eSIM, local SIM or roaming — which suits whom
In short: Roaming is the simplest and usually the most expensive. A local SIM is cheap but means swapping cards and taking a local number. An eSIM gives you data without swapping anything and without giving up your Israeli SIM.
Roaming
Nothing to do — your Israeli plan simply works abroad, for an extra charge.
It is the reasonable option for a day or two, when convenience is worth more than the difference.
A local SIM
A physical card bought at your destination. Usually cheap, but you have to find a shop, swap the card in your device and keep the Israeli one safe.
The number you get is local, so people trying to reach you on your Israeli number do not always succeed.
An eSIM
Installed in advance by scanning a QR code, with no physical card to swap and nothing done to your Israeli SIM.
It is a data plan: it gives internet, not a new number. Your Israeli number stays in the device and stays reachable on WhatsApp.
It suits anyone who wants to land connected without ceremony and without surprises on the bill.
And what about calls and SMS to Israel
That is a separate question from data, and worth keeping separate: an eSIM plan solves internet, not calls and verification codes.
If you need your Israeli number to keep receiving calls and SMS — including bank verification codes — from anywhere, that is what the Globalex relocation service does.
Frequently asked
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually yes for trips longer than a day or two, but it depends on the destination and the plan. Prices on the site include VAT.
Do I get a local number with the eSIM?
No. It is a data plan only; no phone number comes with it.
Can I use the eSIM and my Israeli SIM together?
Yes — that is the point. The eSIM is added as a second profile and the Israeli SIM stays where it is.
More guides
What an eSIM is and how it works
An eSIM is a digital SIM installed without a plastic card. What that means in practice, how you install one, and what happens to your Israeli SIM.
Does my phone support eSIM
How to check whether your phone supports eSIM and what a network-locked device means — before you buy a plan.
How much data does a trip need
How to choose a data plan by trip length and how you use your phone, and what to do if you run out mid-trip.