Looking for a SIM card for your trip to Israel? Today you can choose between a physical SIM card and an eSIM, and between data-only plans and plans with a local Israeli number. Here is how to choose, and what to check before you fly.
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Physical SIM or eSIM?
A physical SIM card is the small plastic chip you put in your phone. You usually buy it after landing, at the airport or in a phone store, and you swap it with your home SIM, which you then need to keep safe for the whole trip.
An eSIM is the digital version of the same thing. You buy it online, scan a QR code, and the line is installed on your phone in a few minutes. Most phones from recent years support it, and they keep your home SIM active at the same time, so you have two lines on one phone.
For most travelers the eSIM is simply easier:
- You are connected the moment you land, before passport control and the taxi line.
- There is no store to find and no plastic card to lose.
- Your home number stays in the phone for calls from home and for your bank's SMS codes.
- Some newer phones, such as US iPhone 14 models and later, have no SIM tray at all, so an eSIM is the only option.
Data only, or a real Israeli number?
Many travel eSIMs are data-only: you get internet, but no phone number. That is enough for maps and WhatsApp. An Israeli prepaid line with a +972 number also lets you make and receive local calls and texts, and receive SMS verification codes from Israeli apps and businesses. If you are staying more than a few days, visiting family, studying or working, a local number saves a lot of small hassles. We compare the options in detail in Best eSIM for Israel.
Israel's mobile networks
Israel has several national mobile networks, including Cellcom, Pelephone, Partner and HOT Mobile, all with nationwide 4G coverage and 5G in many areas. For a visitor the differences between them are small, so choose mainly by the amount of data, the number of days and the price.
What to check before you fly
- Your phone is unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier will not accept another SIM or eSIM. Ask your carrier to unlock it before the trip.
- Your phone supports eSIM, if you choose one. Our guide Does my phone support eSIM? shows how to check in a minute.
- When the plan starts. Some plans count days from the purchase, others from activation.
- How you will pay. Make sure the seller accepts your foreign card.
- Roaming on your home line. Turn it off once you land, so your carrier does not charge you for data you are getting from the local line.
An Israeli eSIM from SimOnline
At SimOnline you can buy a prepaid Israeli eSIM from Cellcom, Pelephone, Partner or HOT Mobile online, before you travel. Every plan includes a real Israeli +972 number, calls and texts in Israel and the data shown; 30-day plans start at 300 GB. No ID or passport is needed, international Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted, and the QR code arrives right after payment and by email. Plans start at ₪64 (about $20) for 10 days.
