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16 minute read
Compare direct cremation providers to find the best service for your loved one at an affordable price. In this article, we explore the costs and offerings of various companies that provide direct cremation to those in need of funeral services today. We’ve compiled a comparison of market-leading direct cremation companies, highlighting their differences and similarities to help you navigate your choices.
As more people seek meaningful yet practical ways to say goodbye to their loved ones, the popularity of direct cremation has increased. Whether you are considering it for yourself or for a loved one who has passed, we hope we can help you decide if this option is right for your family.
Affordability: Funeral costs tend to be high. In fact, data in the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024 suggests that the national average fee for a funeral is currently £4,141. That is an increase of 4.7% from their 2023 report. It’s no wonder that with those prices, people are seeking alternatives that are respectful and cost-effective. With Aura, our direct cremation services start at less than half this cost. This is because it does not include certain elements of a traditional funeral like the hearse, pallbearers or elaborate service. This is what makes direct cremation an affordable option that is significantly lower than the national average reported by SunLife.
Ease of planning: By removing the elements of a traditional funeral, a direct cremation does not just reduce costs, it also helps to alleviate stress. Direct cremation provides a straightforward, hassle-free process, easing the burden during a time of grief. The logistics of getting people together at short notice, finding a venue and planning flowers or stationery are eliminated, allowing families to focus on their emotional needs and personal tributes without the pressure of organising a large event. Loved ones can then take the time they need to plan a memorial, celebration of life or service at a later date. Plus, with Aura, we have a wonderful team called the Aura Angels to help arrange this for you, making it even easier to start planning.
Flexibility: Direct cremation doesn’t tie you to formalities or venues. You can plan a memorial at a time and place that suits your family, even months later, ensuring everyone can participate without any rush. It also gives the family time to budget and organise something meaningful. Whether it’s a cosy backyard gathering or a vibrant celebration of life, spreading the ashes at your loved one’s favourite spot, a direct cremation gives you the freedom to choose the kind of memorial you want. Aura offers you the chance to add an intimate service at the crematorium, giving you the flexibility if you want it.
Personal touch: While some envision their final farewell as a traditional funeral, others may prefer no service at all. Direct cremation offers an option for those who seek a simple and fuss-free or intimate and personal funeral. By choosing to forgo a formal funeral service, family and friends gain the flexibility to honour their loved ones in a way that feels most meaningful to them. The funds that could have gone to the funeral can instead be used for personal tributes, memorable holidays, special meals, or charitable donations, depending on what best reflects the life and memories of the person who has passed.
Direct cremation isn’t just about simplicity and savings. It’s a heartfelt choice that honours the lives of those who have passed as well as the needs of those who are left behind. It’s a thoughtful and flexible way to say goodbye that many families are now embracing.
Starting from price | £1,095 | £1,395 | £1,350 | £1,195 |
Trustpilot rating | 4.9/5 stars | 4.8/5 stars | 4.5/5 stars | 4.7/5 stars |
*Additional fees will apply
All information is correct as of June 2024
If you are interested in arranging a low-cost funeral, a direct cremation is usually the most affordable option. When comparing the costs of different cremation services, it’s important to consider that providers include different offerings in their quoted prices, which can impact the final cost and influence your decision.
Looking at the base price alone, Farewill offers the cheapest direct cremation at £895, followed closely by Simplicity at £995 and Aura at £1,095. These prices only cover certain services, meaning you only pay for what you need. However, additional fees may apply if you require urgent body collection from a non-mortuary location or the return of ashes through delivery. If you don’t want or need these extras, the base price offers the best value.
Some providers offer the option to add a service to the direct cremation which involves a stripped-back version of a traditional funeral. There will not be a hearse, pallbearers or flowers but you can gather close loved ones and spend time honouring the memory of the person who has passed. However, an unattended direct cremation will be the cheapest service available.
It’s important to remember that price is not the only factor to consider when planning a direct cremation. Whilst comparing costs is crucial, evaluating the specific services each provider includes and determining what fits your needs best will ensure you make the most informed decision.
Here are some key aspects you may want to keep in mind as you compare direct cremation providers.
Knowing the type of service needed can help you make a decision. It’s useful to consider if you would want to add an attended gathering to the direct cremation before looking for a funeral provider, as this will help narrow your search. Some funeral companies may only offer one kind of service and may not have the option that suits your family’s needs. Other companies may be more flexible in accommodating personal touches, making the service more meaningful.
Funeral providers can assist with more than just arranging funerals. They can help complete paperwork, such as registering a death, organising memorials and finding bereavement support. If you want help with these, confirm your chosen funeral director can provide the services you need. If you are comfortable with handling it, then ensure you’re not paying more for a package that includes services you don’t need.
Whether you’ve arranged a funeral before or not, finding someone to trust with those who have passed can be hard. Reading reviews from other bereaved people can be very helpful as it gives you insight into the customer support you and your family can expect to receive. Customer reviews and testimonials on platforms like Trustpilot can offer insight into the company’s integrity and reliability.
Reading the reviews of funeral providers is always useful, but it’s also important to discuss your options with the providers themselves. Most reputable companies will be happy to talk you through your options, over the phone, via email, or sometimes face-to-face. Notice how the people you speak to respond to your enquiries. A provider showing compassion, attention to detail, and efficiency can make the process much smoother for you and your family.
We all want to be well cared for in life and death, but respecting those who have passed is an essential part of a funeral provider’s service. It’s worth asking about the treatment you or your loved one will receive such as washing and dressing.
One way you can ensure high-quality care is to check that your funeral provider works with those who are members of the National Association for Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). These organisations ensure members adhere to strict codes of conduct, giving you peace of mind that your loved one will be treated with dignity and respect.
The cost of a funeral is important for many people and can influence their choice of provider. The quote you receive can differ between companies. Some may include all the necessary fees and third-party costs, while others separate them.
Having these fees separated out is beneficial if you don’t need certain services as it may bring the overall cost down. It’s important to compare like for like when looking at the prices providers offer. Consider what will be needed to take care of the deceased and evaluate each provider on those necessary services and costs.
A direct cremation with Co-op starts at £1,350 (all information is correct as of June 2024) and includes several services such as the removal of medical devices, an oversized coffin if needed, and out-of-hours or urgent collection. However, it does not cover any travel for collection over 50 miles and the hand-delivery of ashes to the home of a loved one. While Co-op’s all-in-one package might seem convenient, it could mean paying for services you don’t need. Aura, on the other hand, ensures you only pay for what is necessary by structuring their services on an at-need basis.
If you are interested in adding a service, both Co-op and Aura can provide this. Aura offers an intimate service for up to 15 guests from £1,895, and for the crematorium’s maximum capacity, the cost is from £2,495. If you wish to add a service to your direct cremation with Co-op, it can cost between £2,045 and £3,612 depending on third-party costs, which can significantly increase the overall expense.
When it comes to the return of ashes, Co-op only allows you to have your loved one spread in the Garden of Remembrance or for a trusted person to collect from their funeral home or a funeral director. At Aura, you can have the ashes delivered to a close relative or friend, making the service more convenient and personal. Please note this does incur an extra fee, however, it is a service that is included in the price of a prepaid funeral plan with Aura.
Customer satisfaction is another important factor to consider. Aura is highly rated by its customers, boasting an impressive 4.9-star average on Trustpilot. In contrast, Co-op Funeralcare has a 3.4-star rating on Trustpilot, indicating a notable level of dissatisfaction among its customers.
Aura’s family-run nature ensures high-quality care, whereas Co-op’s larger scale may seem impersonal. While both aim to provide respectful services, Aura’s smaller, family-oriented approach might offer a more personalised experience.
Farewill offers a direct cremation starting at £895, which is one of the most affordable options available (all information is correct as of June 2024). However, this price does not include the removal of medical devices, an oversized coffin, the delivery of ashes, or urgent/out-of-hours collection. This structure allows you to pay only for what you need, similar to Aura. However, at Aura, we offer the removal of medical devices for free, adding value to our service.
Another key difference is the ability to personalise the cremation service. Farewill does not offer the option to add a service to your direct cremation. In contrast, Aura provides an opportunity to make the direct cremation more personal by allowing you to add on a gathering for 15 people or more. This option can help create a more intimate and meaningful farewell.
Both Farewill and Aura have high ratings on Trustpilot, reflecting strong customer satisfaction. However, it’s important to note that many of Farewill’s reviews pertain to their will-writing service rather than their direct cremation service. Aura’s equally high Trustpilot score specifically reflects our dedicated funeral plan and funeral arranging services, ensuring that our ratings are a true indicator of the quality of our cremation services.
A direct cremation with Dignity starts at £1,195 (all information is correct as of June 2024). This price does not cover the removal of medical devices or urgent/out-of-hours collection fees. Additionally, Dignity charges extra for mileage beyond 20 miles from one of their funeral directors. Increasing their costs further compared to Aura’s affordable options starting at £1,095.
Dignity offers the option to add an intimate service with some of their funeral directors, though this option can be significantly more expensive and is not available in all locations. In contrast, Aura consistently offers the ability to add a gathering for 15 people or more, ensuring a more personal and intimate service regardless of location.
Aura takes pride in our high ratings from both experts and customers. We have received excellent reviews on platforms such as Trustpilot. Our ratings on these platforms outperform Dignity, which holds 4.6/5 stars on Trustpilot. This reflects our commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality service to every family we serve.
A direct cremation with Simplicity starts at £995, which does not cover the removal of medical devices (all information is correct as of June 2024).
Simplicity allows you to add on a service but it comes with a few more restrictions than Aura. For £1,395, you can have a gathering for up to 12 people, but it must take place at 9 am from Tuesday to Friday. In contrast, Aura offers this service starting from £1,895, allowing up to 15 guests between 9 am-10 am Monday to Friday.
Another difference is in how your loved one is dressed. Simplicity only offers a simple white gown, whereas Aura provides the option to send an outfit for your loved one to be dressed in, adding a personal touch to the service. Please note, that this service incurs an extra cost.
Customer satisfaction is also a crucial factor. Simplicity has a 4.4-star rating from less than 60 reviews on Trustpilot (correct as of June 2024). In comparison, Aura boasts a 4.9-star rating from more than 300 reviews, reflecting a higher level of customer satisfaction and trust.
A direct cremation with Pure starts at £1,395 and includes several services: the removal of medical devices, an oversized coffin, the return of ashes, and out-of-hours or urgent collection fees (all information is correct as of June 2024). While having all these services included in one package can be convenient, it may also mean paying for things you do not need. Aura, on the other hand, ensures you only pay for what is necessary by offering a more flexible structure.
If you wish to add a service to your direct cremation with Pure, it can cost an additional £250 to £700, making it more expensive than adding a service with Aura.
In terms of customer satisfaction, both Aura and Pure are highly rated. Aura has a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot, while Pure has a 4.8-star rating. However, Aura’s smaller operation means we take genuine care of every person we serve, providing a more personal touch larger providers can’t match.
Aura’s funeral services are distinguished by our care, quality and value. As a family-run company, we focus on providing personalised care at cost-effective prices, setting us apart from larger firms.
Our founder, Paul Jameson, was inspired to create Aura after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. As he considered his own end-of-life plans, he couldn’t find anything on the market that suited his needs. So, Aura was born with a mission to tackle the taboo around death and provide compassionate and affordable direct cremation services.
Paul continues to guide Aura to this day, along with his son Dave, his family friend Ben and a dedicated team. Our family-centric approach ensures every client is treated with the care and respect we would want for our own families, something large corporations can’t provide.
At Aura, we believe that funerals should reflect the life of the person it honours. That’s why we offer a range of options to ensure your loved one’s farewell is as unique as they were. Whether it’s a simple direct cremation, an intimate service with up to 15 guests or a larger gathering, we can help you organise a funeral that reflects your and your family’s wishes.
We understand the importance of personal touches in honouring your loved one. From selecting a meaningful coffin to arranging a viewing at our chapel of rest, we support you in creating a respectful and memorable farewell.
Funeral costs can be overwhelming, but at Aura, we aim to alleviate this burden. Our direct cremation services start at just £1,095, significantly lower than the national average of £4,141 as suggested in the 2024 SunLife Cost of Dying Report. This includes essential services like cremation fees, a simple coffin, and transportation, with options to add personalised elements as desired.
To ensure you only pay for the services you need, this does not include the delivery of ashes or an oversized coffin. If you do need these services, talk to our team and we can help organise them for you. Please note, that they will come at an extra cost.
At the heart of Aura’s exceptional service are our Aura Angels—expert funeral arrangers who provide round-the-clock support. They can help you manage everything from initial arrangements and paperwork to the service or finding a fitting memorial, our Angels are there to guide you every step of the way.
But a funeral is more than just sorting arrangements, it can also be a challenging and upsetting time as you face the grief of losing a loved one. The Angels can help, offering support and guidance through a difficult time.
As well as support from the Angel team, we also offer further help on your emotional journey dealing with loss through the Aura Circle. You will join a community of over 30,000 people who are navigating similar experiences. Our platform offers exclusive content and guides, planning tools, and a supportive Facebook group to help you manage the complexities of death and grief.
Aura is proud to be the highest-rated cremation service provider on Trustpilot, with an overall rating of 4.9/5. Our clients have left us heartfelt testimonials highlighting our personal and supportive approach which is vital during a time of loss. This reflects our commitment to quality and the trust our clients place in us.
If you have any questions for our team or you would like to arrange a direct cremation today give us a call on 0800 066 3345. If you are looking to arrange your own end-of-life matters, you can also organise a prepaid funeral plan with us.
