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Two Together: Save £100!Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Written by Mitch Tapner.
15 minute read
Thinking about funerals isn’t easy, but knowing your options can make the decisions feel a little more manageable. The provider you choose can shape not only the type of funeral or plan available, but also the level of support and guidance your family will receive.
When it comes to funeral plans, Aura Funerals and Golden Leaves are two well-known names in the UK, though their focus differs. Alongside its funeral plans, Aura is recognised for offering simple, dignified direct cremation services. These keep costs lower and give families the flexibility to arrange personal memorials in their own way. Golden Leaves, on the other hand, has been established for many years and provides a broader range of plans, from cremation-only options to more traditional funerals that include all the familiar and more formal elements.
In this guide, we’ll explore how the two providers compare looking at costs and pricing transparency, the types of plans on offer, the support families can expect, and how customers rate their experiences.
Our aim is to give you clear, balanced information so you can feel confident in choosing the option that best fits your needs. Whether you’re making arrangements now, or thinking ahead and planning for the future, this guide is here to help you understand the differences and similarities between Aura Funerals and Golden Leaves.
Aura Funerals is a trusted family-run provider that helps people plan ahead with simple all-inclusive funeral plans. Their direct cremation options, whether attended or unattended, offer a clear and dignified alternative to traditional funerals. With a focus on affordability, personal care and ease, Aura takes the stress out of future planning, giving families peace of mind when it matters most.
By contrast, Golden Leaves is a UK funeral plan provider offering a broader range of options, from simple cremations to more traditional services, including specialist cover for expatriates. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and backed by a trust, they offer secure and flexible payment choices.
Aura focuses on making funeral planning as simple and personal as possible. Instead of offering a wide range of options, Aura provides straightforward, all-inclusive direct cremation plans with clear pricing and a simple attended service add-on. It’s a dignified alternative that helps families avoid the complexity and added costs often associated with more traditional services.
When you compare funeral plans, it’s important to find one that not only fits your budget but also reflects the level of care you’d like as part of your end-of-life planning. In this section, we compare Golden Leaves’ funeral plans with those from Aura, highlighting key differences in price, flexibility and what each plan includes.
Aura’s prepaid funeral plans start from £1,695 for an unattended cremation, offering great value with no hidden fees. Golden Leaves offer four different types of funeral plans, with its direct cremation-based ‘Copper Plan’ plan starting at £1,700.
Aura’s funeral plans offer flexible payment options. You can pay in full or spread the cost over 12 to 24 months, with no extra fees either way.
Golden Leaves also offer a range of payment options, though some come with added costs. You can choose to pay in monthly instalments over 12 months with no extra charge. If you spread payments over 24 months or more, the total cost of your plan will go up. For example, paying over eight years would add £1,469 in instalment fees.
There are also some differences in how cancellations are managed. If you’ve paid in full, Golden Leaves applies a cancellation fee of £325 if you choose to end the plan after 30 days for administration purposes. If you’re paying in instalments though, you can cancel at no cost within the first 12 months. Aura takes a more flexible and understanding approach. They recognise that circumstances can change, so they never charge a cancellation fee, no matter when you cancel.
To make funeral planning more affordable, Aura offers a £100 saving through its Two Together plan when you buy two funeral plans at the same time. There are no time limits or codes needed. It is simply a straightforward way to save when planning ahead together. Golden Leaves meanwhile do not offer any discounts or promotions at the time of writing this guide (correct as of November 2025).
If you’re looking to purchase a plan for yourself and a loved one, you can save £100 when you buy two plans together.
Our ‘Two Together’ funeral plans include everything you’ll find in our single plans, but at even better value.
Please note, our Two Together plans are not yet available to buy online. For more information, please call our team or request a quote on the button below.
Aura offers straightforward funeral plans that are available across mainland Britain. Each one is designed to include everything that matters, without added complexity. This includes 24/7 collection from anywhere in the country, care of the person who has died, funeral director services, cremation fees, a simple coffin, help with paperwork and the ashes returned to the family or scattered with care. All of this is covered by a single flat price.
If family or friends would like to say goodbye in person, Aura offers the option of a short 10-minute service for up to 15 people for a cost of £2,395. A longer service of around 40 minutes, with as many people as the crematorium can welcome, is £2,995.
Golden Leaves also includes the option of an attended service through its Copper Plus Plan, which starts from £2,449 and allows up to 20 people to be present.
Aura’s plans are available across mainland Britain, with no regional limits or changes in price. They work with more than 40 crematoriums nationwide, making it simple to choose an attended plan and hold a service close to home. Golden Leaves, on the other hand, also offers international options for UK expats living in Spain, Portugal or Cyprus.
Aura gives families added peace of mind with flexible terms, strong financial protection and a clear focus on ethical service. If you’re paying in instalments over 24 months or less and your circumstances change, you can cancel at any time and receive a full refund, with no cancellation fees.
In comparison, Golden Leaves allows free cancellation within the first 30 days for two types of plans: trust-based plans paid in a lump sum, and credit-financed plans where payments are spread over more than 12 months. After this 30-day period, cancelling either of these plans will result in a refund of all money paid, minus a £325 cancellation charge.
For trust-based plans paid over 12 monthly instalments or fewer, cancellation is free within the first 12 months. If you cancel after this 12-month window, the same £325 charge applies and will be deducted from your refund. Aura also makes it easy to update your plan if things change. You can adjust your wishes or personal details at no extra cost.
Both Aura and Golden Leaves are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and all payments are protected through independent trusts or insurance-backed arrangements. Aura is especially clear about how your money is safeguarded, with protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This provides extra reassurance that your funds are secure.
Aura’s funeral plans have received top marks from both Fairer Finance and the Funeral Solution Expert, earning 5-star ratings for their fairness, value and thoughtful support. Golden Leaves, by comparison, holds a 4/5 stars rating from Fairer Finance.
Aura’s commitment to doing right by every family was recognised in 2024, when the ICA named them ‘SME Compliance Team of the Year’. The following year, they were celebrated at the 2025 UKCXA customer service awards, earning Gold in the ‘Customers at the Heart of Everything’ category, the event’s most competitive, and Silver for ‘Best Customer Service’.
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|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | £1,695 | £1,700 |
| Trustpilot | 4.9/5 stars | 4.8/5 stars |
| Fairer Finance | ||
| Free Cancellation Anytimeℹ | ||
| Money-Back Guaranteeℹ |
Aura approaches funeral planning with compassion and a strong focus on people, not sales. Their ‘No Pressure Promise’ means families can expect clear and supportive guidance, with no unwanted follow-up or sales tactics. By contrast, some providers, including Golden Leaves, have received reviews from customers claiming they have been ‘bombarded with phone calls’, something which may feel overwhelming for those seeking a gentler experience.
Aura is a family-run provider that puts people at the centre of everything they do. Their support team, known as the Aura Angels, is there to guide families through each stage of the journey from simple cremation arrangements to more personal tributes. The team offers calm practical support with things like paperwork alongside a kind and reassuring presence for those who are grieving. Whether online or by phone they are there when you need them most.
Both providers also offer a selection of online articles to guide people through end-of-life planning, providing practical advice and reassurance along the way.
Aura makes it simple to update your details or change beneficiaries at any time, with no admin fees and no added stress. It’s all part of their promise to keep things clear, flexible, and supportive. In comparison, some people using Golden Leaves have said they felt ‘pressured’ during the process.
Aura gives families added reassurance with a satisfaction guarantee. If the service doesn’t meet expectations you can cancel at no cost and receive a full refund. All plans are protected under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations which include safeguards such as a fallback provider or a refund if something goes wrong. Support doesn’t end with the funeral either as Aura also offers gentle aftercare and bereavement support to help families feel cared for during and after the process.
Planning ahead can ease future worry, which is why many people choose a prepaid funeral plan. Both Aura and Golden Leaves aim to offer that sense of security and reassurance. Golden Leaves’ plans are well-regarded, with many customers saying they’re simple, affordable, and offer peace of mind knowing everything’s taken care of ahead of time. That said, some customer reviews have raised concerns that they ‘cannot deliver on what they are advertising’ in some instances.
Being a family-run provider, Aura takes pride in offering thoughtful support that never feels rushed or impersonal. They have the capacity to care for every family with kindness, patience and attention to detail. People often speak about how personal the experience feels and how straightforward everything is from the first conversation to the return of the ashes. There is no pressure to make quick decisions, just calm and compassionate guidance at your own pace.
Both providers are well regarded by customers. Aura has a Trustpilot rating of 4.9/5 stars, while Golden Leaves also holds a strong score of 4.8/5 stars. Independent reviewers have taken notice too, with Fairer Finance awarding Aura 5 stars, compared to 4/5 stars for Golden Leaves.
Although both aim to give families peace of mind, Aura is often recognised for its clear flexibility, strong independent ratings and people-first approach. For those who value gentle guidance and a service that puts care above sales, Aura remains a trusted and supportive choice.
Deciding on a funeral provider is never easy, especially with so many options and details to think about. Aura and Golden Leaves are two recognised names offering prepaid funeral plans, each with a different focus.
Golden Leaves has been around for many years and offers a broad range of plans including more traditional services. They’re a familiar choice for those wanting flexibility and a wider set of options.
Aura, while a newer provider, has quickly built trust through its warm family-run approach. Their focus is on simple and dignified cremation plans with clear pricing, no hidden fees and kind pressure-free support from planning through to aftercare.
In the end it’s about choosing the provider that feels right for you or your loved ones. If you’re not sure where to start, our team is here to help.
If you’d like to know more about how to plan a cremation with Aura, our brochure is a helpful place to begin.
Our funeral plans are a helpful way to put everything in place for you or someone else.
When the time comes, our experienced team will be here to guide you through each step, offering support and advice whenever you need it.
To find out more about how our plans work, what’s included, and our story, you can request a brochure by clicking the link below. We will then send you a copy by email or First Class post—whichever you prefer.
Golden Leaves is widely regarded as a reputable and long-standing name in the UK funeral planning industry. As an FCA-regulated provider, they follow strict standards designed to protect customers and ensure funds are securely managed. Their plans are backed by an independent trust, and they hold a strong Trustpilot rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Aura is also FCA-regulated and takes pride in offering a compassionate, people-first approach, with clear pricing, flexible support and consistently kind feedback from the families we help.
Golden Leaves offers several funeral plans, including a direct cremation option called the Copper Plan.
What’s included with Golden Leaves:
Golden Leaves’ plans vary in price depending on the type of funeral you choose. Their Copper Plan, which is based on an unattended direct cremation, is the most affordable option, starting from £1,700. More comprehensive plans, like the Copper Plus Plan which includes a small attended farewell, start from £2,449.
It’s also worth noting that if you choose to pay over a longer period (more than 24 months), you may pay extra in instalment fees. For example, spreading payments over eight years could add £1,469 to the total cost.
Yes, you can cancel a Golden Leaves funeral plan, but fees may apply depending on how you’ve chosen to pay. If you’ve paid in full, a cancellation fee of £325 will be charged if you cancel after the first 30 days. If you’re paying in instalments, you can cancel at any time during the first 12 months without any fee.
By contrast, Aura takes a more flexible and understanding approach. There are no cancellation fees at any time, no matter how or when you choose to cancel.
Yes, Aura offers the option to attend the cremation if you’d like to say goodbye in person. Their attended cremation plans start from £2,395 and usually include a short, simple farewell lasting around 10 to 15 minutes with close family. This gives you a chance to be present without the cost or complexity of a full traditional service.
If you have any questions, would like a brochure or simply would like a chat through our services, our award-winning team is here to help.
Unlike other providers, we won’t hassle you with constant calls. We’ll simply ensure you have the information you need and leave you to come to a decision in your own time. When you’re ready for us, our team will be ready to help.