Visiting Israel soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing an Israeli SIM card.
In this guide, weâll explain where to buy a SIM card in Israel in person and online. Weâll also discuss prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs if your mobile supports them.
That said, if youâre traveling to other countries in The Middle East, you should be able to use the same SIM card because most SIM card providers also offer coverage in other Middle Eastern countries.
Before you read this guide, you may wonder if you actually need a SIM card in Israel. If you donât mind not having Internet, youâll likely find free Wifi in restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels.
That said, if you need data to get around, call a cab, or translate Hebrew â you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in Israel.
Best SIM Cards In Israel
If youâre traveling in Israel, we recommend using a SIM card from Golan, Partner, or Pelephone. (Iâll get back to Airalo later on, so keep reading to learn more!)
That said, if youâre planning on visiting other countries during your trip to The Middle East, you might want to make sure to pick an option that offers coverage in other Middle Eastern countries.
How To Buy A SIM Card In Israel
You can either buy an Israel prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, mobile provider stores, convenience stores, or online.
Usually, you can expect higher costs and low data offers at the airport, so we donât recommend buying a SIM card at the airport.
That said, you wonât necessarily find SIM card shops in every airport, so itâs essential to keep this in mind. And, when you see a shop, you might also have limited options.
For this reason, Iâd recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store. Note that you may need your passport to buy one.
Although, this means you wonât get data right upon your arrival. So, if you prefer to be connected at all times, you could use an eSIM or purchase a Middle Eastern prepaid SIM card online.
Now, letâs take a look at the data plans offered by Golan, Partner, and Pelephone.
Golan SIM Cards
Golan offers three different types of plans:
- 260 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 33 ($9.54)
- 300 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 34.90 ($10.08)
- 750 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 49 ($14.16)
Partner SIM Cards
Partner has one relevant prepaid plan available:
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for NIS 149 ($43.05)
Pelephone SIM Cards
Pelephone has three main prepaid plans:
- 100 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 59 ($17.05)
- 250 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 79 ($22.83)
- 500 GB, valid for 4 weeks for NIS 99 ($28.61)
Overall, we think Partner is the best option if you plan to buy your SIM card in person. That said, any would do if you canât find their store!
How To Buy A Israel Prepaid SIM Card Online
Youâll find different plans on Amazon. For example, the Orange World Holiday SIM card works in more than 100+ countries and gives you up to 10 GB of data. Israel is included.
But there are many other options worth considering, so have a look and make sure the countries you plan on visiting are listed.
Another option is to purchase a prepaid Middle Eastern SIM card on SimOptions. They currently offer two different packages.
Finally, the last option is to buy an eSIM card for the Middle East.
How To Buy An eSIM Card For Israel
eSIM is a new concept that allows you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone. If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards â itâs definitely one of the best options to get data in Israel.
Curious? Learn more about eSIM for travelers on esimroamers.com.
I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile phone supported it. And I first tried it when visiting my family in Canada. To buy eSIMs, I usually use Airalo. Keep reading to learn more about the best eSIMs in Israel.
Airalo Israel
If you want to buy an eSIM for Israel, you could purchase one on Airalo. This website offers many eSIM cards worldwide and special plans for the Middle East and Israel.
Iâve been using Airalo regularly, and it works fine.
Here are the options available:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $4.50
- 2 GB, valid for 15 days for $5.50
- 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $7
- 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $9.50
- 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $13.50
- 20 GB, valid for 30 days for $17
They also have options with calls and SMS.
Hereâs an overview of the options available in the Middle East:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $15
- 2 GB, valid for 15 days for $28
- 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $39
The options mentioned above are part of Menalink and offer coverage in 15 countries, including Israel.
Alternatively, if youâre traveling in other countries that are not mentioned on the list, you can try Discover Global, which offers coverage in 124 countries, including Israel.
Hereâs an overview of the options available on Discover Global:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $9
- 2 GB, valid for 15 days for $17
- 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $24
- 5 GB, valid for 60 days for $35
- 10 GB, valid for 180 days for $59
- 20 GB, valid for 365 days for $69
Now, one important thing to note about Airalo is that youâll need to keep an eye out for the provider in each country.
Suppose you ever have trouble connecting to the Internet during your trip. In that case, it might be because youâre connecting automatically to networks and need to select a network manually instead.
When you purchase the eSIM, youâll get access to the list of networks supported in each country.
Holafly Israel
Alternatively, you could look at your options on Holafly. You can read our Holafly review to learn more about this eSIM store. Iâve also tried this eSIM provider in Europe, and it worked fine.
They offer the following plans for Israel:
- Unlimited data, valid for 5 days for $21
- Unlimited data, valid for 7 days for $29
- Unlimited data, valid for 10 days for $37
- Unlimited data, valid for 15 days for $51
- Unlimited data, valid for 20 days for $62
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for $75
- Unlimited data, valid for 60 days for $107
- Unlimited data, valid for 90 days for $139
Nomad Israel
Finally, Nomad is also a great eSIM provider. Hereâs an overview of the plans available for Israel:
- 1GB, valid for 7 days for $13
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $26
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $35
Final Thoughts On SIM Cards In Israel
As you can see, getting a prepaid SIM card in Israel or even an eSIM for your travels in Israel is pretty easy.
Youâll even be able to stay connected wherever you go in the Middle East without changing your SIM card, especially if you purchase a Middle Eastern SIM card.
I believe the eSIM card is the most convenient way to get data in Israel if you wish to have data upon your arrival. This way, you wonât need to go to a store to buy a SIM card.
Obviously, you need to make sure your mobile phone supports eSIM first.
Traveling to Israel soon? Read one of the following blog posts:
