How to choose the best funeral plans
The cheapest funeral plans may not necessarily offer the best value for money if the funeral services included are not guaranteed. To choose the best plan, you need to be aware of the price, how the prepaid plan works and what is and isn’t included.
Our comparisons will help you understand which funeral plans are regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority and come with a complete guarantee for the services included and our reviews provide more information on the plan providers themselves.
You can also see here how Defaqto, the independent researcher of financial products rated funeral plans in their recent review.
The top 10 funeral plans provide a nationwide service and are registered and regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority. As a regulated company, these funeral plan providers have had to prove they comply with the FPA's rules on how your money is held securely and the service you receive.
- Dignity (£3,095 - £4,195)
- Coop Funeralcare (£3,095 - £4,295)
- Safe Hands (£3,495 - £4,095)
- Golden Leaves (£3,089 - £4,199)
- Golden Charter (£2,895 - £4,099)
- Avalon (£3,645 - £4,245)
- Age Co (£3,070 - £4,170)
- Open Prepaid Funerals £2,995 - £4,100)
- Perfect Choice (not listed)
- Choice Funeral Plans (£3,395 - £3,820)
Range of prices included where available
Guaranteed vs contribution funeral plans comparison
Guaranteed funeral plans fully guarantee the costs of all services included in the plan at today’s prices, whereas contribution plans only include an allowance for some third party fees which could leave your family with more to pay. The following comparison shows how these two types of funeral plans compare.
Guaranteed plan providers
- Dignity
- Coop Funeralcare
- Age Co
- Golden Leaves
Contribution plan providers
- Golden Charter
- Avalon
- Perfect Choice
- Open funeral plans
- Choice funeral plans
Top 10 cheapest funeral plans
The top 10 cheapest funeral plans provide your funeral services but have limitations such as the time of the service or range of funeral directors you can use. Therefore, when considering the best value funeral plans, as well as affordability it’s also important to understand how the plan works.
- Dignity Limited Plan - £3,095
- Dignity Amber Plan - £3,495
- Coop Simple Plan - £3,295
- Golden Charter Basic - £3,495
- Golden Charter Standard - £3,495
- Golden Leaves Zinc - £2,859
- Golden Leaves Silver Plan - £3,365
- Age Co Basic Plan - £3,070
- Age Co Ivy Plan - £3,370
- Open Prepaid Simple Plan - £2,995
All plans include either a guarantee or contribution for third party costs.
Best direct cremation funeral plans
Direct cremation is a cremation without a funeral service, leaving families free to say goodbye their way. Half the price of a traditional funeral plan, this simple cremation provides a low-cost alternative for those not wanting the fuss of a funeral service.
The best direct cremation providers, all of whom are registered and regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority are as follows:
- Simplicity - £1,495
- Golden Charter - £1,950
- Golden Leaves - £1,644
- Pure Cremation - £1,595
- Avalon - £1,895
- Memoria - £1,675
- Simplicita - £1,645
- Open Prepaid Funerals - £1,845
Only Simplicity, Golden Leaves, Pure Cremation and Avalon include a full guarantee for all the services included in their cremation only plans.
There are an increasing number of funeral plan comparison websites, although our advice is to make sure that when comparing plans you are comparing like for like and that the provider is FPA registered.
Not all plans are the same.
To receive more information on how funeral plans work and to compare quotes please request a brochure or call us on 0800 133 7380.