plan, it's free, you only pay one time for the sim card (39 shek? IIRC), 10 agurot/min, 10 agurot/SMS, 10 agurot/1 MB data.
Or (if you're lazy) you can try Isracell for a "Kosher phone", 12.9 cents/min. (+one time $5 "activation fee"), I've used them in the past, before all the deregulation in the Israeli cell phone industry.