With Grace Costs & Reviews vs Aura

Planning a funeral now or in the future can feel like a challenge, especially when you’re trying to balance cost, care and simplicity. Aura Funerals and With Grace both aim to make things easier with prepaid funeral plans and direct cremation services that offer a respectful alternative to a traditional funeral.

Both providers offer a more flexible and affordable alternative to traditional funerals, but they take different approaches. Aura is family-founded and focuses on clear, all-inclusive pricing with direct cremation plans, whether attended or unattended. With Grace acts as a facilitator, connecting families with funeral directors and offering a mix of direct cremation and more traditional options that can be personalised.

This comparison looks at what each provider includes, from costs and flexibility to customer reviews and aftercare, so you can decide what’s right for you or someone close to you.

Key takeaways:

• With Grace works with funeral directors to offer both direct cremation and traditional plans. Aura focuses on simple, all-inclusive cremation with a personal, family-led approach.
• Aura’s pricing is fixed and fee-free. With Grace may apply cancellation fees or charges for longer instalments.
• Aura offers personal support from a small, compassionate team. With Grace also provides helpful guidance during the process.
• Aura holds a 4.9/5 stars Trustpilot score from 1,000+ reviews. With Grace has a solid 4.7/5 stars rating from over 200 reviews.
• Aura stands out for flexibility – free cancellations, no admin fees, and 5-star Fairer Finance ratings. With Grace offers more plan types but offers less flexibility around cancellation.

With Grace vs Aura Funerals at a Glance

Aura is a trusted family-run provider offering simple, all-inclusive direct cremation services. Whether choosing an unattended option or preferring to be there with close family, Aura makes the process clear, affordable and personal. Aura partners with a network of local care centres and crematoria across mainland Britain to deliver meaningful services close to home – always with low, transparent pricing.

Families can also plan ahead with a prepaid funeral plan, with no hidden fees and no pressure.

With Grace operates in a similar space as a funeral plan and arrangement provider but takes a more traditional approach. Alongside direct cremation, they offer a range of prepaid funeral plans that include more conventional elements, often arranged through a network of partner funeral directors.

While With Grace offers a broader mix of funeral types, Aura remains focused on keeping direct cremation simple, personal and fully supported from start to finish.

With Grace direct cremation services compared

Aura is clear and upfront about pricing, with no hidden fees. However, there may be a few optional extras depending on your needs or preferences.

With Grace aims to keep pricing clear, though additional costs may apply if changes are made close to or on the day of the funeral.

The two providers also differ in how payment is handled. If a funeral is needed immediately, Aura requires full payment upfront. This ensures everything can be arranged without delay and the service runs smoothly.

With Grace, on the other hand, customers can either pay in full within three working days or pay a deposit: £500 for a cremation or £1,000 for a burial. If paying a deposit, the remaining balance must be settled at least five working days before the funeral.

With Grace cremation process & what’s included

With Grace offers an time of need cremation service that is simple and unattended, with no ceremony or personalisation included as standard. This can be arranged online or over the phone. Payment is due either in full within three working days, or by paying a deposit (£500 for a cremation), with the balance to be cleared at least five working days before the funeral.

Ashes can be returned in a simple container or biodegradable box, or scattered in the crematorium’s garden of remembrance at no extra cost. Optional upgrades, such as a personalised urn, are available for an additional fee.

For families who would like to be present, With Grace offers attended direct cremations through its ‘Standard Package’, with prices starting from £1,395. Their ‘Premium Package’ (£1,795) includes options like music and a funeral celebrant, allowing for some personal touches.

Aura’s attended direct cremations start from £2,095 and include a quiet 10-minute farewell for up to 15 people. A longer, fully attended 40-minute service starts from £2,695 and can accommodate as many guests as the crematorium allows.

The return of ashes is handled with care by both providers. Aura offers hand delivery within 21 days of the cremation, while With Grace typically returns ashes by hand within 28 days. Both providers also offer the option to scatter ashes at the crematorium.

Aura’s flexible approach means families can include music or invite a funeral celebrant or religious minister as part of the attended service. While the ceremony itself is kept simple, families are welcome to arrange separate celebrations of life, with full support from Aura’s team if needed.

With Grace prepaid funeral plans compared

Aura’s funeral plans include flexible payment options. You can pay in full or spread the cost over 12 to 24 months, with no added fees regardless of how you choose to pay.

With Grace offers a similar approach, with no instalment charges for payment terms up to 24 months. For longer terms, however, a 6.5% annual instalment fee is added to the total plan cost.

There are also some key differences around cancellation. With Grace charges a £250 fee if you cancel after the first 30 days. Aura, by contrast, understands that circumstances can change and never charges a cancellation fee, no matter when you decide to cancel.

To help with costs, Aura also offers a permanent £100 saving through their ‘Two Together’ plan when two funeral plans are purchased at the same time, no codes or expiry dates needed. With Grace does not currently offer any multi-plan discounts at the time of writing this guide.

Flexibility, terms & trust

Planning ahead should come with confidence, not complication. Aura aims to make that possible by offering flexible terms and clear protections. If you’re paying in instalments over up to 24 months and need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund – no cancellation fees, no added stress. In contrast, With Grace applies a £250 cancellation fee if the plan is cancelled after 30 days.

Aura also makes it easy to update your plan over time. Whether you’re changing personal details or adjusting your wishes, there’s no charge. This flexibility isn’t always guaranteed elsewhere, so it’s worth bearing in mind when choosing the provider that feels right for you.

Both Aura and With Grace are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and customer payments are held securely. Aura goes a step further by clearly explaining how your funds are protected through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), offering extra peace of mind.

Aura’s approach has earned 5-star ratings from Fairer Finance and the Funeral Solution Expert, recognising their transparency, value and care. With Grace, by comparison, holds a 3-star rating from Fairer Finance.

Aura’s dedication to supporting families has earned national recognition. In 2024, they were named SME Compliance Team of the Year by the ICA. In 2025, they received Gold for ‘Customers at the Heart of Everything’ and Silver for ‘Best Customer Service’ at the UKCXA awards – the most competitive categories of the event.

Customer support & communication

Aura offers a calm, people-first approach to funeral planning. Families are given space to make informed decisions without pressure. With Aura’s ‘No Pressure Promise’, you won’t be contacted with unwanted follow-ups or sales calls. This is something not all providers can guarantee.

As a family-run service, Aura prioritises kindness at every stage. Their team, known as the Aura Angels, helps guide families through the process with compassion and clarity. Whether you’re arranging a simple cremation or something more personal, they’re on hand to offer practical help and emotional support both online and by phone. With Grace also provides support, helping with advice on certification and registration.

Aura also keeps things flexible. If you need to update personal details or change a plan’s beneficiary, you can do so at any time without admin fees or added stress. This flexibility is built into every plan.

Families are further reassured by Aura’s satisfaction guarantee. If expectations aren’t met, you can cancel your plan and receive a full refund. All plans are protected by FCA regulations, which include safeguards such as fallback providers and secure refund policies. After the funeral, Aura continues to support families with access to gentle aftercare and bereavement resources so you are not left to manage everything alone.

With Grace funeral plan reviews & satisfaction

Many people choose a prepaid funeral plan for the peace of mind it brings, and both Aura and With Grace aim to offer that reassurance. With Grace provides a range of funeral plans, including direct cremation and more traditional options, through a network of trusted independent funeral directors. Their plans are flexible and customisable, with no instalment charges for terms up to 24 months. However, a cancellation fee applies after the first 30 days, and added costs may be charged for certain services like oversized coffins or medical device removal.

Aura, by contrast, focuses solely on making direct cremation simpler, more personal, and free from added fees or complexity. As a family-run provider, they offer clear, all-inclusive pricing and flexible payment options with no cancellation fees at any stage. Customers consistently mention how calm and supportive the process feels – with no pressure to buy, just kind and honest guidance when needed.

Aura holds a 4.9/5 stars Trustpilot rating based on 1,000+ reviews, with With Grace also rated positively at 4.7/5 stars from over 200 reviews. Independent reviewers like Fairer Finance have also awarded Aura 5 stars, compared to 4/5 stars for With Grace.

While both providers aim to make planning easier, Aura stands out for its people-first approach, fee-free flexibility, and consistently high customer satisfaction.

Choosing a funeral provider can feel challenging, especially with so many plans, prices and details to weigh up. Both Aura Funerals and With Grace offer direct cremation as a simpler and more affordable alternative to a traditional funeral, without added formality or cost.

With Grace partners with a nationwide network of trusted funeral directors, offering both prepaid and time of need services. Their focus on transparent pricing and national coverage makes them a practical option for families who want flexibility with local support.

Aura has built a strong reputation for its kind, family-run approach. With all-inclusive pricing, flexible payment options and steady, no-pressure support throughout, Aura focuses on making each step feel personal, calm and clear.

What matters most is finding the provider that feels right for you or your loved one. If you’re not sure where to begin, Aura’s team is here to help you understand your options and guide you through the process with care.