# Israel eSIM — Instant Data from $2.00/GB Jetogo eSIM data plans for Israel (ISO IL). ## Pricing - Price per GB: $2.00 - Pricing tier: 2 - Live price per GB (eSIMAccess-cached): $2.00 ### Estimated cost by usage - Light traveler (2 GB): $4.00 - Average traveler (6 GB): $12.00 - Heavy traveler (15 GB): $30.00 ## Network & carriers - Cellcom — 5G - Hot Mobile — 5G - Pelephone — 5G - Data exit route: United Kingdom — this is where your data traffic breaks out to the internet; it does not affect coverage or speed in-country. - Hotspot/tethering: unlimited. Speed limit: none. Activation: instant, auto-connects on arrival. ## Major cities - Jerusalem — local time 2026-08-25T08:13:56+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:10:15.804Z / sunset 2026-08-25T16:11:49.222Z - Tel Aviv — local time 2026-08-25T08:13:56+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:11:38.371Z / sunset 2026-08-25T16:13:53.533Z - Haifa — local time 2026-08-25T08:13:56+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:10:00.647Z / sunset 2026-08-25T16:13:50.638Z - Eilat — local time 2026-08-25T08:13:56+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:13:42.720Z / sunset 2026-08-25T16:10:32.375Z - Nazareth — local time 2026-08-25T08:13:56+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:08:51.695Z / sunset 2026-08-25T16:12:29.067Z Currency: ILS — 1 USD ≈ 2.9922 ILS (as of 2026-08-24). ## Data situation Israel is the cheapest mobile data market in the world for locals, averaging just $0.02 per gigabyte and ranking 1st of 237 countries and territories in the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study — a result of intense competition between Cellcom, Partner, Pelephone, and other carriers over strong nationwide 4G/5G coverage. That competition doesn't extend to tourist SIM pricing, though: visitors buying on arrival typically pay far more than what residents pay per gigabyte. Free Wi-Fi is easy to find in the cities travelers actually visit — cafés, malls, and hotel lobbies in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa are generally covered, and Tel Aviv's municipal network adds roughly 80 more free hotspots at beaches and public spaces, with Egged buses and Israel Railways trains also offering it on board. Coverage still thins out once you're away from these hubs — in the Negev desert, along desert highways, or hiking outside town centers — which is where a dependable eSIM data plan matters most for maps, translation, and staying in touch. - Local price per GB: $0.02/GB average for locals (rank 1 of 237 countries — the world's cheapest mobile data market, cable.co.uk / BestBroadbandDeals Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study) - Free Wi-Fi: Widespread — most cafés, restaurants, and shopping malls in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa offer free Wi-Fi, Tel Aviv's municipality runs a dedicated citywide network with around 80 free hotspots at beaches, parks, and tourist sites, and intercity Egged buses and Israel Railways trains also provide complimentary Wi-Fi. - Paid Wi-Fi: Uncommon as a standalone paid product — most hotels bundle Wi-Fi free into the room rate, though some higher-end 4-5 star hotels charge extra for in-room access even while their lobbies stay free. ## International airports - TLV — Ben Gurion International Airport (Tel Aviv) — https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ben-gurion/about/ - ETM — Ramon International Airport (Eilat) — https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ramon/about/ - HFA — Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport (Haifa) — https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/haifa/ ### Travel advisories - UK FCDO: FCDO advises against all travel to parts of this country. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of this country. ## Local SIM / phone number situation Buying a physical tourist SIM in Israel means presenting a passport at a carrier store or airport kiosk — Cellcom, Partner, Pelephone, and 019 Mobile all register prepaid SIMs to a passport number by law — though multiple 2026 traveler reports note enforcement is inconsistent, with some shops not asking for ID at all. Kiosks for 019 Mobile and Steimatzky operate 24 hours a day in Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 3 arrivals area, so activation itself is usually quick, but airport pricing runs well above what the same SIM costs at a city store, and at least one traveler reported an unusually long, multi-hour ordeal sorting out a SIM at retail shops in Tel Aviv. International eSIM providers that sell a data-only, no-phone-number eSIM generally skip this registration step entirely, since it isn't a SIM issued by an Israeli carrier. - KYC requirements: Passport ID is commonly required to register a prepaid SIM at Israeli carrier stores and airport kiosks (Cellcom, Partner, Pelephone, 019 Mobile), by law — though several 2026 traveler accounts describe inconsistent enforcement, with some stores not checking ID at all. This requirement doesn't apply to a pre-installed, data-only eSIM from an international provider, since it isn't an Israeli-carrier SIM. - Wait time: Fast at the airport when open — 019 Mobile and Steimatzky kiosks in Ben Gurion Terminal 3 run 24/7 with on-the-spot activation, though queues can build at peak arrival times and some counters close overnight. City retail stores can be slower and less predictable; one traveler reported spending most of a day resolving a SIM purchase in Tel Aviv. - Jetogo Local SIM Hassle Score: 3/10 Wi-Fi calling lets you keep receiving calls and texts on your home phone number over an internet connection — including the data connection from your Jetogo eSIM — without needing a local SIM or number. Turn it on in your phone's settings before you travel (Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone, or Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi Calling on Android), and your carrier will route calls to your regular number through data instead of a local cell signal, so friends and family can reach you exactly as they always have. ## Practical travel info - Power sockets: types C, H, M — 230V, 50Hz - Type E and F plugs will also fit in type C sockets - Type C plugs will also fit in type H sockets - No alternative plugs will also fit in type M sockets - Emergency numbers: police 100, ambulance 101, fire 102 - Calling code: +972 - Driving side: right - Tipping: Generally expected — mandatory or at least usual _Data via CountryWise._ ## FAQ **Does my Jetogo eSIM require passport registration like a local Israeli SIM card?** No. Israeli law requires passport registration for prepaid SIMs issued by local carriers like Cellcom, Partner, and Pelephone, but that applies to SIMs bought in-country, not to a data-only eSIM installed from an international provider before you fly. **Which Israeli carrier does my Jetogo eSIM connect to?** eSIMs for Israel typically ride on one of the major local networks — Cellcom, Partner, or Pelephone — all of which offer strong 4G/5G coverage across the country's main cities and highways. **Will my eSIM work outside Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, like in Eilat or the Dead Sea area?** Yes. Israel's small size and dense 4G/5G build-out mean coverage is generally strong in resort areas like Eilat and along the Dead Sea, though signal can weaken in remote stretches of the Negev desert away from towns and highways. **How does an eSIM actually work?** An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone — instead of inserting a physical card, you install a small profile (usually by scanning a QR code) and your phone connects to a local or partner network for data. There's nothing to pick up at a store or swap in your device; the whole process happens over Wi-Fi in a couple of minutes. **Is my phone compatible with eSIM?** Most phones from the last 4-5 years support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, most Google Pixel models from the Pixel 3 onward, and many recent Samsung Galaxy, and other Android flagships. Check Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Network) for an "Add eSIM" or "Add Cellular Plan" option — if it's there, you're set. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. **When does my eSIM activate — do I need to already be in the country?** You can install your Jetogo eSIM before you fly, but the data plan itself only starts counting once it connects to a network in your destination country — so there's no risk of burning through your allowance early. For most plans, connectivity kicks in automatically the moment you land and your phone finds a signal. **Can I use my eSIM as a personal hotspot?** Yes — hotspot and tethering are included on Jetogo eSIM plans at no extra cost, so you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet, or a travel companion's phone. **What happens when I run out of data? Can I top up?** You can top up directly from your Jetogo account in a couple of taps, without needing to buy a whole new plan or visit a store. Many travelers also use Jetogo's PayGo option, which lets you pay only for the data you actually use instead of committing to a fixed bundle. **Do I need a local phone number to use my eSIM?** No — Jetogo eSIMs are data-only, so there's no local phone number involved. If you need to make calls or send texts, you can use an internet calling app (like WhatsApp or FaceTime) over your eSIM data, or rely on Wi-Fi calling to keep using your existing home number (see below). **What is PayGo and why does it start at $5?** PayGo is Jetogo's pay-as-you-go option: you load a small starting balance — as low as $5 — and only pay for the data you actually use, with no expiration pressure or unused-data waste. It's a low-commitment way to try Jetogo or to cover shorter trips where a full data bundle would be overkill. **Will adding a Jetogo eSIM affect my existing phone number or home plan?** No. Your eSIM runs alongside your regular SIM (physical or eSIM) as a second, independent profile — your home number, texts, and voicemail keep working exactly as before. You simply choose which profile handles data while you're on Jetogo, and switch back anytime after your trip. ## Trust _Content coming soon._ ## Why Jetogo _Content coming soon._ ## Why Choose Jetogo _Content coming soon._ ## Practical travel info _Content coming soon._ ## Other countries pricing _Content coming soon._ --- Weather and air quality data © OpenWeatherMap, licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL): https://openweathermap.org/full-history UK travel advice contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Exchange rates via Frankfurter (European Central Bank reference rates): https://www.frankfurter.dev