For using translation apps or sharing travel moments in Israel, a reliable internet connection is essential. Instead of paying high international roaming charges, consider a prepaid SIM or eSIM for affordable connectivity.
You can buy a SIM card online before your trip or get one in Israel. Holafly offers convenient eSIMs with unlimited data at reasonable prices. Local SIMs are available at airports, malls, post offices, and stores of major operators like Pelephone and Hot Mobile, but buying locally can be time-consuming. An online eSIM is the quicker option.
In this guide, we’ll compare different SIM card options and list their pros and cons so you can choose the best solution for your travel needs. We also cover some frequently asked questions about accessing the internet and using a SIM card in Israel.
Buying a SIM card is the most practical and convenient way to have Internet in another country. An alternative option would be to use your operator's roaming, however, the costs for using it outside the country are very high.
You must choose a card that suits your needs and provides secure coverage while traveling in Israel. Keep in mind low prices, quality of coverage, amount of mobile data or GB, shipping cost, if it includes a phone number, and if the company has customer service in your native language.
And if you ask yourself: is it possible to find all that on a single data card? The answer is yes! We'll let you on a sneak peek that Holafly's Israel SIM cards have many benefits that compared to other stores are economical and quality.
When planning a trip, the last thing we want is to have unnecessary worries. For this reason, we recommend that you purchase a prepaid SIM card before you travel.
Online stores like Holafly make shopping easier for you by allowing you to shop from the comfort of your couch without having to be exposed to long lines or coronavirus infection.
The second option is to buy the card when you arrive in Israel, at Ben Gurion International Airport. Also at post offices, shopping malls, and stores of national operators.
This is the perfect option in times of coronavirus. Forget about looking for stores while you don't have Internet. Here we show you some options such as features, advantages, and disadvantages of operators with virtual stores that facilitate your shopping.
One SimCard offers a prepaid SIM card, it has more than 15 types of data packages. Note that this company will charge you for everything seperately, i.e. card, shipping, and data.
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Disadvantages:
After looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each option, we will discuss how much each card costs in a comparative table. The only thing left to do is to choose the best and low-cost one.
| Card cost | Cost data | Shipping cost | Amount of data | FINAL PRICE | |
| One SimCard | 34,97 USD | 57,11 USD | 3,19 USD | 250 MB | $95,27 USD |
As we told you, you can buy the SIM card at airports, post offices, local operator stores, stands, and supermarkets. You will have to wait in long lines and enter crowded places that are best avoided in times of coronavirus.
You will find a myriad of mobile operators such as Cellcom, Golan Telecom, Hot Mobile, Pelephone, Rami Levy, We4G, YouPhone, Orange, 019Mobile, 012Mobile, and possibly more. Many of the operators do not offer SIM cards for tourists.
If you buy the prepaid card in Israel, it is recommended that the customer installs the SIM card himself, do not let someone else handle your mobile in times of coronavirus.
This operator has the "Pelephone prepaid tourist" card, which offers 3 packages with national calls, data and messages.
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Disadvantages:
It is one of the oldest companies in Israel, offering different types of data packages. You will find sale booths all over Israel, however, you will have trouble communicating with salespeople who only speak Hebrew.
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eSIMs, or embedded SIM cards, are the new generation of SIM cards that do not require physical installation. Instead, you can scan a QR code to activate your eSIM. This makes it very convenient for world travelers to purchase unlimited data eSIMs for different countries from online stores like Holafly.
In the case of Israel Holafly, it has a virtual SIM card and unlimited data plans. Ideal for all types of travelers and for not having to reduce your usual data usage. They offer multilingual customer service and the possibility of recharging the eSIM with top-ups.
Before purchasing an eSIM for Israel, it is advisable that you confirm some conditions to be able to use them.
It is something that you can anticipate, but we clarify for the purchase process and first-time installation of the eSIM, you need aninternet connection. It is favorable that you do it before your trip, or if you are already in Israel, use a secure public connection.
You can have internet in Israel in different ways, for example: by buying a SIM card, contracting roaming from your mobile operator, using free wifi, and even renting a Pocket Wifi.
With Holafly eSIM you will have better coverage in Israel than with a local SIM card, as it connects to the network of major mobile operators such as Pelephone. That means that if one operator's network is not available, it will seek to connect to the other.
The Holafly virtual SIM card allows you to use it for 5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 days.
Prices vary depending on how many days the data plan is valid, whether it includes shipping costs and whether they provide you with a phone number in Israel. You can consider a price range between $15 and $50 depending on the provider and data plan.
Our mission is simple: to make sure you never have to ask, “What’s the WiFi password?” again. All our tips come straight from personal experience — because we’d never recommend something we haven’t put to the test ourselves.
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