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 1355275 times)

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1800 on: February 12, 2013, 01:42:34 PM »
I meant "using only a passport" as opposed to TZ. I did give proof of my salary to them, though I'm not sure it was necessary to get a CC. It was definitely necessary if I didn't wanna pay crazy fees for just having a bank account open with them. I got a CC not debit.
Well then that's what I am saying. The wiki is confusing... the wording appears to say that any tourist getting into a bank with a passport can get a CC... Getting a CC when living and working in Israel is not really an issue (even if you don't have a TZ)

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1801 on: February 12, 2013, 01:52:19 PM »
Well then that's what I am saying. The wiki is confusing... the wording appears to say that any tourist getting into a bank with a passport can get a CC... Getting a CC when living and working in Israel is not really an issue (even if you don't have a TZ)
it's not a problem at all to get a cc by an Israeli bank especially if you have a student visa. they might be tightening up a little though, try again by poalim, I know many who do have with them.
A regular "tourist" will have problems- and if he is only doing this to get a golan/hot sim for a week, I'd love to meet him.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1802 on: February 12, 2013, 01:55:10 PM »
it's not a problem at all to get a cc by an Israeli bank especially if you have a student visa. they might be tightening up a little though, try again by poalim, I know many who do have with them.
I also had mine in the past but it expired. When I asked for a new one (after I had left for the US and stopped earning a salary there), they refused to get me a new one. The point is that you need to have a oraat keva (monthly deposit) so even a student can get that you just need money coming into your account on a monthly basis.

Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1803 on: February 12, 2013, 01:55:43 PM »
No need for proof of monthly income? I guess then it should be mentioned which bank because I tried at Hapoalim and it was a no go. Also is it a debit or credit card?

Well I got an account with them 4 years ago only with my passport and without any proof of income. When they asked me if I earn anything I told them that my parents send me money. (I was in yeshiva then).

Ps you usually need a second proof of identity.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1804 on: February 12, 2013, 01:57:07 PM »
Well I got an account with them 4 years ago only with my passport and without any proof of income. When they asked me if I earn anything I told them that my parents send me money. (I was in yeshiva then).

Ps you usually need a second proof of identity.
just as I said...
I also had mine in the past but it expired. When I asked for a new one (after I had left for the US and stopped earning a salary there), they refused to get me a new one. The point is that you need to have a oraat keva (monthly deposit) so even a student can get that you just need money coming into your account on a monthly basis.


Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1805 on: February 12, 2013, 01:58:27 PM »
Well I got an account with them 4 years ago only with my passport and without any proof of income. When they asked me if I earn anything I told them that my parents send me money. (I was in yeshiva then).

Ps you usually need a second proof of identity.

So basically its YMMV.
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1806 on: February 12, 2013, 01:59:42 PM »
So basically its YMMV.
lol. how do you get it is YMMV when everyone that has posted saying that they got a CC actually had some kind of income coming into their account (salary, parents, etc...)

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1807 on: February 12, 2013, 02:02:31 PM »
lol. how do you get it is YMMV when everyone that has posted saying that they got a CC actually had some kind of income coming into their account (salary, parents, etc...)
nope, it's what the mood of the clerk is.
I doubt L'chaim's parents deposited in his IL account.

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1808 on: February 12, 2013, 02:05:56 PM »
nope, it's what the mood of the clerk is.
I doubt L'chaim's parents deposited in his IL account.

+1
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Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1809 on: February 12, 2013, 02:12:05 PM »
nope, it's what the mood of the clerk is.
I doubt L'chaim's parents deposited in his IL account.

You're right, they didn't.
I forgot to add that they only gave me a CC after about 2 years.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1810 on: February 12, 2013, 02:13:16 PM »
You're right, they didn't.
I forgot to add that they only gave me a CC after about 2 years.
??? After 2 years that you had the account? with no activity in it?

Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1811 on: February 12, 2013, 02:14:33 PM »
??? After 2 years that you had the account? with no activity in it?

With a debit card and obviously activity.

Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1812 on: February 12, 2013, 02:15:13 PM »
With a debit card and obviously activity.
Hence my point, a tourist cannot get into an Israeli bank, show his passport and get a CC on an account with no activity... which comes back to my original point, Rule #3 is misleading.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2013, 02:20:23 PM by Yossi. »

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1813 on: February 12, 2013, 02:25:23 PM »
Hence my point, a tourist cannot get into an Israeli bank, show his passport and get a CC on an account with no activity... which comes back to my original point, Rule #3 is misleading.

Its a wiki. If you believe its wrong, take it out and notify us of the changes.
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1814 on: February 12, 2013, 02:27:40 PM »
Its a wiki. If you believe its wrong, take it out and notify us of the changes.
Don't worry it will be changed. But people can't just go and change the Wiki one after the other based on what they think. The Wiki should contain information confirmed by more than one person I believe. Hence my point to see if anyone was able to get a CC without having activity on their account as I was not able to. As of now, no one was.

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1815 on: February 12, 2013, 02:33:11 PM »
Don't worry it will be changed. But people can't just go and change the Wiki one after the other based on what they think. The Wiki should contain information confirmed by more than one person I believe. Hence my point to see if anyone was able to get a CC without having activity on their account as I was not able to. As of now, no one was.
I was, as soon as I started yeshiva. And when I got married I opened in a new bank, also without showing any prior records.

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1816 on: February 12, 2013, 02:33:38 PM »
Don't worry it will be changed. But people can't just go and change the Wiki one after the other based on what they think. The Wiki should contain information confirmed by more than one person I believe. Hence my point to see if anyone was able to get a CC without having activity on their account as I was not able to. As of now, no one was.

Agreed. Info should not be put in a wiki if it hasn't been confirmed unless it is marked as such. But there are those that put such unconfirmed info in, without notifying anyone. So feel free to remove any info you don't think is true and update us.
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1817 on: February 12, 2013, 02:38:50 PM »
Hence my point to see if anyone was able to get a CC without having activity on their account as I was not able to. As of now, no one was.
I was, as soon as I started yeshiva. And when I got married I opened in a new bank, also without showing any prior records.
I forgot to add that they only gave me a CC after about 2 years.
With a debit card and obviously activity.
I m lost... but that's ok. Nevermind

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1818 on: February 12, 2013, 02:41:11 PM »
I m lost... but that's ok. Nevermind

You're mixing quotes from lchaim and jkhein.
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1819 on: February 12, 2013, 02:44:06 PM »
You're mixing quotes from lchaim and jkhein.
Now it makes more sense ;)