The best eSIM for Israel is one that covers how long you stay and every country on your route. Visiting only Israel? An Israel eSIM gives you the most data for your money, with 5G where it's available. Adding Jordan or Egypt? A Middle East eSIM covers Israel and 11 more countries on one plan. Both are data only. You install them at home, and they connect when you land. Plan details in this guide come from our Israel eSIM page and Middle East eSIM page.
Short on time? Here are three picks: one week in Israel, two weeks in Israel, or Israel plus Jordan or Egypt.
Israel 10GB (7 days) · Israel 20GB (15 days) · Middle East 10GB (30 days, 12 countries incl. Israel, Jordan and Egypt) · all data only · See all Israel eSIMs or browse every destination
What makes an eSIM the best one for Israel?
There is no single best eSIM for everyone. The right one fits your trip. Check these points before you buy:
- Data and days: enough data for your whole stay, so you don't run out in Jerusalem on day five.
- Countries covered: Israel only, or Israel plus Jordan, Egypt or a stopover in the Gulf.
- Speed: some plans support 5G, others stay on 4G/LTE. Both are fine for maps, messages and video calls.
- Top-ups: so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- When the days start: ideally when you land, not when you buy or install it.
- Phone number: most travel eSIMs are data only. Decide if you really need an Israeli number.
- Your phone: it must support eSIM and be unlocked.
Our eSIMs for Israel: the details
SimOptions sells eight Israel plans. Israel is also on our Middle East and Asia plans. Here is how they compare, from the plan details on our pages:
| eSIM | Countries | Data and days | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israel | Israel only | 1 GB (3 days) to 100 GB (180 days) | 5G |
| Middle East | 12, incl. Israel, Jordan and Egypt | 1 GB (7 days) to 20 GB (30 days) | 4G/LTE |
| Asia | 26, incl. Israel, Turkey and the UAE | 1 GB (7 days) to 50 GB (60 days) | 4G/LTE |
- Israel plans: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days, 50 GB for 30 days, 60 GB for 90 days and 100 GB for 180 days, on a local Israeli network.
- Middle East countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Phone number: no. All these plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country. Your days start then.
- Top-ups: available.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year of buying it, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract, and your QR code comes by email.
Which eSIM is best for your Israel trip?
Start with how long you stay. Then check if you visit other countries.
A week or less: Israel 5GB or 10GB
A few days in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, or a week with a day trip to the Dead Sea? The 5 GB and 10 GB plans last 7 days. That covers maps, ride and bus apps, messages and photo sharing. For a very short stopover, the 1 GB and 3 GB plans last 3 days. When we checked our pages, the Israel plans cost less than the Middle East and Asia plans of the same size, so for an Israel-only trip they are the better buy.
Two weeks: Israel 20GB
Two weeks from Tel Aviv to the Galilee and down to Eilat? Israel 20GB lasts 15 days. That's enough for daily maps, social media, photos and some video calls.
A month or more: Israel 50GB, 60GB or 100GB
Visiting family for a month, studying or working from Tel Aviv? Israel 50GB lasts 30 days, 60GB lasts 90 days and 100GB lasts 180 days. You can also top up instead of buying a new eSIM.
Staying around a month? This plan lasts 30 days, with 5G where available.
Israel plus Jordan or Egypt
An Israel plan only works in Israel. If you also visit Petra in Jordan or cross to Sinai in Egypt, one Middle East plan covers all 12 countries, so you don't swap eSIMs at the border. Its plans also last 30 days from 3 GB up. More on the neighbours in our guides to the best eSIM for Jordan and the best eSIM for Egypt.
This also helps in Eilat. The town sits on the Gulf of Aqaba, right next to Jordan and Egypt, and near a border your phone can connect to a network from the country next door. An Israel-only plan won't give you data on that network, but the Middle East plan works in Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
Israel as part of a longer trip
Going on to Turkey, Dubai or India? Our Asia eSIM covers Israel and 25 more countries, up to 50 GB for 60 days. See our guide to the best eSIM for Asia.
You need a phone number
Our Israel, Middle East and Asia plans are data only. You can still call and text over data with apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, see how to make calls with a data-only eSIM. Your home SIM stays on your phone too, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number. If you need an Israeli number, you need a line from a local operator such as Cellcom, Partner, Pelephone or HOT Mobile, bought in person at their shops.
Travel advice and staying safe in Israel
Check the latest travel advice before you book and again before you fly. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) says the situation in the region is unpredictable and can escalate quickly. It advises against all travel to Gaza and within 500 m of its border, to parts of the West Bank, and to parts of northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights near the borders with Lebanon and Syria. It advises against all but essential travel to most of the rest of the West Bank. The exact areas and routes are on the FCDO page: Israel warnings and insurance. The FCDO also warns that your travel insurance could be invalid if you travel against its advice.
The FCDO says rocket and drone attacks remain a risk, and that flights, airspace and border crossings can close at short notice. It tells you to know what to do if a warning siren sounds and to check Israel's Home Front Command for the latest guidance (FCDO: Israel safety and security). A working data connection helps here: you can follow local alerts and news, check your flight and reach your airline. Check your own government's advice too. Our guide on how to handle emergency situations abroad has more tips.
Using your eSIM in Israel's main travel spots
Our Israel page says 5G is available in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Here is what to expect in the places most visitors go.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. In the Old City you can visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall and the Tower of David. The lanes are narrow and easy to get lost in, so offline maps on your phone help. Opening hours and access to holy sites can change at short notice, so check before you go.
Tel Aviv and Jaffa
Tel Aviv is Israel's busy city on the Mediterranean, with long beaches, cafes and nightlife. Its White City, a large area of white Modern Movement (often called Bauhaus) buildings, many from the 1930s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk south along the seafront to the old port town of Jaffa. Coverage in the city is good, and data helps with bus apps, ride apps and finding your way.
The Dead Sea
The shore of the Dead Sea is the lowest land on Earth, more than 400 metres below sea level. The water is so salty that you float without trying. Our Israel page says coverage is good at the Dead Sea resorts. Many visitors come on a day trip from Jerusalem, and you can combine it with Masada and Ein Gedi. In the Negev desert further south, our page says signal is strong along the main roads and at sites like the Ramon Crater, but it can be weaker away from them. Download maps before a desert drive.
Nazareth and the Galilee
Nazareth is where, according to the Bible, Jesus grew up. Its Basilica of the Annunciation and old market draw many visitors, and the Sea of Galilee is a short drive away. Parts of the far north are covered by the FCDO advice above, so check the exact areas before you plan a route there.
Eilat and the Red Sea
Eilat is Israel's resort town on the Red Sea, known for snorkelling and diving at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve. Nearby you can visit the Underwater Observatory and the desert of Timna Park. Remember the border tip above: in Eilat your phone can pick up a Jordanian or Egyptian network.
Other ways to get connected in Israel
A SimOptions eSIM isn't your only option. Here is a fair look at the others.
A local line
Israel's mobile operators, such as Cellcom, Partner, Pelephone and HOT Mobile, sell prepaid lines in their shops. You get an Israeli number and local rates. The downside: you have to find a shop after a long flight, and your phone only has data once the line is set up. A travel eSIM is already installed when you land.
Other eSIM apps
Many eSIM sellers have Israel plans too, and most are data only. Some sell unlimited plans that slow down after a daily amount. Compare them on the same points as above: data, days, speed, countries covered, top-ups and when the days start.
Your home carrier's roaming
Check your own plan before you buy anything. Look up what your carrier charges per day or per MB in Israel. Coming from the EU? "Roam like at home" only covers the EU and EEA, so it doesn't include Israel (Your Europe: mobile roaming costs). If roaming is expensive, an Israel eSIM next to your home line gives you local data at a fixed prepaid price. Turn off data roaming on your home line so it can't use data abroad. More tips in our guide on how to avoid roaming charges.
How much data do you need in Israel?
It depends on how you use your phone. Hotel Wi-Fi helps, but don't count on it for video calls. As a rough guide:
- 3 to 5 days: 1 GB to 5 GB, for maps, messages and ride apps.
- 7 to 15 days: 10 GB to 20 GB, enough for social media, photos and some video calls.
- 15 to 30 days: 20 GB to 50 GB, or more if you work online.
Running low? Top up the same eSIM. Tips to stretch your data: how to reduce data usage abroad.
How to set up your Israel eSIM
- Check eSIM support. Dial *#06#. If your phone shows an EID number, it supports eSIM. On iPhone, eSIM works on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM).
- Check that your phone is unlocked. A phone locked to a carrier only accepts that carrier's eSIMs.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. On iPhone, scan the QR code with the Camera app, or on iOS 17.4 and later press and hold the code in the email and choose Add eSIM (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- When you land, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data and pick the travel eSIM.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad.
Using two lines at once is easy once you know where the settings are: see how to set up and manage a dual eSIM. No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating walks you through the usual causes.
FAQs
What is the best eSIM for Israel?
The one that fits your trip. For Israel only, an Israel eSIM gives you the most data for your money: 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB for a month. For Israel plus Jordan or Egypt, a Middle East eSIM covers 12 countries on one plan.
Does Israel have eSIM?
Yes. Travel eSIMs work in Israel on local networks, and our Israel plans support 5G where it's available. Your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked.
Does an eSIM work at the Dead Sea and in Eilat?
Yes. Our Israel page says coverage is good at the Dead Sea resorts and in the towns. In the Negev desert, signal is strongest along the main roads. In Eilat, your phone can pick up a network from Jordan or Egypt, where a Middle East plan still works.
Can I get an Israeli phone number with an eSIM?
Not with our plans, which are data only. For an Israeli number, buy a line from a local operator in one of their shops. You can call over data with WhatsApp or FaceTime instead.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Israel?
Some providers sell unlimited plans, usually with a speed cap after a daily amount. Our largest Israel plan has 100 GB for 180 days, and you can top up any plan.
When does my Israel eSIM start counting days?
The plan activates automatically when you arrive in Israel, so your days start on arrival, not when you buy or install it.
Is it safe to travel to Israel right now?
It depends on where you go and on the latest news. The UK FCDO advises against travel to some areas, mainly Gaza, parts of the West Bank and parts of the north, and warns that the situation can change quickly. Check its advice and your own government's before you book.