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 November 2026
Essential listening
Must-listen picks
Podcasts that have earned our highest editorial rating across all dimensions
A Killing on the Cape
True crime fans interested in forensic DNA evidence, New England crime, and the question of whether mass DNA collection to solve a single murder is a proportionate response.
Atlanta Monster
True crime fans interested in racial injustice, civil rights history, and the intersection of institutional failure with one of America's worst serial murder sprees; fans of Payne Lindsey's work on Up and Vanished.
FBI Retired Case File Review
Retired FBI agent interviews fellow FBI veterans about their most memorable cases and investigations.
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.
Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions
Criminal justice reform advocates; listeners fascinated by the counterintuitive psychology of why innocent people confess to crimes they didn't commit; legal professionals and students.
Scam Goddess
True crime fans who want to laugh as much as they're appalled; people interested in fraud and financial crimes without all the violence.
Rankings
Highest binge factor
Ranked by our community's compulsive listenability score
Unsolved (RTÉ)
A weekly Irish cold-case podcast from RTÉ, presented by crime journalist Barry Cummins and 2FM presenter Katja Mia.
A Million Other Choices
A Canadian-hosted, victim-centred true crime podcast covering murder and other criminal cases from around the world, with a particular interest in the Canadian justice system.
Secret Devon: The McGinty Mystery
This is the gentlest pick this week, and the most personal. Emily Wood, a BBC Radio Devon producer, sets out to understand the 1935 murder of her great-aunt Eva, who lived in London under the name Eve
Gangster: The Story of The Milkman (BBC Radio 5 Live)
A six-part BBC Radio 5 Live series, presented by Livvy Haydock, on Brian Brendan Wright, known as the Milkman, and the 11-year investigation into the cocaine-trafficking operation the BBC describes.
Ada (Casefile Presents)
A seven-part Casefile Presents series about a woman found dead in a California vineyard in 2011 and identified more than a decade later as Ada Beth Kaplan.
MURDERISH
Jami Rice tells real cases in full, from start to finish, with detailed research.
Canadian CrimeCast: Coast to Coast True Crime
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
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
In Her Defence: Breach of Trust
The third season of The Globe and Mail's In Her Defence, about former Regina Police Service sergeant Robert Semenchuck, who used police databases to find women he then contacted under false names. Hosted by Jana G. Pruden.
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Foggy gaslit streets. A quiet courtroom. And crimes that history tried to bury. <
True Crime DEADLINE
Journalist Matt Johnson covers cold cases, unsolved mysteries and murders.
Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling
Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is a BBC Radio 5 Live podcast, available on BBC Sounds.
Guides
Popular guides
By genre
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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
🕯️Cults
High-control groups, charismatic leaders, and the people who got out
⚖️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
By region
Browse by country
Just added
Newest reviews
Murder In The Rain
Two hosts cover cases from the Pacific Northwest.
Chalk Murder To Me
Local reporters examine crimes in Mansfield, Ohio.
Michigan Monsters
Forgotten crimes and dark history from Michigan, told with some humour.
They Will Kill
Sisters cover lesser-known and strange true crime cases.
True Crime Fix
A victim-first true crime show.
Anatomy of a Scam
Explains how scams work in Australia and who runs them.
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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 draw on our editorial verdict and Binge Factor score for each show, alongside community ratings from registered listeners where they exist. Podcasts with a "Must Listen" verdict are the ones we recommend most strongly. Full details are on our How We Review page.
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.