Israel is a small country famous for its historical, cultural and religious heritage. There you can visit holy cities such as Jerusalem and see some of the most valuable sites for Christianity, Islam and Judaism, such as the Esplanade of Mosques. But in this case we’re not here to talk about the country, but about the benefits of eSIM cards on a trip to Israel, the best way to connect to the internet immediately without paying huge bills like roaming, or putting your data at risk on public wifi networks.
In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for Israel, and we do so by comparing the leading brands on the market such as Holafly, Airalo or Maya Mobile. When choosing the eSIM that best suits your trip, you should take into account criteria such as speed, data limit, technical support, price and duration of the plans. We’ve already told you that the Holafly eSIM cards are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24h support.
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Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to Israel
When comparing different brands of eSIM we must take into account all the features that will determine whether the card fits the needs of our trip. That is why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you make your choice. We’ll go into more detail on each eSIM brand below, so you won’t miss any of the information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited Data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 7 and 15 days | Yes | – | + | 3GB and 6GB | In English, direct chat and WhatsApp | €34-44 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 3GB and 10GB | By email in 8 languages | €14-25 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Airalo | 7 and 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB | In English, via bot | $5.5- 20 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Truphone | 1 and 30 days | Sometimes | – | – | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB | In English, by email or via the App | €5-35 | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | + | – | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and unlimited | In English by email | €5-45 | 4.5 | 3.2 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Israel with the best customer service in English
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. They have an App where you can check your usage and the number of days left on your contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. One of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because they offer more gigabytes than the rest. The Holafly eSIM card for Australia does not allow data sharing. You can’t do the installation through their App. The eSIM for Australia does not have unlimited data. |
Holafly is our favourite eSIM brand at Passporter because it offers a 24-hour customer service in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best customer rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
On the website of Holafly you can find 2 data plans with a duration of 7 and 15 days, and gigabyte limit 6 GB and 10 GB. The price is €34 and €44.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars | Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days – 3GB | €34 | $34 | $699 |
| 15 days – 6GB | €44 | $44 | $899 |
There are two options for installing Holafly’s eSIM. One is scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. And the other is the manual installation that you can do without a computer, simply by writing a code in the settings of your mobile. This code will be sent to your email and you can also consult it in the Holafly App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly’s eSIM cards for Israel based on our experience.
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our opinion of Holafly eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
2. Airalo and its cheap data plans
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They are the cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. Top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. ESIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7, 15 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
The company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that it can be expensive in the long run as its data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and its technical support takes a long time to respond.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Israel have durations of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $5.5 to $22. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later top it up when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 7 days | 5.5$ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 11$ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 13.5$ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 18$ |
| 20 GB – 30 days | 22$ |
On Airalo’s website, you can choose from5 data plans ranging from 1GB to 20GB. We compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest ratings at 3.7. Here you have the ranking of each aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.8 |
3. Maya Mobile, one month data packages
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB that can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. They have plans with unlimited data. To recharge you can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. The unlimited data plan is limited to 5Mbps Technical support only in English via a bot. Only 30-day data plans. |
This company makes eSIM cards available for 30 days in Israel. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total, they have 4 packages of 1, 3, 5 and 10 gigabytes, and another with unlimited gigabytes. The unlimited data plan is relative as the maximum browsing speed is 5Mbps, and after you have used 30GB of the plan, it drops to 1Mbps. The price ranges from €5 to €45.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its sign-up process and installation, which is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case as they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 30 days | 5€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 9€ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 11€ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 11€ |
| unlimited – 30 days | 45€ |
The drawback with Maya Mobile is that their plans are very inflexible and only last for 30 days. On Trustpilot, you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are hardly any reviews. Here’s a table showing how they rate each of their eSIM card features.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.2 |
4. Truphone and its app
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Truphone eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install in your App. They have eSIM cards for 188 countries. Support both in the app and on the web 24/7. Very affordable prices. You can top up data from the App. No need to scan QR code. Data plans for Apple Watch. Offer 100 MB free 1 day trial. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB, no unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) Only on some devices you can share data. You can’t make purchases on the web, only from the App. The duration of data plans is limited to 1 or 30 days. Services and support are in English only. |
Truphone is a UK company that offers eSIM cards to connect to the internet in over 160 countries. It was an industry pioneer and the first global operator to launch eSIM for iPad, Apple Watch and Google Pixel devices. It has also been a technology partner of Apple since 2016, which gives it a great competitive advantage and makes it easier to install eSIMs on its devices.
For Israel the brand offers 5 data plans of 500MB, 1GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB. Prices range from €5 to €43. The 100MB plan is free for you to try their product for one day. The problem with this brand is that their data plans have very few gigabytes (maximum 10GB) and this means you can run out of internet in the middle of your journey.
Israel is also included in the global plan which covers 114 other countries and is perfect for long routes that cross borders.
| Data plan | Euros | Dollars | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day – 100 MB | €0 | $0 | £0 |
| 1 day – 1 GB | €5 | $5 | £5 |
| 2GB – 30 days | €11 | $11 | £10 |
| 3 GB – 30 days | €20 | $20 | £18 |
| 5 GB – 30 days | €35 | $35 | £32 |
Although on the website you can check out the data plans and all the details about their eSIMs, to buy the eSIM card you will need to download the mobile app. Once downloaded you will need to create an account by entering your details directly or via Google or Facebook. You can then choose the country and data plan you need for your trip and pay securely. A great advantage of the App is that it detects if your mobile is compatible with eSIM before allowing you to make the purchase.
The installation and activation processes are done through the App, so you will not need to scan any QR code. Please note, however, that you will need internet to perform the operation.
If you go to Trustpilot you will see that Truphone has over 100 reviews and a rating of 1.9, one of the lowest among eSIM card providers. We have also rated the Truphone eSIM card based on our experience and these are our findings.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3.8 |
If you want to know more about our experience with Truphone eSIM cards and what other users have to say about them, check out this post: Our thoughts on the Trupne eSIM.
5. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for Israel in smart cars
| Advantages | Offer regional, country or global data packages. Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or app. The Ubigi eSIM is installed for free from the App. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24h real time technical support. They offer eSIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. You can recharge the eSIM from the App. |
| Disadvantages | Gigas are limited to 1GB or less and they do not have unlimited data plans. Short duration plans have very limited gigas. Your eSIMs do not include calls or SMS. The duration of the plans are limited to 1 day or 30 days. Their support service is exclusively in English. |
Ubigi is a provider of eSIM cards a little different than the rest of the data plan companies for travelling abroad. While with other brands you have to choose and buy the plan and then proceed to install the eSIM, with Ubigi it’s the other way around. First you can install the eSIM for free and then add credit depending on how many gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On their website and App you will find two 30-day Israel plans with 3GB and 10GB. The price is $15 and $29. Israel is also included in the Europe, Middle East and Global plan.
These eSIMs are designed for people who travel a lot and for long periods of time. The downside is that all of their plans have data caps and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Dollars | Euros | Pounds | Yen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB – 30 days | 14$ | 14€ | 11£ | 2000¥ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 29$ | 29€ | 25£ | 4100¥ |
Luckily, their App works very well and as well as buying the eSIM from there, you can install it and top it up if necessary. Also, Ubigi’s eSIMs allow data sharing with other devices
A curious thing about Ubigi’s eSIM cards is that they also work in cars with internet. Some models from Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already feature this technology. These plans are different from those for mobile phones.
In this table, you can see how we rate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion on Ubigi eSIMs, check out this post: Our Ubigi opinion: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
Conclusion on the best eSIM for Israel
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel, you will have different connection needs. That is why we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for Israel
When we travel, we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our holiday, so eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In this case, the only brand that offers unlimited data is Maya Mobile, but it is not real, as after the first 30 gigabytes of the contract the browsing speed drops from 5Mbps to 1Mbps. If we look at data, Airalo is the brand that offers the most data (20GB for 30 days), followed by Holafly (6GB for 15 days). The other brands offer so few gigabytes that you’re likely to run out mid-trip and have to pay to top up again.
In this table, you can estimate how much data you will need for your journey based on your usual consumption.
| Platform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0.12 GB – 0.18 GB | |
| 0.12 GB – 0.18 GB | |
| 0.06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0.18 GB – 0.8 GB |
| Netflix | 0.3 GB – 7 GB |
| Youtube | 0.14 GB – 1.7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0.8 GB – 6 GB |
The installation process for eSIM cards is always simple and quick, but it is true that some companies make it even easier. The first thing to do is to check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. You can check this information on the website of each provider, and in the case of Ubigi, when you download the App it informs you if your mobile is compatible.
The purchase of the eSIM for Israel can be done through the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or Maya Mobile, or through the app such as Airalo or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use
The only brands that allow installation through the App are Airalo, Truphone and Ubigi, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo or Maya Mobile.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chatbot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of Simoptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as they respond in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when we travel we want toshare data with other devices. In the case of Israel, only Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi and Maya Mobile
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited, and you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an eSIM card with more data like Holafly’s to give you peace of mind and avoid having to top up again.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best option for travelling to Israel because they offer more gigabytes than the rest and because of their multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for internet in Israel?
There are a number of ways to get internet when travelling abroad, however, eSIM cards are our favourite option due to the number of advantages they offer, which we are about to detail.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile as with eSIM cards. |
There are other alternatives for connecting to the Internet in Israel that may also be of interest to you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of other options, their prices, advantages and disadvantages for you to compare and choose the one that best suits your trip.
1. Buying SIM cards for Israel
This was the most common option until eSIM cards came along. When you arrive at your destination, you can get your SIM card at the airport or in the shopping areas of the cities. There you will find shops of the major phone companies such as Orange or Pelephone.
The price of SIM cards varies depending on the length of the contract and the gigabytes, but it is typical to pay between 30€ and 50€ for a month.
Although this is one of the most widespread methods of getting internet, it does have several disadvantages, as detailed in this table.
| Advantages | A variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. |
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi for Israel
A Pocket WiFi is a wireless router that allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere in the world. These are the advantages and disadvantages of this system, which is considered to be one of the most expensive.
| Advantages | It can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Long-term contracts are the norm. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay rent, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts at most 6 hours. If you use it with other people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
Some of the best brands for renting Wifi Pockets in Israel are Wifi Travelers and Mywebspot. Plans are available by the day or by the month, depending on the company. With Wifi Traveling for example, a day costs almost €6, and My Webspot costs €12 per day.
To these costs, however, must be added shipping costs, insurance (€15), extra batteries (€10) or car chargers.
These devices usually have about 12 hours of autonomy, after which time you will need to recharge it. It’s a good alternative if you use it to work in a fixed location, for example.
This system can be uneconomical for a short trip. It is therefore recommended for longer stays or business trips where the device is always kept in one place and can be shared between several people. Most brands will not rent for less than three days.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Israel
Although Israel is a very touristy destination, the truth is that the quality of the Wi-Fi leaves much to be desired, and browsing speeds are very slow. Public networks are also very vulnerable to hacking. It is therefore recommended that you limit their use to a minimum and avoid at all costs making transactions that put your personal data at risk.
| Advantages | It’s free. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is difficult to find free wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or have connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and give your personal details. Some free wifi networks are time-limited. You should always connect close to the router. They are vulnerable to hacking. |
4. Enable roaming for Israel
Data roaming is a service offered by phone companies to continue using your local data plan when you travel to Israel.The cost of this service is often high, so it is advisable to check with your usual carrier before you set off on your trip, to avoid surprises at the end of the month.
From Spain there are several telephone companies that offer this service to their customers, such as Vodafone, Movistar, Orange, Jazztel or Yoigo. The price varies depending on the brand, but can be as high as €25 per gigabyte spent, which is really expensive compared to other options such as eSIMs.
| Advantages | No installation on our mobile. No extra services to sign up for. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Disadvantages | It is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without realising it. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
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Frequently asked questions about getting internet in Israel with an eSIM
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
The installation and activation of the eSIM is a really easy procedure that will only take a few minutes.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of popular brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will indicate all the compatible models.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same day express delivery.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection.
In Israel, the brand that offers the most gigabytes is Holafly. No brand offers unlimited data plans.
Most plans have a duration from 7 to 30 days.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences published on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and an average score of 4.6.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 3.8. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
You can buy your eSIM at any time before or during your trip to Israel from the online shop of the specialised brands.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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