Best True Crime Podcasts (2026)
Every podcast on this list has been reviewed for storytelling, research quality, host quality, and binge-worthiness. No filler — only the ones worth your time.
Updated September 2026
Essential listening
Must-listen picks
Podcasts that have earned our highest editorial rating across all dimensions
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
Betrayal
True crime fans interested in psychological crime, identity deception, and the personal devastation of discovering you were living with a secret; fans of Dirty John who want the same intimate betrayal format.
Accused (Cincinnati Enquirer)
True crime fans who want newspaper-quality investigative journalism in podcast form; listeners who want real wrongful conviction advocacy from professional journalists with institutional backing.
Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
The Crime Desk revisits the 2003 disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes from Blackpool — a case that still has no resolution.
Dirty John
True crime fans who love psychological manipulation, con artists, and domestic crime stories with high personal stakes.
S-Town
From Serial Productions: a man convinced his Alabama town is covering up a murder pulls host Brian Reed into a story that becomes something else entirely.
Rankings
Highest binge factor
Ranked by our community's compulsive listenability score
Dark Poutine - True Crime and Dark History
True crime, legends, folklore, dark history and other creepy topics from the perspective of real Canadians. Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/darkpoutine
This Feels Criminal: A True Crime Podcast (Formerly Killer Queens)
Dissecting the cases everyone's talking about. From true crime to celebrity courtrooms and pop culture legal drama — Tyrella and Nikita break it all down with the commentary your group chat wishes it
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead
BBC’s Olivia Graham revisits the 1986 Diane Sindall murder and the 2025 quashing of Peter Sullivan’s conviction. Sullivan quashed 13 May 2025; killer unknown.
The Cold-Case Christianity Podcast
The Cold-Case Christianity Podcast is hosted by J. Warner Wallace. J. Warner is a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, adjunct pr
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
<p><em>Foggy</em> <em>gaslit</em> <em>streets.</em> <em>A</em> <em>quiet</em> <em>courtroom.</em> <em>And</em> <em>crimes</em> <em>that</em> <em>history</em> <em>tried</em> <em>to</em> <em>bury.</em><
Canadian CrimeCast: Coast to Coast True Crime
<p>I tell you the details and the story for interesting crimes from across Canada, with insights that only a retired RCMP officer can provide. Finally, a Canadian true crime podcast that is inte
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
Sweet Bobby
Tortoise Media's definitive account of a years-long catfishing scheme — one of the most-discussed UK true crime podcasts of the decade.
Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom
Jason Flom interviews the wrongfully convicted and their advocates to expose failures in the justice system.
S-Town
From Serial Productions: a man convinced his Alabama town is covering up a murder pulls host Brian Reed into a story that becomes something else entirely.
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Cold Cases
Decades-old mysteries finally cracked open
🔍Missing Persons
Searches that consumed communities
📰Investigative
Deep journalism that holds power to account
🔪Serial Killers
The psychology and crimes of history's most notorious offenders
⚖️Courtroom
Trials, appeals, and the machinery of justice
💰Fraud & Scams
Con artists, Ponzi schemes, and white-collar crime
🇬🇧UK Crime
British cases told with British expertise
🦘Australian Crime
The dark side of the Lucky Country
🎧Binge-worthy
Serialized stories you cannot stop at one episode
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Just added
Newest reviews
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead
BBC’s Olivia Graham revisits the 1986 Diane Sindall murder and the 2025 quashing of Peter Sullivan’s conviction. Sullivan quashed 13 May 2025; killer unknown.
Canadian CrimeCast: Coast to Coast True Crime
<p>I tell you the details and the story for interesting crimes from across Canada, with insights that only a retired RCMP officer can provide. Finally, a Canadian true crime podcast that is inte
The Cold-Case Christianity Podcast
The Cold-Case Christianity Podcast is hosted by J. Warner Wallace. J. Warner is a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, adjunct pr
This Feels Criminal: A True Crime Podcast (Formerly Killer Queens)
Dissecting the cases everyone's talking about. From true crime to celebrity courtrooms and pop culture legal drama — Tyrella and Nikita break it all down with the commentary your group chat wishes it
Dark Poutine - True Crime and Dark History
True crime, legends, folklore, dark history and other creepy topics from the perspective of real Canadians. Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/darkpoutine
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
<p><em>Foggy</em> <em>gaslit</em> <em>streets.</em> <em>A</em> <em>quiet</em> <em>courtroom.</em> <em>And</em> <em>crimes</em> <em>that</em> <em>history</em> <em>tried</em> <em>to</em> <em>bury.</em><
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best true crime podcasts in 2026?
The best true crime podcasts right now include Serial (the podcast that started the genre's golden age), Casefile (the definitive Australian crime podcast), Crime Junkie (for weekly case summaries), In the Dark (for serious investigative journalism), and Teacher's Pet (arguably the finest single-season true crime podcast ever made). Our community ratings and expert scores are updated regularly as new shows emerge.
What is the most popular true crime podcast of all time?
Serial is the most downloaded and influential true crime podcast of all time, with hundreds of millions of downloads since its 2014 launch. Crime Junkie is arguably the most popular currently-active weekly true crime podcast, with millions of listeners per episode. Casefile is the most popular Australian true crime podcast globally.
What true crime podcast should I start with?
If you're new to true crime podcasts, start with Serial Season 1. It's short (12 episodes), brilliantly produced, and perfectly encapsulates what the genre can do at its best. After that, try Casefile for episodic variety, or Teacher's Pet if you want another deep serialized investigation.
How do we rank true crime podcasts?
Our rankings combine editorial expert reviews across six dimensions (storytelling, research quality, host quality, production, binge factor, and factual accuracy) with community ratings from our registered listener base. Podcasts with a "Must Listen" verdict have scored exceptionally across all dimensions.
Are there true crime podcasts specifically about cold cases?
Yes — cold case podcasts are one of the most popular subgenres. Your Own Backyard, In the Dark, Atlanta Monster, and dedicated episodes from Casefile all focus on unsolved or long-cold cases. Browse our Cold Cases category for the full list.
What are the best UK true crime podcasts?
The best UK true crime podcasts include Real Crimes, Crime & Punishment UK, and various BBC documentary podcasts. For British cases covered by international shows, Casefile and Crime Junkie both regularly cover UK crimes. Browse our UK True Crime category for a curated selection.
What's the difference between investigative podcasts and true crime podcasts?
Investigative true crime podcasts conduct original reporting — filing FOIA requests, interviewing primary sources, and bringing new evidence to light. Standard true crime podcasts typically retell cases using existing public records. Shows like Serial, In the Dark, and Your Own Backyard are investigative; Crime Junkie is summarising and retelling.