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 1354912 times)

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1860 on: February 19, 2013, 07:48:52 AM »
All Israeli plans include free incoming. Whether a plan or prepaid.
Great- thanks!
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1861 on: February 19, 2013, 07:52:54 AM »
Take me on my word- you didn't cancel your plan unless you jumped through 50 hoops. The only possible way to cancel with CellCon is by fax (outrageous >:(). Then they claim that they didn't get the fax etc. 2 months later you receive a 500nis bill, hoping you cancelled your CC...
na i spoke to my only hookup in cellcom who speaks english.  he claims 48hrs
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Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1862 on: February 19, 2013, 08:15:56 AM »
Canceling my Cellcom plan was long and painful

Offline L'Chaim

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1863 on: February 19, 2013, 09:18:39 AM »
Canceling my Cellcom plan was long and painful

Even if you port your number?

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1864 on: February 19, 2013, 09:23:28 AM »

Even if you port your number?

If I'm not mistaken, yes.
Visibly Jewish

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1865 on: February 19, 2013, 09:23:52 AM »

Even if you port your number?

I ported my number but was still getting charges

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1866 on: February 19, 2013, 09:29:41 AM »
I ported my number but was still getting charges

Not surprising in the least. Anyone wanna support my boycott of cellcon?
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Offline real-brisker

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1867 on: February 19, 2013, 10:45:55 AM »
Yuneeq - I already am. I'm on orange.

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1868 on: February 19, 2013, 10:48:29 AM »
Not surprising in the least. Anyone wanna support my boycott of cellcon?

I'm on Orange already

But the Guy signing up all the Americans in Geulah is the cause of a lot of problems

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1869 on: February 19, 2013, 10:52:33 AM »
Yuneeq - I already am. I'm on orange.
I'm on Orange already

But the Guy signing up all the Americans in Geulah is the cause of a lot of problems

My idea is to make a campaign to prevent others from signing up to them. From me- cellcon already made plenty of money. I hope we can make a public boycott to get everyone else's attention.

In all honesty, from what I heard, Orange ain't the most honest company around either.
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Offline real-brisker

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1870 on: February 19, 2013, 10:57:25 AM »
I'm fine with em. 

Offline 972sg212

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1871 on: February 19, 2013, 11:03:59 AM »
My idea is to make a campaign to prevent others from signing up to them. From me- cellcon already made plenty of money. I hope we can make a public boycott to get everyone else's attention.

In all honesty, from what I heard, Orange ain't the most honest company around either.

I'm very happy with orange been with them for a year

I tried to make an awareness regarding  Cellcom
But people always say the price is too good not to say no

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1872 on: February 19, 2013, 11:29:10 AM »
I ported a number from cellcom to orange and it was over. No additional charges.

Offline Menucha

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel - Golan phone
« Reply #1873 on: February 19, 2013, 11:36:30 AM »
read thru approx 500 of the posts..

so here is my q:
would like to use Golan, need to buy an unlocked phone that will work w Golan (or buy a locked one and get it unlocked)
1.  I am up to an upgrade of sprint - would sprint iphone 4 work, or since its CDMA and not GSM it will not work for Golan?

2  on Golan sites no listing of models, only makers, hard to decide what would be a good phone. - any listing for phones that would work with Golan? looking for smart and non smart. (3 lines to be used for a trip)

3. when buying ebay or cowboom/ swappa - what warranty do I have? its used phones, and no way to know how good till I get to IL and try. How can be better prepared for no issues?
paypal says only 45 days from pmt (too early to know, wont arrive yet) and only for ebay. not for others.
any credit card would protect from a bad phone if bot used? for how long?
most important, even if get a refund, will not have a phone, in case used is not great.

any thoughts?

4.  What phones does Davidka sell? for how much? can they activate Golan sim? I can send someone over before arriving.

5.  would the following be a good idea?
SVP Q70
Samsung SGH A157
IPRO i318?

6. read posts of issues of phone not rining, US connection issues - still true?

Thanks!


Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel - Golan phone
« Reply #1874 on: February 19, 2013, 11:57:29 AM »
2  on Golan sites no listing of models, only makers, hard to decide what would be a good phone. - any listing for phones that would work with Golan? looking for smart and non smart. (3 lines to be used for a trip)

3. when buying ebay or cowboom/ swappa - what warranty do I have? its used phones, and no way to know how good till I get to IL and try. How can be better prepared for no issues?

A general rule of thumb is that you're safest if you make sure to get a quad-band phone.

Offline real-brisker

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1875 on: February 19, 2013, 12:06:05 PM »
Iphone 4 with verizon or sprint doesnt have sim slot.

Offline Menucha

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1876 on: February 19, 2013, 12:51:09 PM »
moish, where is best and cost effective to buy reliable quad band phone?

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1877 on: February 19, 2013, 12:53:04 PM »
moish, where is best and cost effective to buy reliable quad band phone?
ebay
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Offline Menucha

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1878 on: February 19, 2013, 02:02:16 PM »
concern w ebay: will activate phone only when arrive to EY, and only then can find out if its in great shape. ebay warranty has time limit, which may be before phone is take abroad. anSy suggestions how to get a good ebay phone?

would samsung SGH A157 work in Israel?
what would be customs if ship from ebay directly by mail (so someone can take to Golan and activate)


Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #1879 on: February 19, 2013, 02:03:55 PM »
what would be customs if ship from ebay directly by mail (so someone can take to Golan and activate)
no place to go to golan and no need to activate phone.