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 1373728 times)

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2460 on: June 13, 2013, 07:19:50 PM »
How long did you wait before trying it ?  Call Golan?
indid it when we discussed it last. But i forgot to see if it works. Lol. Bit busy here.
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Offline chucksterace

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2461 on: June 14, 2013, 05:02:01 AM »
So i switched from Golan to Orange, port number and all..  Do I need to do anything regarding Golan or will the plan just stop and stop charging my CC?
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Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2462 on: June 14, 2013, 05:05:13 AM »
just stop   and whyd u switch?!?!
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Offline chucksterace

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2463 on: June 14, 2013, 05:08:37 AM »
just stop   and whyd u switch?!?!

Thanks. Absolutely no service in my apt. Plus I go from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv two/three times a week and get no service every two minutes during the drive.
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2464 on: June 14, 2013, 05:09:19 AM »
Thanks. Absolutely no service in my apt. Plus I go from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv two/three times a week and get no service every two minutes during the drive.
i hear ok.

whats this mean?
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Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2465 on: June 14, 2013, 09:22:13 AM »
So i[ Invalid YouTube link ] switched from Golan to Orange, port number and all..  Do I need to do anything regarding Golan or will the plan just stop and stop charging my CC?
yes it should stop charging you from now
whats this mean?
nothing, your good, its your carrier for international calls.

Offline rots5

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2466 on: June 14, 2013, 09:45:42 AM »
yes it should stop charging you from nownothing, your good, its your carrier for international calls.
do i have to dial 016 when calling out.
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Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2467 on: June 14, 2013, 10:30:06 AM »
do i have to dial 016 when calling out.

If that's the carrier chosen then yes. Otherwise you'll be charged AFAIK.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2468 on: June 14, 2013, 10:38:14 AM »
do i have to dial 016 when calling out.
no as 016 is golan's carrier

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2469 on: June 14, 2013, 10:42:39 AM »
no as 016 is golan's carrier

So then what should he dial out to America with?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Jkhein

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2470 on: June 14, 2013, 10:48:20 AM »
So then what should he dial out to America with?
just 00
as once golan is the default, than 00 would route it through them. IME

Offline Twin

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2471 on: June 16, 2013, 07:33:09 PM »
Anyone know how to call Tokyo from a hot phone?

Offline Shlomo Zalman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2472 on: June 17, 2013, 11:15:56 AM »
What is the best Israel mobile plan can I get that will be used only one month a year? It should not have any monthly or other fees associated with it (especially during the months of non-use.)

Also, it is perferable that it be available to non-Israeli citizens/non-residents without an Israeli bank account. If that isn't attainable, please advise the possibility of a non-citizen/non-resident opening an Israeli bank account and what fees (if any) are involved in that (and if the fees can be avoided).

TIA

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2473 on: June 17, 2013, 11:18:49 AM »
What is the best Israel mobile plan can I get that will be used only one month a year? It should not have any monthly or other fees associated with it (especially during the months of non-use.)

Also, it is perferable that it be available to non-Israeli citizens/non-residents without an Israeli bank account. If that isn't attainable, please advise the possibility of a non-citizen/non-resident opening an Israeli bank account and what fees (if any) are involved in that (and if the fees can be avoided).

TIA

Golan. But it will cost you a few dollars every month to keep your number. No Israeli bank account required.

Or you can buy a prepaid pay and go SIM but they are $$.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Shlomo Zalman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2474 on: June 17, 2013, 11:33:17 AM »
Golan. But it will cost you a few dollars every month to keep your number. No Israeli bank account required.

Or you can buy a prepaid pay and go SIM but they are $$.
Golan is the only one who doesn't require an Israeli bank account? How much do they charge for service and how much do they charge per month to keep the number? Could I avoid that fee by getting a new number every year?

And how much would prepaid cost? I could make a one-time purchase of a SIM and then keep my number and balance indefinitely without further fees?

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2475 on: June 17, 2013, 11:59:03 AM »
No there are others that don't require Israeli CC or account but I like Golan best.

"Not all who wander are lost"

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2476 on: June 17, 2013, 12:11:53 PM »
No there are others that don't require Israeli CC or account but I like Golan best.
Why do you like Golan the best? Is there Internet fast?

Offline Shlomo Zalman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2477 on: June 17, 2013, 12:13:55 PM »
No there are others that don't require Israeli CC or account but I like Golan best.


How much does Golan cost for usage and for maintenance? How does it compare to prepaid alternatives?

Offline sky121

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2478 on: June 17, 2013, 12:18:51 PM »
How much does Golan cost for usage and for maintenance? How does it compare to prepaid alternatives?

Golan is around $25 a month for unlimited. It costs about $3 a month to maintain.
Prepaid is more. http://www.orange.co.il/en/en/Mobile/Plans/bigtalk_cards/

"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Shlomo Zalman

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Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #2479 on: June 17, 2013, 12:26:56 PM »
Golan is around $25 a month for unlimited. It costs about $3 a month to maintain.
Prepaid is more. http://www.orange.co.il/en/en/Mobile/Plans/bigtalk_cards/


Is $25/month unlimited the best deal?

Is it possible to obtain service that if unused will cost nothing (or close to it)?