Distinct cremations Distinct Cremations Review 2025

Author profile
By Clare Townhill Updated 29 October 2025
Disclaimer: Prices and ratings correct at time of writing.

Direct cremation is now the fastest-growing funeral choice in the UK, offering a dignified and more affordable alternative to a traditional service. According to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, the average funeral costs £4,285, compared with an average direct cremation cost of just £1,597.

Distinct Cremations is a specialist provider focused solely on direct cremations. Its promise is simple: a low-cost, no-fuss service carried out with dignity and care. In this article, we review what Distinct Cremations offers looking at its plans, costs, and real customer feedback. We’ll also touch on how Distinct compares with alternatives such as Golden Leaves, which combines direct cremation with a broader range of funeral options.

Distinct Cremation Plans in Detail

Direct Cremation Plan

  • Price: From £1,799
  • Unattended cremation at one of Distinct’s 41 partner crematoria
  • Collection and professional care of the deceased, 24/7
  • Simple coffin included
  • Ashes hand-delivered within 14 days or scattered locally
  • Payment options: 12 months interest-free, or 2–10 years with interest
  • Doctor’s fees included

The service they provide uses their own crematoriums, located throughout England, Wales and mainland Scotland and they pride themselves on offering a high quality service with transparent pricing.

Funeral Service Plan

  • Price: From £2,199
  • Includes everything in the Direct Cremation Plan
  • Plus: a funeral service at the crematorium (up to 60 minutes)
  • Families can choose music, tributes, and whether it’s celebrant- or family-led
  • Same payment options as above
  • Doctor’s fees included

Compare Funeral Plans

 

What’s Included / Not Included?

Included

  • 24/7 collection and care of the deceased.
  • Cremation at one of Distinct’s 41 partner crematoria.
  • A simple coffin.
  • Ashes hand-delivered within 14 days or scattered locally.
  • Attendance by professional, respectful staff throughout the process
  • Doctor’s fees are included with Distinct Cremations. By comparison, most providers charge for these separately (approx. £164).

Not Included

  • Attending the cremation (unless Funeral Service Plan chosen).
  • Choice of crematorium or specific date.
  • Extras such as flowers, embalming, or catering.

 

Customer Feedback

Distinct Cremations currently holds a 4.9★ TrustScore on Trustpilot (264 reviews, Sept 2025), with 95% of reviewers awarding 5 stars. Customers consistently highlight staff professionalism, compassion, and clear communication.

“Nathan was incredibly kind and professional, making the whole process easier for our family.” — Sandra Jefferson, Trustpilot, Sept 2025

“Excellent customer service from start to finish. Very easy process and everything explained clearly.” — Patricia McKenna, Trustpilot, Aug 2025

“They phoned me back promptly, showed real empathy, and reassured me when I needed it most.” — JacM, Trustpilot, Aug 2025

Distinct Cremations - Pros & Cons

Pros

Specialist focus on direct cremation
Simple, transparent pricing
Doctor’s fees included
Strong Trustpilot rating (4.9★, Sept 2025)
High customer satisfaction for staff professionalism and clarity

Cons

  • Limited options (no broader funeral plans beyond direct cremation + simple service)
  • Coverage limited to mainland Great Britain
  • Smaller, newer provider compared with established names

Distinct Cremations vs Golden Leaves: At a Glance

To put Distinct Cremations in context, here’s how it compares with Golden Leaves, another leading provider that offers direct cremation plans alongside a broader range of more traditional services.

Compare Funeral Plans

Feature Distinct Cremations Golden Leaves
Plan focus Direct cremation only Direct cremation plus attended funeral plans
Direct cremation cost From £1,799 From £1,700 (Copper Plan)
Payment options 12 months interest free, or 2 to 10 years with interest Up to 96 months, interest bearing
Doctor’s fees Included Not included (about £164)
Coverage Mainland Great Britain UK & Europe
Trustpilot 4.9★ (264 reviews, Sept 2025) 4.8★ (5,148 reviews, Sept 2025)
Reputation Specialist, newer provider Established provider with decades of experience

Final Word

Distinct Cremations is a very strong choice if you want a low-cost, no-fuss cremation carried out with dignity. Its two straightforward plans, inclusive pricing, and excellent customer feedback make it one of the leading specialists in this growing market.

For those who may want greater flexibility, such as the option of an attended funeral or the reassurance of a long-established provider with thousands of positive customer reviews, Golden Leaves is well worth considering. Its Copper Plan starts from just £1,700, and it also offers traditional funeral plans alongside direct cremation, giving families more choice about how to say goodbye to their loved ones.

FAQs

Am I eligible for a Distinct Cremations funeral plan?

You are eligible for a Distinct Cremations funeral plan as long as you are at least 18 years of age and pay either in one go or over 12 months.

For a 5 or 10 years instalment plan, you need to be between 50 to 74 years old when buying the plan.

Can I cancel my plan?

If you pay in full or over 12 months, and you can cancel your plan within the first 30 days you will receive a full refund. If you cancel after 30 days your money will be refunded minus a cancellation fee of £95.

If you choose a 5 or 10 year instalment plan, your money will be refunded if you cancel within the first 12 months. After this period, no money would be refunded.

What happens to my funeral plan if I move home?

As Distinct Cremations collect anywhere throughout mainland UK, as long as you are within this area your services can be provided. Just contact the company to advise them of your new address.

 

Did you find this information helpful?

We work with

First Choice Health
Age Partnership
Quotezone.co.uk
sunlife.co.uk

Our aim is to provide you with clear and accurate information to help you research your chosen financial products and services. The material on this site is for general information only and does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation.

If a link has an * by it, it means it is an affiliated link to an insurance company or broker that may result in a payment to the site. Should you use the equity release calculator, speak to an Age Partnership adviser and take out a plan out using their services, we receive a commission, however this will not affect the price you pay.

Also, from time to time you may see advertisements from third party companies who pay us a fee to advertise their services on our site.

None of the above arrangements constitute advice or recommendations, as other products and companies are available. You should always obtain independent, professional advice for your own situation.

The information provided on this site is accurate at the date of publication, occasionally however, things will change before we have had the opportunity to update them, so please do check. Always do your own research and take independent advice.

We do not investigate the solvency of any company mentioned on our website and are not responsible for the content on websites we link to.

Over50choices is an independent company and regulated by the FCA (No.594280) for insurance products only and a member of the Equity Release Council.