The 10 Best True Crime Podcasts in 2026

The true crime podcasts people actually listen to, ranked by audience, with what listeners praise and criticise about each one. All of them play free on The Pods.

Updated 2026-11-06 · 315 true crime & mystery pods on The Pods

1. 1

   Dark History

   Bailey Sarian · 8M subscribers · English

   The weird and dark side of history, told with humor.

   What listeners sayBailey Sarian tells dark stories from history with a comedic tone. Popular with a younger audience; historians flag inaccuracies and the tone divides.

   • Fun, accessible storytelling.
   • Topics most history shows skip.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
2. 2

   Rotten Mango

   Stephanie Soo · 7M subscribers · English · #18 on the Apple Podcasts True Crime & Mystery chart

   Detailed storytelling about real crimes and mysteries.

   What listeners sayStephanie Soo's true-crime stories, often from Asia. Huge following; criticised for length, speculation and sensational framing.

   • Cases rarely covered elsewhere.
   • Engaging narration.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
3. 3

   Kendall Rae

   4.1M subscribers · English

   Cases told with a focus on the victims.

   What listeners sayTrue-crime storytelling with a focus on victims and unsolved cases. Praised for compassion; the YouTube-style pace is slow for some.

   • Victim-centred, respectful tone.
   • Raises money for causes.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
4. 4

   Crime Junkie

   Ashley Flowers & Brit Prawat · 698K subscribers · English · #6 on the Apple Podcasts True Crime & Mystery chart

   Missing persons and murder cases, told clearly.

   What listeners sayAshley Flowers' weekly true-crime narratives. The biggest show in the genre; criticised in the past for sourcing and for a formulaic style.

   • Easy to follow; consistent weekly release.
   • Advocacy for cases.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
5. 5

   MrBallen Podcast

   MrBallen · 477K subscribers · English

   Strange, dark and mysterious true stories.

   What listeners sayFormer Navy SEAL tells 'strange, dark and mysterious' stories. Hugely popular; stories are dramatised and sometimes embellished.

   • Gripping narration; perfect for short listens.
   • Consistent output.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
6. 6

   Darknet Diaries

   Jack Rhysider · 439K subscribers · English · #7 on the Apple Podcasts True Crime & Mystery chart

   True stories of hackers, scams and cybercrime.

   What listeners sayJack Rhysider's true stories of hackers and cybercrime. Praised as the best tech storytelling podcast; episodes arrive irregularly.

   • Excellent storytelling with real sources.
   • Accessible to non-technical listeners.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
7. 7

   Casefile

   Anonymous host · 171K subscribers · English

   Calm, carefully researched case retellings.

   What listeners sayAnonymous Australian host narrates detailed cases. Praised for thoroughness and restraint; it is grim and long.

   • Deep research, no jokes.
   • Respectful tone.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
8. 8

   Morbid

   Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley · 135K subscribers · English · #8 on the Apple Podcasts True Crime & Mystery chart

   True crime and creepy history, with humor.

   What listeners sayAsh and Alaina mix true crime with banter. Loved by fans for the chemistry; critics find the chatter and tone off for the subject.

   • Friendly hosts, big community.
   • Wide range of cases.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
9. 9

   That Chapter

   Michael Whelan · 122K subscribers · English

   Calm, detailed retellings of real cases.

   What listeners sayMike Oh's Irish-accented true-crime videos with dark humour. Praised for pace and wit; the humour is not for everyone.

   • Short, witty and well edited.
   • Covers many cases quickly.

   Sources →

   Watch free on The Pods →
10. 10

    Generation Why

    Aaron & Justin · 5.3K subscribers · English

    Unsolved mysteries and cases, discussed by two friends.

    What listeners sayOne of the original true-crime podcasts, two friends discussing cases. Praised for a measured, long-running approach; production is modest.

    • Balanced discussion, no sensationalism.
    • Huge archive.

    Sources →

    Watch free on The Pods →

Best pods in other categories