Co-op Funeral Plans Review 2026

Q: What's included in a plan?

Each Co-op funeral plan includes the following items and services as standard: Collection of the person who’s died within 50-mile radius, 24/7 Care and preparation of the person who’s died Support and guidance provided by a funeral director Family viewing at a private remembrance room All third-party fees (cremation or burial fees, officiant fees) or a contribution towards these A coffin Free call from bereavement team and bereavement assistance for family.

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Co-op funeral plans review

Quick review summary
What is a Co-op funeral plan
Are Co-op funeral plans any good
Co-op funeral plans reviews from customers
Co-op funeral plans reviews from experts
What's included in a plan?
What's not included in a plan?
Compare Co-op funeral plans
What are the payment options?
How much does a Co-op funeral plan cost
Drawbacks of Co-op funeral plans
Co-op funeral plans review verdict
Co-op funeral plan FAQs

Quick review summary

Co-op funeral plans are provided by Co-op Funeralcare, an FCA regulated and award-winning funeral director
There are four funeral plans and one direct cremation plan to choose from
Prices range from £1,700 to £4,160 (members can get up to £125 discount)
Flexible payment options are available
Co-op Funeralcare is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot
Reassured can’t arrange funeral plans, but as a life insurance broker, we can help you protect your loved ones with life insurance

This comprehensive review explores the five Co-op funeral plans: Direct Cremation, Bronze, Simple, Silver and Gold.

We take a close look at what each plan includes and how they compare, as well as customer reviews, pricing and potential drawbacks to consider.

Continue reading as we provide all the information you need to decide if a Co-op prepaid plan is the right choice for you and your family...

What is a Co-op funeral plan?

A funeral plan with the Co-op allows you to arrange and pay for your funeral in advance.

It’s a simple and affordable way to help protect your loved ones from rising funeral costs, while ensuring your wishes are clearly documented.

Co-op Funeralcare offers four traditional plans, each covering different levels of service for either a cremation or burial funeral.

They also provide a direct cremation plan, which includes a cremation without a funeral service.

UK residents aged over 18 are guaranteed acceptance and there are no medical questions when you apply.

Rising funeral costs in the UK

According to the SunLife Cost of Dying report, the average cost of a funeral has risen 146% since 2004, with prices predicted to increase by a further 17% by 2030^[1].

With the average funeral now costing around £4,000, many people choose to take out a funeral plan to lock in today’s prices and help reduce the financial burden on their loved ones.

Are Co-op funeral plans any good?

Yes, Co-op funeral plans are good options based on industry ratings and customer reviews.

However, whether they are the right choice for you will depend on your personal needs and preferences.

Here are some reasons you may choose a Co-op prepaid funeral plan:

Award-winning funeral provider

For the last 9 years, Co-op Funeralcare has received the ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ award from Moneynet

Top-rated funeral plans

Co-op is one of only three providers to have received 5 star ratings from both Fairer Finance and Defaqto

Flexible payment options

You can choose to pay for a plan in one single payment or spread the cost in monthly instalments up to a maximum of 25 years

Guaranteed funeral protection

The Gold, Silver and Direct cremation plans guarantee to cover all essential third-party fees at today’s prices, regardless of how much they may rise over time. Not all providers offer this level of protection

Large network of funeral homes

With over 800 Co-op funeral homes nationwide, their funeral plans can be arranged and used all across the UK

Your money is safe

Co-op is an FCA regulated provider and you can have peace of mind that your money will be kept safe in a whole of life insurance policy until it’s needed for your funeral.

Co-op funeral plans reviews from customers

Co-op Funeralcare is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on 2,318 real customer reviews (correct as of July 2026).

The summary states that ‘reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their helpfulness, professionalism, and empathetic approach, making difficult situations much easier to navigate...’

Read some honest customer opinions on Co-op funeral plans

“The process of organising funeral plans can be daunting to think about, but I found the help from the Co-op made it extremely less daunting. I was given patience and time to work out what I needed and wanted… I was given plenty of time to get my funeral plan right for me.” – Virginia (June 2026)

“It was really good to actually sit down and discuss my circumstances and what I wanted as a funeral plan with Daniel. He was very kind, friendly and professional and made the process very easy explaining everything clearly… I can’t recommend the Co-op Funeralcare service highly enough.” - Shirley Griffin (June 2026)

“Everything was explained as I went through the application online and the pay monthly was a bonus in today’s economical market. I had been considering sorting my funeral out for a while now and when I looked into it Co-op Funeralcare ticked my requirements.” - Christine Sutherland (June 2026)

Co-op funeral plans reviews from experts

Expert reviews provide an insight into the quality of a product and how it compares to other options on the market.

The table below shows star ratings from industry experts for each plan. The Gold plan has received 5 out of 5 stars which is the highest rating you can get.

Plan
Gold	5 stars	5 stars
Silver	4 stars	4 stars
Bronze	3 stars	2 stars
Simple	3 stars	1 star
Direct cremation	3 stars	2 stars

What's included in a plan?

Each Co-op funeral plan includes the following products and services as standard:

Collection of the person who’s died within 50-mile radius, 24/7
Care and preparation of the person who’s died
Support and guidance provided by a funeral director
Family viewing at a private remembrance room
All third-party fees (cremation or burial fees, officiant fees) or a contribution towards these
A coffin
Free call from bereavement team and bereavement assistance for family.

What's not included in a plan?

Funeral plans don't usually include:

Flowers
Funeral notices
Order of service
Burial plot (cost of burial plots in the UK vary from region to region)
Memorial

Your family would need to pay for these additional products and services if they choose to include these when the time comes.

Elements that aren’t covered by any Co-op plan but may be covered by alternative plans on the market include:

Embalming
Returning or scattering of ashes (for cremation)
An urn for ashes
Nationwide collection of the person who’s passed.

Compare Co-op funeral plans

Co-op Funeralcare offer five different prepaid funeral plans to suit varying needs and budgets.

The table below shows a simple comparison of the products and services included in each of the plans.

	Direct cremation	Simple	Bronze	Silver	Gold
Price	£1,700 (Co-op member price £1,675)	£2,995 (Co-op member price £2,920)	£3,685 (Co-op member price £3,560)	£3,975 (Co-op member price £3,850)	£4,160 (Co-op member price £4,035)
Coffin	Basic	Basic	Cherry effect	Cherry effect	Oak veneer
Date, time & location of funeral	N/A - No service	Restricted	Restricted	Mutually agreed	Mutually agreed
Family visit to remembrance room		During working hours	During working hours	Any time by appointment	Any time by appointment
Funeral cortege		Directly to service from funeral home	Directly to service from funeral home	Choice of route	Choice of route
Pallbearers		Family bearers
Hearse
Limousine				x1	x2
Memorial canvas
Cremation or burial fees	Guaranteed	£850 contribution	£1,000 contribution	Guaranteed	Guaranteed

Direct cremation plan

This is Co-op’s most affordable plan. Prepaid direct cremations don’t include a funeral service for loved ones to attend, or other ceremonial elements such as a hearse, limousine, or pallbearers.

Simple funeral plan

This plan covers a simple cremation or burial funeral with a service that your loved ones can attend and a contribution towards third-party fees.

Bronze funeral plan

This plan covers a simple cremation or burial funeral with an attended service, plus a larger contribution towards third-party fees.

Silver funeral plan

This plan offers comprehensive cover for a traditional cremation or burial funeral with an attended service, plus all third-party fees are guaranteed.

Gold funeral plan

This is Co-op’s most comprehensive plan which provides cover for a traditional cremation or burial funeral with an attended service. All third-party fees are also guaranteed.

What are the payment options?

When taking out a Co-op funeral plan, there are three payment options to choose from.

For immediate cover, you can pay in one single payment.

Alternatively, you can spread the cost in monthly payments, in which cover will start after 12 months. The two options are:

Pay over 6 or 12 months without any additional fees (minimum £99 deposit required)
Pay by monthly instalments over the course of 2-25 years (minimum £99 deposit required)

Choosing to pay by monthly instalments over 2-25 years will incur additional instalment charges and the payment plan must end by your 80th birthday.

How much does a Co-op funeral plan cost?

Co-op funeral plans start from £1,700 for a direct cremation and from £2,995 for a traditional cremation or burial funeral with a service.

The monthly cost will depend on the payment term length and your age.

The table below compares Co-op funeral plan prices with other providers for each level of cover, from direct cremation to comprehensive plans.

	Co-op	Dignity	Golden Charter	Golden Leaves
Direct cremation plans (unattended funeral)	£1,700	£1,899	£1,950	£1,700
Simple plans	£2,995	N/A	N/A	£2,449
Standard plans	£3,685	£3,850	£3,800	£3,725
Mid-level plans	£3,975	£4,409	N/A	N/A
Top-level plans (most comprehensive)	£4,160	£4,967	£4,150	£4,135

Compared with other providers, Co-op Funeralcare offers a broader range of funeral plan options, helping to cater for different budgets.

Save up to £125 with exclusive Co-op member discount

Co-op members can save £25 on the Direct Cremation plan, £75 on the Simple plan or £125 on the Bronze, Silver and Gold plans.

If you’re not yet a member and would like to benefit from these offers, you can sign up on the Co-op website. A £1 membership fee is required.

Drawbacks of Co-op funeral plans

Some possible drawbacks of Co-op funeral plans include:

Cancellation fee - You may need to pay a fee if you cancel the plan after the 30 day cooling off period
Capped third-party costs - Simple and Bronze plans do not fully guarantee all third-party costs
Instalments fees - Paying for a plan over a longer payment term (2–25 years) will incur additional charges
Limited flexibility - If you’d prefer a more personalised funeral, then you may consider other options that offer tailored services such as a Dignity bespoke plan.

Co-op funeral plans review verdict

Co-op Funeralcare is a trusted and reliable UK funeral plan provider with more than 100 years experience.

Their prepaid plans are clear, affordable and regulated, giving you peace of mind that you’re in safe hands if you buy one.

You can also be rest assured that they offer a compassionate and caring service based on real customer feedback.

However, it’s still important to shop around and compare options to find a plan that offers good value for money and suitable protection.

Co-op funeral plan FAQs

Are Co-op funeral plans worth the money?

Funeral plans are typically worth the money if you have specific wishes for your final send-off and you have the funds available to pay in advance.

Having a Co-op plan place can offer several monetary benefits, for example:

Avoid inheritance tax and probate: The funds paid out from a plan are not usually considered part of your estate when you pass away, avoiding inheritance tax (if your estate is liable) and any delays due to probate
Help protect from rising costs. The sooner you take out a plan, the more money you may save your loved ones in the future, as funeral prices are likely to continue to rise
The cost of a plan is lower than the cost of a funeral today. A plan can cost on average around £219 less than a similar funeral today with Co-op Funeralcare.

Are Co-op funeral plans safe?

Yes, it’s safe to purchase a funeral plan from Co-op Funeralcare.

The provider is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - the UK financial services regulator.

In addition, any funds paid into your plan are held in an FCA regulated whole of life insurance policy, until it’s redeemed.

Even in the unlikely circumstance that Co-op went out of business, then measures are in place to ensure that the funeral you pay for will be carried out by another funeral provider.

What happens if you pass away before finishing all your payments?

Co-op Funeralcare will still provide the services included in your plan if you pass away after the first 12 monthly payments.

They won’t request any remaining balance from your loved ones.

If you pass away within the first 12 months of your plan due to an accident, Co-op will still provide the services included in your plan.

Can you take out a Co-op funeral plan over 50?

Any UK resident aged over 50 can take out a Co-op funeral plan without the worry of medical restrictions.

Acceptance is guaranteed and someone over 50 can spread the cost of their plan using one of the monthly payment plans.

Can you purchase a plan on behalf of someone else?

Yes, you can. Co-op funeral plans are available to purchase on behalf of yourself, a family member or friend.

In the instance of purchasing a plan on behalf of someone else, the person named within the plan will receive all documentation and all decisions regarding funeral arrangements will remain theirs.

However, to obtain an instalment plan in this instance, all payments must be made by the 80th birthday of the person paying for the plan.

How do you check if someone has a Co-op plan?

If a family member has recently passed away and you’re unsure if they had a funeral plan, it’s best to do a few checks before planning the funeral.

You can find out if they had a funeral plan by:

Contacting Co-op Funeralcare - Pop into the local funeral home or give them a call. They’ll be able to find out if there is a funeral plan using just the name, date of birth and address
My Funeral Matters - A trace a funeral plan service is available for a fee.

Is life insurance better than a Co-op funeral plan?

Whether life insurance is better than a Co-op funeral plan depends on your priorities and what you want to protect.

We’ve compared the key features in the table below:

Life insurance	Co-op funeral plan
Provides a lump sum which can help cover a range of costs, such as a mortgage, living expenses, bills or an inheritance	Specifically designed to cover funeral services
Application may include health and lifestyle questions	No health or lifestyle questions and acceptance is guaranteed (over 18)
Your personal circumstances will affect your eligibility and the cost	Fixed prices (lock-in today’s rates)
Monthly premiums must be paid	Three different payment options