Compare the cheapest funeral plans: costs and features
The rising cost of funerals in the UK means prepaid funeral plans, particularly for direct cremations, are becoming more popular. Paying for your own funeral in advance means cremation costs are covered and your family won't be left to foot the bill. Compare funeral plans to know exactly what is covered and what you may need to pay extra for.
Exceptional service
Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
Experience you can trust
Over 74,000 cremations a year
Expert funeral care
Supporting families for over 30 years
Planning a funeral in advance, for either yourself or a loved one, can feel daunting, even with the financial and stress-reducing benefits offered. At Distinct Cremations, our direct cremation funeral plans are designed to be as flexible, affordable and hassle-free as possible.
With so many options out there to choose from, it can be confusing and time-consuming to compare funeral plans and work out the best and cheapest cremation plan. In the table below we provide a comprehensive view of what's included in the unattended direct cremation plans of five top funeral providers.
The best funeral plans comparison
| Unattended Cremation Plan Product Feature |  |
Pure Cremation | Memoria Affordable Funerals | Avalon Funeral Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (not including extras) | £1,899 | £1,995 | £1,795 | £1,675 |
| Cancellation fee | +£275 | +£350 | +£95 | +£395 |
| Collection throughout mainland UK* | ||||
| Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | ||||
| Provision of standard coffin | ||||
| No charge for oversized coffin | ||||
| Transport of deceased | ||||
| Notification of the date of cremation | ||||
| Crematorium fee included | ||||
| Viewing of the deceased | ||||
| Owns own mortuary and crematorium facilities | ||||
| Personal return of ashes included | ||||
| Ashes return guaranteed within 14 days | +£175 |
| Unattended Cremation Plan Product Feature | Price (not including extras) | Cancellation fee | Collection throughout mainland UK* | Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | Provision of standard coffin | No charge for oversized coffin | Transport of deceased | Notification of the date of cremation | Crematorium fee included | Viewing of the deceased | Owns own mortuary and crematorium facilities | Personal return of ashes included | Ashes return guaranteed within 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,899 | +£275 | |||||||||||
| Pure Cremation | £1,995 | +£350 | |||||||||||
| Memoria Affordable Funerals | £1,795 | +£95 | +£175 | ||||||||||
| Avalon Funeral Plans | £1,675 | +£395 |
*Collection from any place of death throughout mainland UK, 24 hours a day.
All information correct as of 18/07/2025
Alternatively, if you need to arrange a funeral today or in the near future you can compare direct cremation costs.
What is an unattended direct cremation plan?
A prepaid, direct cremation funeral plan allows you to pay in advance for the exact funeral you want while you are still able to do so. Payment can be made either upfront or over a period of years. Having a funeral plan can alleviate the financial pressures of a dignified send-off and protects your loved ones from unexpected costs. Planning in advance also helps reduce stress on your loved ones when they need time to process and support one another.
With our funeral plans you have flexible payment options to best suit your situation, putting you in control of your end-of-life plans.
Barham Crematorium
Find the right funeral plan for you
Our affordable funeral plans offer the choice of a funeral service at the crematorium or a direct cremation without mourners present.
Answer the quick and simple questions below for an instant quote tailored to your wishes.
Want more information or have questions? Give our compassionate Customer Service Specialists a call on 01543 211997.
How do prepaid funeral plans from Distinct Cremations work?
1. Choose your plan
Choose your preferred funeral plan and how you want to pay
2. Call us
Whenever you need us, we're here for you 24/7
3. We secure your money
We secure your money in a trust fund or we purchase an insurance policy from regulated provider Scottish Friendly
4. Cremation is arranged
When the time comes we take care of everything, from collection to cremation.
5. Ashes are returned
The ashes can be scattered at the crematorium or personally returned within 14 days.
Benefits of our funeral plans
With a funeral plan in place, costs are frozen at the current market rate, giving you protection against future price increases.
The cost of a funeral has increased by 57% since 2012*. But with a funeral plan, you can secure today's prices for the future.
All our plans ensure the greatest care and respect as well as dedicated support to manage every detail when the time comes.
* Increase is based on the cost of a basic funeral in 2012 (£2,713) and the cost of a basic funeral in 2024 (£4,285) (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Expert care, every step of the way
From collection to cremation, you're in trusted hands. Our experienced team, state-of-the-art facilities and peaceful crematoriums ensure dignified care throughout.
Smart and secure for your money
Fix funeral costs from just £1,899. Choose to pay upfront, over 12 months at no extra cost or over 5 or 10 years for cheaper monthly payments.
Guaranteed delivery of your wishes
Plan and pay in advance with guaranteed acceptance and no medical questions. Your money is secured in an independent trust or insurance policy.
When funeral planning, it's wise to think about your financial security. Whether you'd like to pay for a Distinct Cremations funeral plan upfront or pay over 1, 5 or 10 years, there are different ways that your money is protected.
Learn more about how we keep your money safe after you've taken out a funeral plan.
Which costs are covered in a funeral plan?
Whether you’d like a funeral service or an unattended cremation, our funeral plans guarantee your final farewell is carried out according to your wishes.
All of our plans offer the highest quality of service and care with flexible payment options, protection against rising funeral costs and guaranteed safety for your money.
Funeral Service Plan
From £2,399
or £27.51* per month
A personal funeral service for friends and family
Unrestricted number of attendees
A 30 or 60-minute service at the crematorium
Choice of family-led or celebrant-led funeral
* Price is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £3,301.20 and includes admin fees.
View Funeral Service PlanDirect Cremation Plan
From £1,899
or £19.79** per month
Celebrate a life without the formalities of a funeral
Simple, dignified and our cheapest funeral plan
No formal service or attendees present
Coffin rested in chapel whilst music plays
** Price is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,374.80 and includes admin fees.
View Direct Cremation PlanWhy choose us
From affordable services to specialist support, our funeral plans offer what really matters.
All of the essentials are covered to take the stress and costs of funeral arrangements away from your loved ones.
Babworth Crematorium and grounds
Our cremations offer:
Exceptional support
Our compassionate team will help you set up your plan and answer any questions. We are here to support your family when the time comes.
All services guaranteed
We use our own teams, private ambulances, mortuary, crematoriums and trusted partners to look after your loved one at every stage.
Dignified cremation
The coffin is brought respectfully into the chapel. At unattended direct cremations, your chosen music is played and a moment of silence is observed before the cremation.
Ashes personally returned
The individually identified and tracked ashes can be hand-delivered to your family within 14 days or scattered at the crematorium.
Caring and attentive team
Here for you 24/7
Outstanding facilities
With 41 crematoriums nationwide
Flexible payment options
Pay upfront or spread the cost
Our funeral plan reviews
We’re proud to receive glowing reviews from customers who have trusted us with their funeral plans and services. See the high level of support we offer from our recent verified feedback.
As featured on
Funeral plan FAQs
See our commonly asked questions about funeral plans to help you find the plan that's the right fit for you.
If you still have questions, please contact our friendly team who are here to support you.
Do I need to tell anyone that I've taken out a funeral plan?
You can choose a nominated representative when taking out a funeral plan. This person will put your wishes in motion when the cremation is required. This could be a family member, friend or someone else.
You can also include your plan's information in your will, however, the will is not typically read until after the funeral.
How can I pay for my prepaid funeral plan?
There are a few ways to pay for a funeral plan. As a one-off payment, you can pay by credit card, debit card or cheque. If you're paying monthly over 12 months you must pay via direct debit. If you're paying over 5 or 10 years you must pay by continuous card payment.
Is it safe to take out a new funeral plan?
Absolutely. Taking out a new funeral plan with Distinct Cremations is completely safe. Distinct Cremations, and our parent Westerleigh, are one of the largest funeral and cremation service providers in the UK. We have been established for 30 years and each year we help around 74,000 families.
How old do you need to be to take a prepaid funeral plan out?
You need to be over the age of 18 to take out a funeral plan. For 5 & 10 year instalment plans you must be aged between 50 & 74 when you purchase your funeral plan.
What happens if I die before I've paid for my plan?
If you are paying for your plan in up to 12 instalments, your nominated representative will need to pay the outstanding amount due.
If you are paying over 5 or 10 years and death occurs after 12 months and your monthly instalments are up to date, no further payment will need to be made.
If you are paying over 5 or 10 years and death occurs within 12 months of the start date of your plan, your nominated representative will need to pay the difference between the amount already paid and the single payment plan price at the time you took out your plan. If death occurs within 12 months of the start date of the plan as the result of accidental death, no further payment will need to be made.
Is my money protected with a funeral plan?
Yes, single payments and instalments up to 12 months are held in a secure Trust which is managed by independent trustees. For 5 & 10 year instalment plans we purchase a “whole of life” policy from Scottish Friendly - an authorised and regulated insurance provider. The proceeds of that policy will be used to pay for your chosen cremation at the time of need.
Can you plan a funeral before someone has died?
You can, and it can make things easier and less stressful for when the time comes. If a loved one is suffering from a life limiting ailment, the dying person may want to be involved in their own funeral arrangements. Or a funeral can be planned when you're healthy with a funeral plan. We're happy to talk through your options 24/7 on 01543 211997.
Is it more expensive if you are older or have health issues?
Our funeral plans guarantee your acceptance, with no medical questions or additional costs for the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions. However, for funeral plans payable over 5 or 10 years we incur additional administration expenses for collecting the monthly instalments and for the purchase and administration of a “whole of life” policy from Scottish Friendly - an authorised and regulated insurance provider.
Why should I choose Distinct Cremations ahead of other providers?
At Distinct Cremations, we offer both direct and Funeral Service plans delivered with dignity and care.
Our funeral plans include every aspect of the cremation arrangements so when the time comes there will be nothing more for your family to pay. We deliver all of the services ourselves including transport, care at our mortuary, cremation at one of our crematoriums and the return of the ashes. Our caring team is there to offer support throughout with both paperwork and making the arrangements.
What is a funeral plan?
A funeral plan lets you choose and pay for a funeral ahead of time. Planning your own funeral protects your family from funeral costs and ensures your wishes are known for the type of funeral you'd like. If you're going to be the one making funeral arrangements for someone else in future, you can also take out a funeral plan for them for peace of mind.
When the time comes we'll carry out every part of the process and deliver the ashes to your family at no extra cost. Our funeral plans include cremation, fees, collection, care, return of the ashes and much more. For full details of what is and is not covered with our different funeral plan options, please read our funeral plan summary and terms & conditions.
Can I take out a prepaid funeral plan for my parents or partner?
Yes - you can take out a funeral plan on behalf of your parents or a partner. For more information, take a look at our guide on setting up a funeral plan for a loved one or talk to a member of our team today on 01543 211997.
Does it matter where I'm located?
As long as you're based in mainland England, Wales, or Scotland, your location won’t affect your options. The price remains the same, and the quality and service inclusions don’t change. With our network of 41 crematoria across these regions, you can secure a funeral plan no matter where you are. Explore our crematoriums today.
