When a number is connected to the WhatsApp Business Platform, that number stops working in the regular WhatsApp app. If your business number is also your personal WhatsApp, you will probably want a second line. This page explains exactly which line you need, and where to buy one.
1. Do you actually need another number?
Not necessarily. If you are willing to move your existing business number over to Esek, you can skip this page entirely, and that is the better option: your customers already have that number saved in their phones.
A second line makes sense if:
- your business number is also your personal number, and you are not willing to give up the WhatsApp on it;
- you want private messages kept separate from customer enquiries;
- you are opening a new line for the business anyway.
2. What to look for, and what to avoid
You need an Israeli mobile line with a real number (05x) that can receive a phone call or an SMS. That is all.
Three points that save money and time:
- You do not need a big plan. The number receives one verification call during setup, and after that no WhatsApp traffic passes through the SIM at all. The cheapest line on the shelf is the right one. Today that starts at around ₪10 a month.
- eSIM is more convenient than a physical card, because there is no courier to wait for and no free slot needed in the handset. Most Israeli carriers support eSIM now. A physical SIM works exactly the same way, so do not let this hold you up.
- Do not install WhatsApp on the new number. If a WhatsApp account already exists on it, delete that account in the app before connecting to us, otherwise the connection will be refused.
3. Where to buy
All of the carriers below sell an Israeli line with a real number and support eSIM. Ordered cheapest first, correct as of August 2026:
- 019 Mobile The cheapest plan we found: about ₪10 a month for 100 minutes and 100 messages, which is more than enough. Signup finishes with a callback from a representative.
- Rami Levy Communications Online signup and eSIM activation by scanning a code. Cheap plans, usually bundled with more data than you will need.
- Golan Telecom Among the cheapest plans on the market, with signup and activation fully online.
- HOT Mobile Supports eSIM, mid-range plans.
- Cellcom Full eSIM support on all plans. More expensive, mainly worth it if you already hold lines there and adding one is easy.
- Partner Full eSIM support on all plans. Same consideration as Cellcom.
- Pelephone More limited eSIM support, worth confirming with a representative before signing up.
Prices and plans change often, and we take no commission from any of these carriers. Check the current price on the provider's own site before signing up.
4. Once you have a number
That is all we need from you. We do the rest during setup: connecting the business account with Meta, verifying the number, configuring templates and your AI assistant. During setup a verification code arrives at the new number by phone call or SMS, and we will ask you to read it out to us. That is the only time you will actually need the line.
If buying a line does not work out for you, or you would rather have a landline number for the business than a mobile one, tell us on the setup call and we will work it out together.
More questions? Message us on WhatsApp from any page on esek.io, or email info@esek.io.