The Best True Crime Podcasts of 2026
The best true crime podcasts, ranked by global listener score. Whether you want cold case investigations, serial killer profiles, wrongful conviction stories, or courtroom drama, this is the definitive list of the top true crime shows right now.
38 true crime podcasts — the big names, ranked by WP Score
1Last Podcast On The Left
The Last Podcast Network
2Casefile True Crime
Casefile Presents
3Crime Junkie
Audiochuck
4Dateline NBC
NBC News
5Deep Water | Tortoise Investigates
The Observer
6Morbid
Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
7Five Miles From Home
NBC News
820/20
ABC News
948 Hours
CBS News
10Juicy Crimes with Heather McDonald
Heather McDonald & Studio71
11My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
12Rotten Mango
Stephanie Soo
13MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Ballen Studios
14The Unforgotten
Free Range Productions
15DELVE
newsroom.co.nz
16The Binge Cases: U R NEXT
Sony Music Entertainment
17The Crime Agents
Global
18Life and Crimes with Andrew Rule
True Crime Australia
19Disclosure Investigates
BBC Radio Scotland
20The Binge Crimes: Cut, Color, Kill
Sony Music Entertainment
21Deep Cover
Pushkin Industries
22Dateline Originals
NBC News
23RedHanded
RedHanded
24Crime Next Door
BBC Sounds
25Serialously with Annie Elise
Annie Elise & Audioboom Studios
26Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska
ABC News
27Snapped: Women Who Murder
Oxygen
28Blood and Water
ABC News
29Murder With My Husband
OH NO MEDIA
30Foul Play
Audible | Gabriel Gatehouse
31Blunt Force Trauma
EchoSpace
32Ex-Wives Undercover: Liars, Cheaters & Love Cons
Double A Productions
33Unicorn Girl
Apple TV / Seven Hills
34Family Ghosts
WALT FM
35Tales
Parcast Network
36The Real Killer
iHeartPodcasts and AYR Media
37They Will Kill
Cloud10
38The Apex & The Abyss
The New Medium
Hidden gems
Great shows flying under the radar
Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes
Crime House
Fifteen: Inside the Daniel Marsh Murders
CBS News
MK True Crime
MK Media
Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder
NBC News Studios
The Last Trip
Jaimie Beebe
Betrayal: Seasons 1, 2, 3 & 4
iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts
Deadly Engagement
NBC News
True Crimes with John & Deanna
iHeartPodcasts
The Last Appeal
NBC News
Fear Thy Neighbor
ID
The Binge Crimes: Night Shift
Sony Music Entertainment / Campside Media
The Kill List
CBC
The Pitcairn Trials
Audio Always
The Hand in the Window
ABC News
True Crime Tonight
iHeartPodcasts
The Outfit
Headgum
BETH'S DEAD
Monica Padman, Elizabeth Laime, Andy Rosen
The FOX True Crime Podcast w/ Emily Compagno
Serial Killer Documentary Show
Sizzle
Going West: True Crime
How we rank True Crime podcasts
The shows above are ranked by WP Score, built from listener numbers across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube combined. True crime is one of the most crowded genres in podcasting — the shows in this list have earned their position through consistent long-term listenership, not a single viral moment. Use the subgenre links below to filter by case type: cold cases, serial killers, or unsolved murders.
Want a more personal recommendation? Our podcast discovery quiz matches you to the right show based on your mood, how much time you have, and whether you want a household name or a hidden gem.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best true crime podcasts for beginners?
If you're new to true crime podcasts, the highest-ranked shows on this page are the best place to start — they've earned their top positions through millions of listeners worldwide. Look for shows with strong narrative storytelling and thorough investigative research.
Are true crime podcasts based on real events?
Yes — true crime podcasts cover real criminal cases, unsolved murders, cold cases, and investigations. The best shows combine original research, interviews, and archival material to tell the full story behind the case.
How often do true crime podcasts release new episodes?
Most true crime podcasts release one episode per week, though serialised investigations often drop all episodes at once — similar to a Netflix series. Some ongoing shows release more frequently when covering active cases.
What's the difference between investigative and narrative true crime podcasts?
Investigative true crime podcasts involve original reporting — the host is actively uncovering new information about a case. Narrative true crime podcasts retell known cases in a compelling, story-driven format. Both styles appear in our top rankings above.