Sword and Scale
True crime veterans who want visceral, no-holds-barred storytelling with authentic audio evidence; not suitable for beginners or those sensitive to graphic content.
Podcasts Like Sword and Scale
If you loved Sword and Scale, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Murder, Serial Killer, Missing Person, Psychological Crime shows.
Why listeners love Sword and Scale
Sword and Scale pioneered the use of real crime audio in podcasting — if you have a strong stomach and want raw, unfiltered true crime, this is the deepest and darkest dive available. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Dark, intense, immersive, graphic
Presentation approach
Episode Length
~60 min per episode, 340+ episodes since January 2014
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Good if niche interests you
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Sword and Scale
Casefile True Crime
Listeners who prefer documentary-style narration with high production standards and zero filler; purists who want the facts and nothing else.
Crime Junkie
True crime fans who want concise, well-researched episodes without excessive banter or filler; great for commuters.
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><
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.
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.
Serial Killers
Parcast's weekly deep dive into the psychology and criminal histories of notorious serial killers.
The Deck Investigates
Audiochuck's deep investigation of cold case homicide victims featured on playing card decks distributed to prison inmates.
The Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
You Didn't See Nothin
Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award-winning series in which Yohance Lacour revisits a violent Chicago incident from 25 years earlier that shaped his path into journalism.
Your Own Backyard
Listeners who want investigative true crime with real-world consequence and single-minded, passionate focus from a creator who refused to let a case die.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword and Scale (original) | Episodic | United States | 7/10 |
| Casefile True Crime | Episodic | Australia | 7/10 |
| Crime Junkie | Episodic | United States | 6/10 |
| Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast | — | — | — |
| Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead | Serialized | United Kingdom | — |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| The Trial of Erin Patterson | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Serial Killers | Serialised | United States | 9/10 |
Newsletter
Get recommendations like this weekly
Curated picks, new reviews, and hidden gems. Find your next obsession.
You can unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Sword and Scale?
The best alternatives to Sword and Scale are podcasts that share its Murder, Serial Killer, Missing Person, Psychological 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 Sword and Scale?
Sword and Scale is known for its dark, intense, immersive, graphic approach to Murder and Serial Killer. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of Sword and Scale?
Episodes of Sword and Scale are typically ~60 min per episode, 340+ episodes since January 2014 long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to Sword and Scale?
Sword and Scale is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Sword and Scale to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 68 (Dee Dee Blanchard) or Episode 1 for chronological context. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.