In this article we will suggest which of the funeral plans offered by these companies may be best for different types of people. 

Which plan is the best for premium funerals? Which funeral plan is the best value/cheapest? Which is the best direct cremation plan? We will look to answer these questions and more.

The cheapest direct cremation plan

Dignity’s Simple Unattended Direct Cremation Plan

Who are Dignity?

Dignity Funeral Plans (‘Dignity’) have a long history in the market. They launched the first funeral plan in 1985 and as of 29 July 2022 the company’s Funeral Directors have cared for almost 400,000 families. 

Dignity owns 795 funeral homes and operates 46 crematoria. The company’s roots in the industry can be traced to 1812 and since then Dignity Funeral Directors have provided funeral service to the general public and also members of the Royal Family and senior politicians. In fact, a Dignity Funeral Director carried out the funeral of Winston Churchill. 
Since 29 July 2022 it has been compulsory for all funeral plan providers to be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’). We are able to confirm that Dignity is FCA regulated.

What is direct cremation?

Direct cremation is where the deceased is taken straight to a crematorium to be cremated without a funeral service. These plans tend to be the cheapest on offer as the deceased is often cremated quickly, avoiding a long period of stay in a funeral home and without any extras such as viewing in a chapel of rest or a funeral procession to the crematorium.

Plan details

Simple Unattended Direct Cremation Plan 

• A simple service where no family and friends will be in attendance. 
• Cremation of the deceased.
• Transport of the deceased in a discreet unmarked vehicle to the service.
• Choice between a dark oak-effect coffin or a light oak-effect coffin. Additional types of coffin are available at further cost. 
• Choice between what is done with the ashes:
  • Returned in a simple container – cost guaranteed.
  • Scattered in the Garden of Remembrance – cost guaranteed.
  • Interred in a burial plot – cost £95.
  • Returned in a scatter tube – cost £39. 
  • Returned in a Bamboo ashes container – cost £110.
  • Returned in a Willow ashes container – cost £131. 
• For the purposes of obtaining a simple quote we elected to make no voluntary contributions to flowers, videography, photography, stationary, a memorial, a wake or any other costs. These are not pre-set costs in each plan and instead contributions can be made by you under your plan if you so choose. 

Total: £995 plus any of the costs is bold above.

Why choose this plan?

Dignity’s direct cremation plan is significantly cheaper than some competitors. In our research, the closest in price we have found is Co-op’s direct cremation plan, provided in partnership with Memoria, which costs £1,490. 

Aside from the cost benefit, Dignity has a significant number of funeral homes and crematoria within their ownership which allows for flexibility in the location of any funeral service. 
They have received glowing feedback in a recent client survey and have a rating of 4.7/5 stars on feefo (based on 105 reviews in the past year).

In the Funeral Inspirations Awards we have awarded Dignity a score of 5/5 stars.

The cheapest funeral plan that includes a funeral service

Distinct Cremations Intimate Cremation Plan

Who are Distinct Cremations?

Distinct Cremations are relatively new to the funeral planning market. Set up in 2021 in response to the rising demand for less costly, simple farewells. 

Their parent company, Westerleigh Group (’WG’), are the largest independent provider of cremations within the UK.

WG provides support for 50,000 bereaved families each year and operates almost 40 crematoriums around the UK.  

Having this link to such an established company means they have access to significant experience in the industry. 

Since 29 July 2022 it has been compulsory for all funeral plan providers to be registered with the FCA. We are able to confirm that Distinct Cremations is FCA regulated.

 Plan details

	Intimate Cremation Plan
Price	From £1,799*
Monthly payment options available	Yes, if you are aged between 50 and 74 you can choose to pay for the plan over 5 or 10 years.
Coffin and urn included	Yes, a simple coffin and urn
Constraints on date and time of funeral?	Yes, your loved ones will be allocated a 10 minute early morning service at one of Distinct Cremations’ crematoriums.
Choice of crematorium?	Yes.
Access to a Chapel of Rest for family and friends to visit?	No.
Cortege included?	No.
Pallbearers included?	No.
Limosine included?	No.
Hearse included?	No.
Cremation fees included?	Yes.
Any extras?	Chapel attendant’s presence and support at the service.24/7 support from Direct Cremations to assist with any queries your loved ones may have.Deceased can be collected 24/7, but this only applies to UK mainland. Single doctor’s or coroner’s fee paid for. Assistance with legal and cremation paperwork.Preparation of the deceased for cremation, including removal of pacemakers and other devices.A choice of having the ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance or returned within 14 days.

*It is important to note that you can customise your plan to include any extras from the full price list which is available on their website.

Why choose this plan?

Distinct Cremation’s Intimate Cremation Plan is available at a much cheaper price than similar plans offered by competitors. In our research, the closest in price we have found is Avalon’s Celebration of Life Plan, which costs £2795.

We have been impressed by the flexibility of the two plans on offer. Unlike some other providers, it is possible to personalise your plan by selecting from the options on the price list referred to earlier in this article provided that you pay the additional cost of the extra service(s).

Distinct Cremations go beyond the relatively short free cancellation periods of other providers and, depending on how you pay for your plan, you have at least 12 months to change your mind and receive a full refund. 

All crematoria are owned by Distinct Cremations’ parent company, WG, which provides continuity of service and removes the possibility of your funeral being outsourced to a funeral director that you would not have chosen yourself. 

However, the location of Distinct Cremations’ crematoriums tend to be scattered around central England – for example there are none in Ireland, only one each in Devon and Cornwall, none between Lancashire and the Scottish Borders and only three on mainland Scotland.

It is important to check if their nearest one is in a convenient location for your loved ones before taking out a plan. 

Due to the company being in its infancy at the time of writing, the amount of customer reviews are fewer than for some competitors. However, Distinct Cremations has still managed to earn 144 reviews for the past year on feefo, giving an average rating of 4.9/5 stars. Their plans have also been rated 5 stars by Fairer Finance. 

In summary, Distinct Cremations is a new provider of funeral plans which markets itself as having an approach focusing on simplicity and affordability. In the Funeral Inspirations Awards we have given Distinct Cremations a respectable 4/5 stars.