No Frills Direct Cremation funeral plan
Unattended cremation | No ceremony
What is a No Frills (Direct Cremation) funeral plan?
A funeral plan from the No Frills range covers all the practicalities of arranging a cremation, but there is no funeral ceremony, and no one present when the body is cremated. Choosing this type of funeral doesn't mean that the standard of care will be any different from what you would expect from a traditional funeral service with a ceremony.
The ashes can be returned to loved ones. This gives them the freedom to say goodbye at a time, a place and in a way that suits them. For some inspirational ideas on how and where to scatter ashes, do check out our article: 21 Amazing things to do with your ashes. An alternative option provided by most funeral plans is for the ashes to be scattered in the crematorium Garden of Remembrance.
A No Frills type of funeral plan is the least expensive and practical alternative to a traditional (with ceremony) funeral.
To compare prices for this lowest cost type of funeral cover, click here.
Pros and Cons of a No Frills Funeral Plan
When a No Frills funeral plan may be right for you
When a No Frills funeral plan may not be right for you
Your funeral your way, with this free Funeral Wishes Planner

How much does a No Frills funeral plan cost?
No Frills prepaid funeral plans start from £1,595, if paying in a single lump sum. (Price includes third-party cremation fees and doctors' fees). Other variations of No Frills funeral plans and ways to spread the cost are available.
There are three factors that will affect the cost of a funeral plan and that you need to pay close attention to.
3rd party cremation or burial fees
A funeral plan will have one of three levels of cremation or burial fees cover: ‘Fully guaranteed’ (no more to pay), ‘Contribution’ **(may have more to pay), and ‘No contribution’. Any shortfall will need to be paid at the time of the funeral by your representative.
The more third-party fees cover you have, the more you will pay for the plan.
Tailoring your funeral plan
Some plan providers allow you to make changes, e.g. upgrade the motor hearse for a horse-drawn hearse. Tailoring might be a cheaper solution than choosing the next level of funeral plan up, but may not provide the best overall value.
Get in touch with your funeral plan provider to chat through your options.
Spreading the cost
Your options include paying in a single lump sum, monthly instalments, or lower fixed monthly payments which are payable for life or up to a specified age, e.g. 90.
Lower monthly payments are attractive, but you should be aware that you could end up paying more into the funeral plan than the funeral is eventually worth.
What does a No Frills funeral plan include?

Before the funeral

On the day

After the funeral
What funeral plans don't include
It’s important to be aware of the things that aren’t commonly included in a funeral plan so that you can make financial provision for them if you want to, either as a contribution* amount in your funeral plan (if allowed) or by some other means, such as a savings account.
* Other exclusions may apply. Read your plan provider's terms and conditions.
Are the cremation or burial fees included in a funeral plan?
All set funeral plans guarantee to cover the funeral director's professional fees for arranging the funeral, caring for the deceased, supplying the coffin and providing a chauffeur-driven motor hearse. But not all funeral plans cover the necessary third-party cremation or burial fees.
Your options include a guaranteed funeral plan which ensures these third-party fees are included and there is nothing more for loved ones to pay, or a contribution funeral plan or no contribution funeral plan. Any shortfall would be paid at the time of the funeral by your next of kin, for example. To learn more, watch the video below.
How to find the best value prepaid funeral plans using the sQored rating

Using expert funeral industry knowledge and methodology, sQored generates a service and quality score for each prepaid funeral plan. sQored does this by carefully scrutinising 12,500 sets of data. This includes looking closely at the funeral plan key features and the small print terms and conditions.
You'll find the sQored rating next to each funeral plan quote when you compare.
Which type of prepaid funeral plan is right for me?
There are five types of funeral plan, catering for all preferences and budgets.
The types range from the lowest-cost, no frills direct cremation service with no funeral ceremony and no family and friends present, to the 'bells and whistles' type of funeral that has all the ceremonial extras and no restriction on the number of people who can attend.
Explore your options through these simple guides.
Compare Funeral Plan Types is best viewed on a desktop or tablet device
* Maximum saving and lowest monthly plan price based on the listed funeral plans compared on 07.06.22.
* Source: SunLife (2021) Cost Of Dying Report. The average price of a UK cremation and burial funeral in 2021 is £4,184. The cost is expected to rise to £5,044 by 2025.