Podcasts Like Crime Junkie: 12 Shows to Try Next

Crime Junkie is the most consistently downloaded true crime podcast in the world, and the formula is deliberate: one case per episode, tight narrative structure, clean production, Monday release, no filler. Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat built a show that treats true crime as something you can fit into your commute rather than something that demands your full attention for six hours.

If you've worked through the back catalogue and want more, the shows below match different parts of what makes Crime Junkie work.

What Crime Junkie Does Well

Crime Junkie's strengths are specific:

• Accessibility — no jargon, no assumed knowledge, every case explained from scratch
• Pacing — tight editing, no rambling, rarely exceeds 50 minutes
• Consistency — same format every week; reliable release schedule
• Victim focus — deliberately named the show Crime Junkie, not Killer Junkie; focuses on victims rather than perpetrators
• Variety — cold cases, murders, disappearances, solved and unsolved

The alternatives below are organised by which of these qualities they best replicate.

For the Same Format (One Case, Weekly, Well-Produced)

Casefile True Crime

The most common recommendation for Crime Junkie listeners, and for good reason. An anonymous Australian host, known only as "The Host," delivers meticulously researched cases in a similar structure to Crime Junkie: one case, clear narrative, victim-focused, no forced humour.

Casefile is notably less sensational than most true crime podcasts. The host has a quiet authority that makes the material land more heavily than it would in a higher-energy format. Australian cases are a specialty, but the show covers crime from around the world.

Casefile is better than Crime Junkie in:

• Depth (episodes are often longer and more thoroughly sourced)
• International coverage
• Tone (more restrained, which suits the material)

Morbid

Hosted by Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley — a mortician and a hairdresser — Morbid covers similar ground to Crime Junkie but with a warmer, more conversational dynamic between the hosts. Alaina's background in forensic pathology means the forensic detail is more reliable than most shows in the genre.

If you like that Crime Junkie has two hosts (Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat) and you find the friendship dynamic part of the appeal, Morbid replicates that while going slightly darker in tone.

American Predator

A limited series based on Maureen Callahan's book about Israel Keyes — one of the most methodical serial killers in American history. Unlike most true crime podcasts, this show focuses on the investigation itself: how Keyes was caught, how investigators worked backward from his arrest to identify his crimes, and why he is unique among documented serial killers.

At eight episodes, it's a bingeable weekend project for Crime Junkie listeners who want something more contained.

For the Same Accessibility (Easy Entry, No Prior Knowledge Required)

Crime Weekly

Similar weekly structure to Crime Junkie, with host Stephanie Harlowe covering a mix of cold cases, recent crimes, and solved cases. Harlowe is thorough without being dry, and the format is virtually identical to Crime Junkie. A safe choice for listeners who want more of exactly what they already like.

The Vanished

Marissa Jones' show focuses exclusively on missing persons cases. Every episode features families or friends of missing people speaking about the person and the circumstances of their disappearance. Unlike most true crime shows, The Vanished doesn't force resolution — most cases are still open — which gives it an honesty that is unusual in the genre.

Crime Junkie listeners who are particularly drawn to missing person episodes will find The Vanished covers that sub-genre more consistently.

Generation Why

Two Canadian hosts, Aaron Hale and Justin Evans, have been running Generation Why since 2012 — making it one of the original true crime podcasts. The format is an extended two-host discussion of a single case per episode, usually running 60-90 minutes. More conversational than Crime Junkie, with less polished production, but the depth of research is real.

For listeners who want the conversational two-host dynamic but want more analytical depth on each case, Generation Why is worth the slightly rougher edges.

For the Slightly Darker End of Crime Junkie

Sword and Scale

Crime Junkie is careful about gratuitous content. Sword and Scale is not. Mike Boudet's show uses actual audio from 911 calls, courtroom recordings, and police interviews, and it goes places Crime Junkie doesn't. There are episodes that are genuinely difficult to listen to.

The trade-off: significantly deeper immersion, and genuine primary source material you won't find in produced narration shows. If you've hit the limits of what Crime Junkie will explore and want to go further, Sword and Scale is the natural next step.

Fair warning: Boudet has been a controversial figure in the true crime community. Separate the show from the host if you can.

For a Specifically British Alternative

Crime + Investigation UK Podcast

Covers British cases with similar production values to Crime Junkie and the same one-case-per-episode structure. Especially useful for UK listeners who want cases they have heard about in the news rather than American crimes.

Real Crime Podcast

British production, weekly cases, clean format. Less widely discussed internationally than Casefile or Crime Junkie but highly regarded in the UK community.

For Long-Form Deep Dives Instead of Weekly Episodes

Your Own Backyard

If you've started to want more depth than one-episode format can provide, Chris Lambert's multi-year investigation into the disappearance of Kristin Smart is the best place to start. Same victim focus as Crime Junkie, but across 60+ episodes.

Teacher's Pet

Australian journalist Hedley Thomas investigates the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson. The podcast contributed to Chris Dawson's eventual conviction. An essential listen for Crime Junkie fans ready to go deeper.

The Honest Assessment

Crime Junkie has millions of listeners because it genuinely works. The format is consistent, the production is good, and the victim-first framing is more ethical than most of the genre.

But it's a format show, not a journalism show. If what you love about it is the reliability and accessibility, Casefile and Morbid are your clearest next steps. If what you actually want is the best true crime content regardless of format, You're looking at Your Own Backyard, Teacher's Pet, or In the Dark — all of which require more commitment but deliver more.

Most listeners end up with both: a weekly show for the commute, and a multi-episode investigation to live inside at weekends.

Browse all podcasts by category →