The best true-crime podcasts do more than recount grisly details—they investigate, contextualize, and leave you thinking about the people at the center of the story. In 2025, the genre spans meticulously reported journalism, empathetic survivor-led narratives, and even cybercrime forensics. Below are ten of the best true crime podcasts to queue right now—shows that balance rigor with empathy, and suspense with substance.

At a Glance

Where to start (classic case files): Crime Junkie for tight weekly narratives and Casefile for meticulous, document-driven reporting — two pillars of the best true crime podcasts.
Human-first: Criminal centers people and consequences; Murder With My Husband adds researched storytelling with relatable reactions.
Fresh angles: Darknet Diaries tackles cybercrime; Park Predators investigates cases in wild spaces.
Big catalogs: Dateline NBC for polished network cases; Morbid and My Favorite Murder blend research with community and humor.

1) Crime Junkie Podcast

A gateway entry to the best true-crime podcasts, Crime Junkie (audiochuck) delivers tight, narrative episodes hosted by Ashley Flowers that cover missing persons, cold cases, and solved/unsolved homicides. The pacing is crisp, the tone is respectful, and episodes stick to the facts while still feeling personal. It’s the show you recommend to new listeners who want clean storytelling and consistent releases—one reason it ranks among the best true-crime podcasts year after year.

Episode vibe: Straightforward case files with empathetic hosting
Release cadence: Weekly
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • Apple

2) Criminal Podcast

Phoebe Judge’s Criminal is a perennial pick on lists of the best true-crime podcasts because it treats people, not gore, as the story. Not every episode is murder; some are odd, funny, or quietly devastating, but all are beautifully produced and deeply humane. If you think you “don’t like true-crime,” Criminal might change your mind—its craft and compassion earn it a top spot among the best true-crime podcasts.

Episode vibe: Literary, surprising, human-centered
Release cadence: About twice monthly
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • Apple

3) Casefile Podcast

Anonymous host. Exhaustive research. Steady delivery. Casefile is investigative audio for listeners who crave documentation—police records, timelines, and methodical scripts that reward careful attention. Its meticulous approach puts it among the best true-crime podcasts for anyone who values accuracy over theatrics.

Episode vibe: Documentary precision, minimal host personality
Release cadence: Regular long-form episodes
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • Apple

4) Morbid Podcast

Hosted by Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley, Morbid blends forensic curiosity with best-friend banter—dark humor without losing empathy for victims. The duo’s background (autopsy tech + true-crime superfan) means you get both lab-coat detail and listener questions answered on the spot. It’s a community-driven favorite that routinely appears in roundups of the best true-crime podcasts.

Episode vibe: Funny-but-respectful, forensic-curious
Release cadence: Multiple episodes weekly
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • Apple

5) My Favorite Murder Podcast

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark helped define the modern true-crime-plus-comedy format, creating a massive community of Murderinos. Episodes mix “hometown murders,” survivor awareness, mental-health openness, and live-show energy. If you like your mysteries with humanity and humor, this classic still ranks among the best true crime podcasts to follow in 2025.

Episode vibe: Comedy-meets-true-crime with cathartic community
Release cadence: Weekly
Where to listen: Exactly Right • Spotify • Apple

My Favorite Murder Podcast — Image Credit: My Favorite Murder

6) Darknet Diaries Podcast

True crime isn’t just physical—it’s digital. Darknet Diaries investigates hacks, heists, breaches, and the underworlds of cybercrime with cinematic reporting and clear technical translation. For anyone who wants the best true crime podcasts that map modern villains and real-world consequences, this is essential.

Episode vibe: High-stakes cyber cases, explained simply
Release cadence: Typically biweekly
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • Apple

7) Dateline NBC (Podcast)

Dateline’s decades of TV reporting translate perfectly to audio: tight scripts, veteran correspondents, and cases that move. The feed offers a vast archive plus new investigations, making it one of the best true crime podcasts for consistent, network-grade storytelling. It’s polished, reliable, and endlessly bingeable.

Episode vibe: News-magazine clarity, narrative momentum
Release cadence: Multiple drops weekly; seasonal limited series
Where to listen: Dateline NBC • Spotify • Apple

8) Scam Goddess Podcast

Laci Mosley’s comedy-true-crime hybrid is a joyride through grifts, cons, and frauds—historic and current. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn red flags, and you’ll lock down your passwords. For listeners who prefer levity with their larceny, this remains one of the best true crime podcasts to brighten commutes without losing substance.

Episode vibe: Fast, funny, fraud-focused
Release cadence: Weekly
Where to listen: Earwolf • Spotify • Apple

9) Park Predators Podcast

Host Delia D’Ambra investigates violent crimes in national parks and wilderness spaces, pairing clear investigative structure with atmospheric sound design. The nature-meets-noir setting is uniquely unsettling, and the reporting is tight—hence its frequent inclusion among the best true crime podcasts for listeners who love outdoorsy mysteries.

Episode vibe: Investigative, moody, outdoors-set
Release cadence: Seasonal
Where to listen: Audiochuck page • Spotify • Apple

Park Predators Podcast — Image Credit: **parkpredators**

10) Murder With My Husband Podcast

Hosted by Payton and Garrett Moreland, Murder With My Husband blends detailed case storytelling with candid reactions and “spouse-on-the-couch” chemistry that keeps heavy topics human. Payton leads the narrative with careful research while Garrett asks the questions listeners are thinking—making it approachable even if you’re new to the genre. The warmth and structure make it one of the best true crime podcasts for bingers who want a personable style.

Episode vibe: Narrative case files with conversational asides
Release cadence: Weekly, plus occasional series arcs and updates
Where to listen: Official site • Spotify • YouTube

Murder With My Husband Podcast — Image Credit: Murder With My Husband

Honorable Mentions

Someone Knows Something (CBC) — Cold cases with patience and empathy.
The Opportunist — Ordinary people, extraordinary grifts; character-driven anthology. Apple
Swindled — White-collar crime with a sardonic narrator.
The Dropout — Corporate fraud (Theranos) masterclass; definitive docu-series. ABC Audio

Why these are the best true crime podcasts in 2025

Each pick balances the genre’s core strengths—reporting, narrative tension, and ethical storytelling. You’ll find classic case files (Crime Junkie), human-first documentaries (Criminal), research monoliths (Casefile), and modern angles like cybercrime (Darknet Diaries) and wilderness investigations (Park Predators). Together they form a playlist of the best true crime podcasts that can match any mood—serious, thoughtful, or even funny—without sacrificing respect for the real people behind the stories.

FAQ

What are the best true crime podcasts to try first?

Start with Crime Junkie and Criminal for accessible storytelling, then add Casefile for deep research—these anchors represent the best true crime podcasts for newcomers and veterans alike.

Which show is the most thoroughly researched?

Casefile is renowned for exhaustive sourcing and careful timelines.

Is there a conversational option that still covers facts?

Murder With My Husband mixes solid research with listener-style questions and reactions.

I want something beyond traditional murder cases—suggestions?

Darknet Diaries (cybercrime) and Park Predators (wilderness cases) widen the lens.

Where can I binge polished, TV-style cases?

Dateline NBC offers a deep archive with reporter-led storytelling.

Final Cue

These popular true-crime podcasts should leave you curious, a little unsettled, and a lot more informed about the people behind the headlines. Build a queue that balances meticulous reporting with human stories and a few unexpected angles—then let your mood pick the night’s rabbit hole. However you listen, the best true crime podcasts are the ones that stay with you in the morning.