Top 10 funeral plans 2022

Officially, there isn’t a top 10 funeral plan list. However, each of the plans listed below have been rated 4 or 5 stars by Fairer Finance, making them the best on the market according to experts[1].

The best funeral plans and funeral cover, in alphabetical order, are:

  1. Age Co - Holly Plan
  2. Age Co - Ivy Plan
  3. Age Co - Rowan Plan
  4. Choice - Essentials Plan
  5. Choice - Plus Plan
  6. Co-op - Gold Plan
  7. Co-op - Silver Plan
  8. Dignity - Diamond Plan
  9. Dignity - Pearl Plan
  10. SunLife - Traditional Plus Plan (Cremation)

The plans listed above are available to customers across the UK and are designed to cover a traditional funeral.

Please note, Reassured can't compare quotes for all of the funeral plans detailed in this article

Compare Quotes » Find the Best Funeral Cover »

Which is the best funeral plan?

The best funeral plan for you may not be the best funeral plan for someone else, as every customer has different preferences.

With lots of funeral plan options available to choose from, it’s possible to find a plan which suits your unique needs and budget.

Essentially, the best funeral plan for you and your family will depend on:

  • How much you want to spend
  • Which services you want it to include

Your decision may also be influenced by the brand reputation and credibility of the funeral plan provider offering the plan.

Currently, funeral plans aren’t regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), but this will change from the 29th July 2022.

Reassured has written this comprehensive guide on the best buy prepaid funeral plans. Continue reading as we explain:

A Guaranteed Funeral Plan through Reassured

There are various ways you can safeguard your family from unexpected funeral costs.

You could take out a traditional funeral plan from an alternative provider, or you may consider the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through us.

This is a type of life insurance policy which is designed to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after two years.

There are two different options to choose from depending on the level of cover you require.

When you pass away, the funds from your SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan will be issued to the appointed funeral director, or it can be issued to your loved ones as a cash pay out.

Learn more about the SunLife funeral cover available through Reassured by heading to our funeral cover guide, or get in touch for your free quotes.

FPA Sunlife Funeral Plan

SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan key features:

  • Premiums beginning from £19.18 a month ^
  • Guaranteed acceptance if you’re aged 50 - 80
  • No medical exam or questions
  • Guaranteed pay out after two years of payments
  • Immediate accidental death cover
  • 100% pay out protection with FSCS
Compare Guaranteed Funeral Plan Quotes »

What is a funeral plan and how does it work?

A funeral plan allows you to cover the cost of your funeral in advance, protecting your loved ones from this considerable expense when the time comes.

It’s one way to ensure that your family will have the money available to pay for your funeral at short notice and before they can access your estate.

A funeral plan also allows you to choose the type of send-off you’d like to have and the services you want it to include, so that it’s carried out according to your wishes.

Different funeral plan providers offer different payment options. These can include paying for your plan in one lump sum, or making monthly payments either for a fixed term or until you pass away.

Your money is kept safe in a life insurance policy or trust fund, which is then managed independently from the funeral plan provider.

When your funeral services are needed, the necessary funds are released to your appointed funeral director so they can cover the cost.

The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured is a little different because it can only be paid in monthly premiums.

Also, the plan funds can be used for your funeral or can be taken as a cash pay out at the discretion of your loved ones.

What are the benefits of a funeral plan?

The benefits of a funeral plan or a Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured include:

Protect against funeral costs

The average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is a staggering £4,056 and the average total cost of dying is £8,863[2]. A funeral plan relieves some of this financial burden from your loved ones.

Peace of mind

Knowing that your loved ones won’t have to worry about finding the money to cover the entire cost of your funeral or make all the arrangements themselves during a difficult time, will give you peace of mind.

Funeral wishes fulfilled

You can choose a plan based on the services it includes and the type of funeral you want to have. With some plans you can record special requests to ensure that your send-off is carried out according to your final wishes.

Funeral services guaranteed

A funeral plan ensures that the cost of your key funeral services will be covered whenever they’re needed in the future. With the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured, a pay out is guaranteed after two years.
Cost of funerals infographic

How much does a funeral cost in your area?

Calculate the average cost of a funeral where you live. Select from the options below.

Please fill in the required fields

Average funeral cost

£ 0

Protect loved ones from unexpected funeral costs. Arrange funeral cover today.

Compare Quotes
This calculator uses data from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2021 and should only be used as a guide.

What’s covered in a plan?

A funeral plan includes essential services provided by a funeral director, as well as services required for a cremation or burial.

However, the exact services and features covered in a plan will depend on the plan provider and the level of cover you choose.

Most funeral plans cover the following as standard:

  • Collection, care and preparation of the deceased
  • Coffin
  • Hearse or suitable vehicle
  • Funeral personnel
  • A service at the crematorium or place of worship
  • Family support and free bereavement assistance

For more information on what’s included in each of the funeral cover options we can arrange at Reassured, use our fee-free comparison service.

How much does a funeral plan cost?

How much a funeral plan costs depends on the plan you choose and the level of cover included.

See the prices of different funeral cover options available on the market in the comparison tables below.

A SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured begins from just £19.18 a month. The exact amount you'll pay will depend on your age and the plan you select.

Find out how much your funeral cover will cost by getting in touch with Reassured, our quotes are free.

How to find the best funeral plan

As mentioned, the best funeral plan for you may not be the best funeral plan for everyone else.

However, some plans are better than others and it’s helpful to know how to identify these when shopping around.

Use these top 5 tips to help you find a funeral plan which is worth buying:

List icon 1. Make sure your investment is safeguarded

Only consider buying a plan which is approved by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Currently, 95% of funeral plan providers are registered with the FPA, which provides a degree of protection for their customers.

Some types of funeral cover, including the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan through Reassured, come with protection from the FSCS (plus, the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan is an FCA regulated life insurance policy).

From 29th July 2022, the funeral plan sector will be regulated by FCA, which will provide a much higher degree of protection for all funeral plan customers from this date.

List icon 2. Check expert ratings and reviews

Prepaid funeral plan features and ratings can be compared easily and for free on websites such as Fairer Finance, Defaqto and The Times Money Mentor.

You can identify which plans offer the best quality based on their expert reviews and star ratings.

List icon 3. Be aware of what’s typically included in a plan and what’s not

Things you may want to consider when looking at various options include:

  • Does the plan cover everything that’s important to you and your family, at a price within your budget? Bear in mind, it’s normal for a funeral plan to not cover some elements such as flowers, a burial plot, music, memorial or embalming
  • Does the plan cover any third-party fees? Third-party fees are essential for a traditional funeral and include cremation or burial fees, doctors’ fees and minister or celebrant fees. Not all plans cover these in full, which could leave a shortfall for your family to pay
  • Does the plan move with you if you move home? Is there a charge for this? Will the cost of the plan change if you move to a new area?

List icon 4. Look out for plans which guarantee to carry out your funeral after a set period of payments

Some funeral plan providers will guarantee to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after a set period of payments.

For example, the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan through Reassured will guarantee to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after two years of payments.

This means your funeral will still be carried out as agreed in your plan, even though your payments may not have covered the full cost.

Some plan providers won’t offer this benefit and will require that your family pay the remaining balance of your plan if you pass away before finishing all your payments.

List icon 5. Compare multiple funeral cover options

Comparing funeral plans will help you to get a better understanding of which plans offer a better package deal and price.

It may also be worth comparing quotes for alternative ways of covering funeral costs too, for example an over 50s plan or whole of life insurance policy, to see if these may be more cost effective for you.

Here at Reassured, we can provide you with personalised quotes for the funeral cover we offer, allowing you to compare these to other options available on the market.

Continue reading as we compare funeral plans later on in this article.

Which are the best value funeral plans?

Some of the best value funeral plans are ones that guarantee to cover your chosen funeral services when the time comes, as mentioned previously.

Some funeral plan providers will pay out the money required for your funeral when you pass away, even if you haven’t paid the total cost of the plan.

This benefit will kick in once you have made a certain number of plan payments.

For example, a SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured guarantees to pay out after the first two years (24 monthly payments).

This means if you pass away once this initial period has passed, your chosen funeral services will be carried out as specified in your plan, with no more for your loved ones to pay.

This benefit, which guarantees to cover the cost of your funeral after a set period, is offered by the following providers

Compare funeral plans

Comparing multiple funeral cover options will help you decide which one offers you the best deal.

Below is a comparison of the funeral cover options provided by SunLife, Avalon, Co-op, Golden Leaves and Dignity.

There are three different levels of service; basic, standard and comprehensive.

Please note, Reassured doesn’t arrange funeral plans on behalf of all the providers compared below

Funeral plan comparison [Basic level]

The costs typically covered in this tier of funeral plan include funeral director fees, a coffin, and a service at the crematorium.

SunLifeAvalonCo-opGolden LeavesDignity
PlanTraditional PlanStandard PlanSimple PlanZinc PlanLimited
Prices beginning from£19.18 a month£3,645 or from £35.06 a month£3,095 or from £18.96 a month£3,089 or from £20.88 a month£3,095 or from £38.25 a month
Collection and care of deceasedYesYesYesYesYes
CoffinYes
(Basic)		Yes
(Basic)		Yes
(Basic)		Yes
(Basic)		Yes
(Basic)
HearseYesYesNo
(Suitable vehicle alternative)		YesYes
LimousineNoNoNoNoNo
Cremation feesYes
- Guaranteed		Up to £1,000 contribution£950 contributionYes
- Guaranteed		Yes
- Guaranteed
Burial fees£1,010 contributionUp to £1,000 contribution£950 contribution£931 contribution£1,220 contribution
Minister or celebrant feesYes
- Guaranteed		NoNoNoYes
- Guaranteed
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period?Yes
(After 24 monthly payments)		Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		NoYes
(After 12 monthly payments)
Plan moves with you if you move home?Yes
- Free		Yes
- Free		Yes
- Free		Yes
(Price may change if moving to a different region)		Yes
- Free

The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors

Key points:

  • Avalon has the most expensive basic funeral plan, yet doesn’t cover either cremation or burial fees in full, or the cost of minister fees
  • The Co-op Simple Plan has the lowest price, but a slightly smaller contribution compared to some other providers
  • Golden Leaves Zinc Plan won’t guarantee to cover your funeral services if you pass away after a set period
  • The only two plans to cover minister or celebrant fees are the SunLife Traditional Plan and the Dignity Limited Plan

Funeral plan comparison [Standard level]

A standard level funeral plan covers everything that the basic level plan covers, but will provide a higher quality coffin and may include limousines.

AvalonCo-opGolden Leaves

Dignity

PlanPlus PlanSilver PlanSilver PlanAmber Plan
Prices beginning from£3,995 or from £38.52 a month£3,995 or from £24.65 a month£3,594 or from £24.32 a month£3,495 or from £42.53 a month
Collection and care of deceasedYesYesYesYes
CoffinYes
(Wood-effect)		Yes
(Wood-effect)		Yes
(Basic)		Yes
(Wood-effect)
HearseYesYesYesYes
LimousineYes
(One)		Yes
(One)		NoNo
Cremation feesUp to £1,000 contributionYes
- Guaranteed		Yes
- Guaranteed		Yes
- Guaranteed
Burial feesUp to £1,000 contributionYes
- Guaranteed		Contribution provided¤£1,220 contribution
Minister or celebrant feesNoYes
- Guaranteed		NoYes
- Guaranteed
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period?Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		NoYes
(After 12 monthly payments)
Plan moves with you if you move home?Yes
- Free		Yes
- Free		Yes
(Price may change if moving to a different region)		Yes
- Free

The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors
¤Contribution amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees

Key points:

  • The Co-op Silver Plan guarantees to cover the full cost of cremation or burial fees
  • The most expensive standard plan provided by Avalon doesn’t guarantee cremation fees, burial fees or minister fees
  • Neither the Golden Leaves Silver Plan and Dignity Amber Plan includes a limousine

Funeral plan comparison [Comprehensive level]

With a comprehensive level funeral plan, a high-quality wood effect coffin is usually provided, and two limousines may be included.

SunLifeAvalonCo-opGolden LeavesDignity
PlanTraditional PlusPremium PlanGold PlanPlatinum PlanDiamond Plan
Price beginning from£23.02 a month£4,245 or from £40.99 a month£4,295 or from £26.55 a month£4,199 or from £28.44 a month£4,195 or from £50.01 a month
Collection and care of deceasedYesYesYesYesYes
CoffinYes
(High quality wood veneer)		Yes
(High quality wood veneer)		Yes
(High quality wood veneer)		Yes
(High quality wood veneer)		Yes
(High quality wood veneer)
HearseYesYesYesYesYes
LimousineYes
(Two)		Yes
(Two)		Yes
(Two)		Yes
(Two)		Yes
(Two)
Cremation feesYes
- Guaranteed		Up to £1,000 contributionYes
- Guaranteed		Yes
- Guaranteed		Yes
- Guaranteed
Burial fees£1,010 contributionUp to £1,000 contributionYes
- Guaranteed		Contribution provided¤£1,220 contribution
Minister or celebrant feesYes
- Guaranteed		NoYes
- Guaranteed		NoYes
- Guaranteed
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period?Yes
(After 24 monthly payments)		Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		Yes
(After 12 monthly payments)		NoYes
(After 12 monthly payments)
Plan moves with you if you move home?Yes
- Free		Yes
- Free		Yes
- Free		Yes
(Price may change if moving to a different region)		Yes
- Free

The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors
¤Contribution amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees

Key points:

  • Even as one of the most expensive plans on the market, the Avalon Premium Plan only provides a contribution towards third-party fees
  • The Co-op Gold Plan is the only plan that guarantees to cover all third-party fees (cremation or burial fees, minister or celebrant fees). However, it is the most expensive plan

Arrange your ideal funeral cover through Reassured today. Get in touch with our award-winning service to get started.

Compare Quotes » Secure the Best Funeral Cover

Best cremation only funeral plans

Each of the cremation only funeral plans listed below have been rated 4 or 5 stars by Fairer Finance:

  • Avalon Funeral Plans Direct Cremation Plan - £1,895
  • Golden Leaves Copper Plan - £1,693
  • Simplicity Cremations Lily Plan - £1,495
  • Age Co Buttercup Plan - £ 1,495
  • Age Co Daffofil Plan - £1,795
  • Age Co Sunflower Plan - £2,295
  • Pure Cremation Trust-Based Plan - £1,595

Cremation only funeral plans are the most affordable plans and cover a direct cremation or simple cremation funeral.

The cheapest plans available are the Simplicity Cremations Lily Plan and the Age Co Buttercup Plan, which both cost £1,495.

Unfortunately, Reassured isn’t able to help you arrange this type of plan today.

Best natural funeral plans

According to Fairer Finance, the best natural funeral plans are:

  • Age Co Forest Funeral Plan - £4,470 (rated 5 stars)
  • Dignity Willow Plan - £4,495, only available with some funeral directors, (rated 4 stars)
  • Dignity Bamboo Plan - £4,195, only available with some funeral directors (rated 3 stars)

Natural funeral plans provide an eco-friendly alternative to a traditional funeral.

The cheapest plan available for this type of funeral is the Bamboo plan provided by Dignity which costs £4,195.

Unfortunately, Reassured isn’t able to help you arrange this type of plan today.

Martin Lewis’ advice on funeral plans

The Money Saving Expert has plenty of advice on his website regarding funeral plans and whether they’re worth the money.

Martin Lewis’s general advice is that funeral plans can be a good way of covering funeral costs in advance, but it’s important to be aware of the pros and cons before making a purchase.

Martin Lewis also emphasises the importance of making sure your plan covers everything you’re expecting. For example, if you’re opting for a burial funeral then it’s unlikely your plan will cover the full cost of a burial plot.

At Reassured, our friendly team is on hand to answer any questions you have regarding the funeral cover we can offer, allowing you to make a fully informed decision.

Compare Funeral Cover Options » Find the Best Deal

Related articles:

Show more Nav arrow

Sources:

[1] https://www.fairerfinance.com/ratings/product-ratings/prepaid-funeral-plans

[2] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report.pdf/

Reassured can't arrange all of the plans detailed in this article. Information and pricing taken directly from the plan provider's websites is correct as of 31/03/2022

Our Providers

  • The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan is an insurance policy which after two years guarantees to pay for your chosen funeral services
  • SunLife is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
SunLife Logo

Very easy to understand and very quick

Yes very pleased with my choice very helpful easy to understand and very pleasant transaction all good!

Mrs M Rushworth

Very professional and reassuring

Very professional and reassuring. Life insurance sorted in about 10 minutes.

Stephen Davies

very courteous and friendly

very courteous and friendly. Polite professional and empathic.

Stedroy Fenton

Another happy customer

Another happy customer I am. They are very professional and kind. Fully communicative. I recommend.

Piotr Stepien

Really attentive during the call

Really attentive during the call, good clear guidance throughout. Well done.

Michael Reynolds

Amazing service

Amazing service quick fast and easy and Joey was a star on the phone really help me thanks.

Sera Woolley

I made the right choice and now I feel…

I made the right choice and now I feel relieved that I did.

glyn

Really genuine kind and compassionate…

Really genuine kind and compassionate team with great knowledge and friendly approach highly recommend them!

Katelia Merritt

I must say Jake took me through every…

I must say Jake took me through every step and was brilliant, recommend them anytime.

Allan Green

Very happy and everything explained…

Very happy and everything explained well, so glad a took the time to take the call, normally I would say I'm busy. But compared to other company's we save so much more money.

Jenny Berry