There is something slightly strange about how much choice there is if you are a true crime fan in 2026.
Open Apple Podcasts or Spotify and you can find seemingly endless podcasts about murders, disappearances, serial killers, mysterious deaths, scams, cults and crimes that sound so bizarre they could have been written for a Hollywood thriller.
And that is actually part of the problem.
Which ones are genuinely worth listening to?
I’ve become increasingly picky about true crime podcasts. A good voice helps, obviously, but for me it isn’t enough. I want someone who can actually tell a story. I want proper research, interesting cases, a decent pace and, importantly, a feeling that the person presenting the story has actually put some thought into it.
I’ve also deliberately left out the increasingly common AI-narrated true crime channels. There is something about listening to a synthetic voice describe someone’s murder or disappearance that just doesn’t sit right with me. True crime is ultimately about real people and real families, so I would much rather hear a real human being tell the story.
So, this is my somewhat subjective list of the 15 true crime podcasts worth listening to in 2026, combining my own preferences with listener reviews, popularity, storytelling, research, consistency and what is actually being released now.
And yes, MrBallen and Coffeehouse Crime are both on it.
1. MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Best for: storytelling, bizarre cases and getting completely sucked into a story
If you like your true crime with a strong storyteller at the centre of it, MrBallen is difficult to beat.
John Allen, better known as MrBallen, has built an enormous following around his particular style of telling “strange, dark and mysterious” stories. The podcast is hosted by Allen and remains active in 2026, with Apple Podcasts currently showing a 4.9 rating and weekly updates.
What makes MrBallen different is that it doesn’t necessarily feel like you’re listening to someone reading a case file.
He tells you a story.
There is a beginning, a build-up, clues, increasingly strange circumstances and usually a point where you realise that the story isn’t going where you thought it was.
Personally, this is one of the podcasts I would recommend to someone who says, “I don’t normally listen to true crime.”
There is a caveat, though. Some listeners aren’t as keen on the advertising or the amount of detail in some episodes. But that is a relatively minor complaint when you consider how many people clearly love the format.
My verdict: Still one of the best true-crime storytellers around, particularly if you like strange rather than purely gruesome cases.
Rating: 9.5/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
2. Coffeehouse Crime
Best for: calm, detailed and easy-to-follow storytelling
If MrBallen is the theatrical storyteller, Coffeehouse Crime is the calmer documentary-style alternative.
Adrian, the presenter behind Coffeehouse Crime, has built a large following around detailed accounts of real crimes and unusual cases.
There is something quite hypnotic about the delivery.
You can be cooking dinner, doing some work or walking somewhere and suddenly realise you’ve been listening for 40 minutes.
I particularly like the fact that the presentation generally feels much more like a documentary than a horror show. The cases can obviously be horrific, but the storytelling doesn’t need to rely on somebody constantly shouting or overreacting.
That makes Coffeehouse Crime a particularly good choice for people who like true crime but don’t necessarily enjoy the more theatrical side of the genre.
My verdict: Probably one of the best choices if you like MrBallen but want something a little calmer and more factual.
Rating: 9.4/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
3. Casefile True Crime
Best for: serious, detailed investigation
Casefile is one of those podcasts that has become almost a benchmark for the genre.
The anonymous narrator has a distinctive, measured style, and the episodes can be extremely detailed. Rather than relying on personality and banter, Casefile tends to let the case itself do the work.
It currently has a 4.6 rating from almost 10,000 Apple Podcasts UK ratings and remains updated weekly.
One of the things I particularly like is the international nature of the cases. You aren’t simply getting the same collection of American serial killers recycled over and over.
The research can be extensive, and particularly good episodes feel almost like audio documentaries.
My verdict: If you want serious true crime rather than personality-driven true crime, start here.
Rating: 9.3/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
4. Criminal
Best for: intelligent, human storytelling
This one is slightly different.
Criminal, hosted by Phoebe Judge, isn’t necessarily about gruesome murders every week. Instead, it describes itself as a show about people who have “done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.”
And that distinction is important.
It is often more interested in people and society than the crime itself.
Criminal has been running since 2014 and remains active in 2026, with a 4.7 Apple Podcasts rating in the UK.
Phoebe Judge has one of those voices that seems almost specifically designed for podcasting.
Calm. Curious. Never overdramatic.
My verdict: Perhaps the most sophisticated podcast on this list.
Rating: 9.2/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
5. That Chapter Podcast
Best for: dark cases with a bit of humour
If you’ve watched Mike Oh’s That Chapter videos on YouTube, you will already know what you’re getting here.
It’s true crime, but with personality.
Mike has a distinctive Irish delivery and a habit of throwing in the occasional joke or sarcastic observation. That won’t appeal to everyone, particularly when the subject matter is extremely grim, but when it works, it really works.
The podcast currently has a remarkable 4.9 Apple Podcasts rating in the UK and continues to release weekly episodes.
It’s particularly good if you don’t want the slightly clinical style of some traditional true crime podcasts.
My verdict: One of the easiest true crime podcasts to binge.
Rating: 9.1/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
6. Rotten Mango
Best for: enormous deep dives
Stephanie Soo’s Rotten Mango has become a major force in true crime podcasting.
The episodes can be long — sometimes very long — but that is part of the appeal.
Rather than giving you a quick overview of a case, Stephanie tends to go deep into the people, psychology and circumstances surrounding it.
The show currently has a 4.8 Apple Podcasts rating, with more than 2,000 UK ratings, and hundreds of episodes.
It is also one of the more graphic podcasts on this list. Some listeners specifically praise the detail; others feel that some of the gruesome descriptions go further than necessary.
Personally, I think this is one where you need to know what you’re getting into before pressing play.
My verdict: Brilliant if you want a deep dive and don’t mind disturbing detail.
Rating: 9.0/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
7. Crime Junkie
Best for: the gateway true-crime podcast
If you’re new to the genre, Crime Junkie is probably one of the easiest places to start.
Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat have created a very accessible format covering murders, missing people and cold cases.
It remains hugely popular in 2026, with a 4.7 Apple Podcasts UK rating and thousands of UK ratings.
It also has an enormous back catalogue, which is important if you’re the sort of person who finds a podcast and then immediately wants hundreds of episodes to listen to.
Crime Junkie is also particularly good for discovering cases that you may not have come across before.
My verdict: Not necessarily the most sophisticated podcast on the list, but incredibly listenable.
Rating: 8.9/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
8. The UK True Crime Podcast
Best for: British crime
For UK listeners, this one deserves a place near the top.
Hosted by Adam Lloyd, The UK True Crime Podcast concentrates on cases from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
That immediately makes it feel different from the American-heavy true crime world.
It covers everything from murders and serial killers to missing people, fraud and arson. The show currently releases twice a week and was shortlisted for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2026 True Crime Podcast Awards.
And personally, I like the fact that British cases can feel much more familiar.
A murder happening in a town that you’ve actually heard of somehow feels considerably creepier.
My verdict: One of the best choices for anyone in the UK who wants cases closer to home.
Rating: 8.9/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
9. Trace Evidence
Best for: unsolved cases
If your favourite part of true crime is the question “But what actually happened?”, try Trace Evidence.
Host Steven Pacheco concentrates on unsolved murders and missing-person cases, examining evidence and theories surrounding each disappearance.
The podcast currently has a 4.7 Apple Podcasts rating and focuses specifically on unsolved cases, with new episodes continuing into 2026.
One particularly useful aspect is the distinction between established evidence and speculation.
That is important in true crime.
There is a big difference between “Police believe X happened” and “Some people on Reddit think X happened.”
Good podcasts understand that.
My verdict: Excellent for people who like mysteries rather than simply stories about killers.
Rating: 8.8/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
10. Canadian True Crime
Best for: respectful storytelling
Kristi Lee’s Canadian True Crime is another podcast that puts research and the people involved ahead of sensationalism.
The podcast takes a trauma-informed approach and explores not just what happened, but the circumstances surrounding the crime and its impact on those left behind.
It also has an interesting advantage: Canada has a huge number of fascinating cases that don’t get the same international attention as American true crime stories.
The result is often a case you’ve never heard before.
And because the podcast concentrates on Canadian cases, it makes a nice change if you’ve been listening to predominantly American or British crime stories.
My verdict: A thoughtful choice if you’ve exhausted the obvious US cases.
Rating: 8.8/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
11. Invisible Choir
Best for: raw evidence and police audio
Invisible Choir is a little darker than some of the podcasts above.
It combines traditional narration with primary-source audio and victim testimonials, which can make the episodes feel considerably more immediate.
You’re not simply hearing somebody tell you what happened. Sometimes you’re hearing the actual people involved.
Michael Ojibway is the host and the podcast remains active in 2026, with a 4.7 Apple Podcasts rating in the UK.
It is definitely not the one I’d choose for light background listening.
But if you want something immersive and evidence-led, it’s well worth trying.
My verdict: Probably not the one to listen to if you’re trying to relax before bed — but excellent if you want something immersive.
Rating: 8.7/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
12. The Trail Went Cold
Best for: old cold cases
Robin Warder’s The Trail Went Cold has been going for years, and that longevity is one of its strengths.
It concentrates on unsolved murders and missing-person cases from different periods and different countries.
There are now hundreds of episodes, making it an excellent podcast to discover if you’ve somehow managed to get through your existing true crime playlist.
What I like is that it doesn’t feel like it is constantly chasing whatever case happens to be trending on TikTok that week.
There is a huge back catalogue of forgotten mysteries.
My verdict: Excellent for discovering cases you probably haven’t heard of.
Rating: 8.6/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
13. Morbid
Best for: chatty true crime
Morbid is a completely different experience again.
Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart, the podcast mixes true crime with creepy history and other strange subjects. Alaina’s background as an autopsy technician also gives the show an interesting perspective.
It is much more conversational than Casefile or Criminal.
That is either going to be exactly what you want or absolutely not what you want.
The podcast currently has a 4.4 Apple Podcasts UK rating and continues to release twice a week.
The hosts have a very strong relationship with their audience, and that makes Morbid feel more like listening to two friends discuss a case than listening to a traditional documentary.
My verdict: Great if you like feeling as though you’re listening to two friends discuss a case.
Rating: 8.5/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
14. Going West: True Crime
Best for: disappearances
Going West focuses heavily on missing people and murder cases, with Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman presenting the stories together.
It is currently releasing new episodes and has built up a huge back catalogue.
The two-host format makes it more conversational than something like Casefile, while the cases themselves tend to remain the focus.
Listener opinion is generally very positive, although some reviews criticise the amount of banter and swearing.
Personally, I think it works best when you’re in the mood for something a little less formal.
My verdict: Particularly good if missing-person cases are your thing.
Rating: 8.4/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
15. This Is Monsters
Best for: very dark cases
And finally, we go properly dark.
This Is Monsters concentrates on some of the most disturbing criminals and cases, often organised around themes such as child killers, torturers and family annihilators.
The podcast continues to release new material in 2026 and currently has a 4.8 Apple Podcasts UK rating.
The style is fairly straightforward: research the case, tell the story and let the facts speak for themselves.
There is also quite a lot of graphic material, so this definitely isn’t for everyone.
My verdict: If you want the darkest end of the true crime spectrum, this is one to try.
Rating: 8.3/10
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts
My Top 15 at a Glance
|
Rank |
Podcast |
Best for |
My rating |
|
1 |
MrBallen |
Storytelling & strange cases |
⭐ 9.5 |
|
2 |
Coffeehouse Crime |
Calm, detailed storytelling |
⭐ 9.4 |
|
3 |
Casefile |
Serious investigation |
⭐ 9.3 |
|
4 |
Criminal |
Intelligent storytelling |
⭐ 9.2 |
|
5 |
That Chapter |
Dark + funny |
⭐ 9.1 |
|
6 |
Rotten Mango |
Deep dives |
⭐ 9.0 |
|
7 |
Crime Junkie |
Accessible true crime |
⭐ 8.9 |
|
8 |
UK True Crime Podcast |
British cases |
⭐ 8.9 |
|
9 |
Trace Evidence |
Unsolved mysteries |
⭐ 8.8 |
|
10 |
Canadian True Crime |
Respectful storytelling |
⭐ 8.8 |
|
11 |
Invisible Choir |
Police audio & evidence |
⭐ 8.7 |
|
12 |
The Trail Went Cold |
Cold cases |
⭐ 8.6 |
|
13 |
Morbid |
Chatty true crime |
⭐ 8.5 |
|
14 |
Going West |
Missing people |
⭐ 8.4 |
|
15 |
This Is Monsters |
Extremely dark cases |
⭐ 8.3 |
What about AI-generated true crime?
This is becoming an increasingly interesting issue in 2026.
There are now podcasts and YouTube channels using AI voices to turn written material into apparently human-sounding true crime programmes. Technically, some of them can sound remarkably convincing.
But I’m not including them here.
For me, there’s a qualitative difference between hearing a real person research and narrate a story about a real victim and hearing an artificial voice read a generated script.
There is also a practical reason to be cautious. AI systems can introduce unsupported or “ungrounded” information when turning source documents into long-form audio.
That matters enormously in true crime.
A mistake in a recipe is annoying.
A mistake about a murder suspect, victim or criminal investigation is something else entirely.
So my rule for this list is simple:
Real cases. Real research. Real human presenters.
What makes a good true crime podcast?
For this list, I haven’t simply taken the podcasts with the biggest audiences and put them in order.
My criteria were:
🎙️ A genuinely good narrator
A beautiful voice isn’t enough. The presenter needs to know how to tell a story.
🔎 Research
I want to know that someone has gone beyond the first page of Google.
🧩 Interesting cases
There are only so many times I want to hear about the same five serial killers.
⏱️ Pacing
Some podcasts can turn a 40-minute story into a three-hour epic. Sometimes that’s great. Sometimes it isn’t.
❤️ Respect for victims
This is probably more important to me than anything else.
True crime is entertainment, but the people involved weren’t characters. They were real people.
👤 Personality
I actually like personality in a podcast. MrBallen, Mike from That Chapter and Stephanie Soo all have very different styles, and that’s part of what makes them memorable.
⭐ What listeners actually think
I also looked at current listener ratings and reviews rather than relying entirely on old “best podcast” lists.
That produces some interesting results. For example, That Chapter currently has a remarkable 4.9 Apple Podcasts rating in the UK, while Casefile sits at 4.6 with nearly 10,000 UK ratings.
Which one should you try first?
If you haven’t listened to any of these before, I’d choose based on your personality.
Want a really good story?
👉 MrBallen
Want calm, factual storytelling?
👉 Coffeehouse Crime
Want serious investigative journalism?
👉 Casefile
Want something intelligent and beautifully produced?
👉 Criminal
Want a bit of humour with your horror?
👉 That Chapter
Want absolutely everything about a case?
👉 Rotten Mango
Want British cases?
👉 The UK True Crime Podcast
Want mysteries that remain unsolved?
👉 Trace Evidence
Want something genuinely disturbing?
👉 This Is Monsters
Want something you can binge for weeks?
👉 Crime Junkie, Going West or Casefile
Final thoughts
The great thing about true crime podcasts in 2026 is that the genre has become much bigger than simply “someone reads out the story of a murder.”
There are investigative podcasts, documentary-style productions, cold-case specialists, conversational shows, psychological deep dives and incredibly cinematic productions.
And personally, I think the human element is becoming more important rather than less important.
With AI-generated voices, synthetic presenters and automatically produced content becoming easier to create, I increasingly want to know that there is an actual person behind the microphone who has spent hours researching the case and making decisions about how the story should be told.
That’s why MrBallen, Coffeehouse Crime, Casefile and Criminal are my standout choices.
They all sound different.
But they all understand one fundamental thing:
A good true crime story doesn’t need to be artificially dramatic. The truth is usually dramatic enough.
Last checked: August 2026. Podcast rankings, episode schedules, listener ratings and availability can change, so this is intended as a 2026 snapshot rather than a permanent ranking.
goodordering-podcast-guide-true-crime-2026
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Looking for your next true crime obsession? 🔎 We’ve ranked 15 of the best true crime podcasts to listen to in 2026 — from MrBallen and Coffeehouse Crime to Casefile, Rotten Mango, That Chapter and some brilliant lesser-known shows. And yes, we’ve deliberately left out the AI storytellers. 👀🎧
Series introduction for future Goodordering Podcast Guides
Welcome to the Goodordering Podcast Guide — our growing catalogue of podcasts we think are actually worth listening to. Each guide explores a different genre, combining our own opinions with listener reviews, current popularity, storytelling, quality and, most importantly, whether we’d actually recommend pressing play.
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Apple Podcasts links for the article
I’ve used one Apple Podcasts link per podcast, as requested:
- MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Coffeehouse Crime — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Casefile True Crime — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Criminal — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- That Chapter Podcast — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Rotten Mango — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Crime Junkie — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- The UK True Crime Podcast — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Trace Evidence — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Canadian True Crime — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Invisible Choir — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- The Trail Went Cold — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Morbid — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Going West: True Crime — Listen on Apple Podcasts
- This Is Monsters — Listen on Apple Podcasts
Stay tuned for the rest of the Podcast Guide series including comedy, history, food, business, cycling, soon to come.
