Criminal
Listeners who appreciate literary storytelling and want true crime that feels more like Radio 4 documentary than sensational thriller; people who hate the mainstream true crime format.
Podcasts Like Criminal
If you loved Criminal, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Fraud, Wrongful Conviction, Historical Crime shows.
Why listeners love Criminal
Entertainment Weekly named Criminal the #1 true crime podcast of all time — Phoebe Judge's extraordinary voice and storytelling are unlike anything else in the genre.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Quiet, measured, literary
Presentation approach
Episode Length
13-45 min per episode (varies); released twice monthly; very large backlog
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Criminal
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
Swindled
True crime fans bored of murder who want to be outraged by institutional and corporate evil; anyone who appreciates deadpan humor and business crime.
Tenfold More Wicked
True crime fans who love history; listeners who want cases they definitely haven't heard about; anyone who finds contemporary true crime's media saturation exhausting and wants genuinely fresh material.
The Last Days of August
True crime fans interested in online harassment, media ethics, and the intersection of sex work with public shaming; those who enjoyed Jon Ronson's book So You've Been Publicly Shamed.
Once Upon a Crime
True crime fans who appreciate beautifully told stories over rapid-fire case summaries; listeners who want to encounter cases they haven't already heard about.
Wisecrack
True crime fans looking for something genuinely new and formally innovative; fans of dark comedy who want real substance behind the laughs.
Bad, Mad & Northern
A historical true crime show digging into dark and odd stories from the North of England.
Anatomy of a Scam
Explains how scams work in Australia and who runs them.
Twisted Britain
A fortnightly UK true crime show recorded in a Stirling pub, with a taste for the weird.
Forgotten Australia
Strange and dark stories from Australian history, including crimes and unsolved mysteries.
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.
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.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal (original) | Episodic | United States | 7/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Swindled | Episodic | United States | 6/10 |
| Tenfold More Wicked | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| The Last Days of August | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| Once Upon a Crime | Episodic | United States | 6/10 |
| Wisecrack | Serialized | United Kingdom | 7/10 |
| Bad, Mad & Northern | Episodic | United Kingdom | — |
| Anatomy of a Scam | Serialized | Australia | — |
Newsletter
Get recommendations like this weekly
Curated picks, new reviews, and hidden gems. Find your next obsession.
You can unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Criminal?
The best alternatives to Criminal are podcasts that share its Fraud, Wrongful Conviction, Historical Crime focus and episodic format. Our editorial team has hand-picked the most similar shows based on content type, storytelling style, and community ratings.
Why do people love Criminal?
Criminal is known for its quiet, measured, literary approach to Fraud and Wrongful Conviction. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it. It has earned a "Must Listen" rating from our editorial team.
How long are episodes of Criminal?
Episodes of Criminal are typically 13-45 min per episode (varies); released twice monthly; very large backlog long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to Criminal?
Criminal is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Criminal to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Peeping Tom or The Portrait — any will work as a standalone entry. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.