Get Your True Crime Fix With These Streaming Services: Best Docs, Shows, More

There’s a lot of true crime content out there right now, from documentaries to limited series — and it’s all scattered across the streaming space on different services.

Some of the buzziest true crime releases, like The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, air on cable channels like Lifetime, adding another layer of confusion as to where to watch new docs as they come out.

Luckily, though, you came to Decider — and if anyone knows the streaming landscape like the back of their hands, it’s us.

From services that’ll allow you to watch live channels and docs as they air, like Philo, to all of the big streaming services — Max and Hulu along them — we’ve combed through all the streamers to bring you the very best of true crime.

Keep reading below to see all of our favorite streaming services to watch true crime, split up into live TV and traditional streaming categories.

Best Live TV Streaming Services for True Crime:

• Philo

  How Much Does Philo Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Philo costs $25/month. There are currently no deals or bundles available.

  Does Philo Have A Free Trial?

  Yes! Philo offers a seven-day free trial to new subscribers.

  What Are the Best True Crime Channels on Philo?

  • A&E Crime Central
  • Crime & Investigation
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Lifetime
  • Law & Crime

  What Else Can I Watch on Philo?

  Philo offers over 70 live TV channels, most of which are geared toward viewers who can’t get enough lifestyle content, and the service doesn’t have any local channels. Some of the service’s top programs include shows from MTV, BET, TLC, and WE TV.

  SUBSCRIBE TO PHILO $25.00/MONTH

• Sling

  How Much Does Sling Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Sling TV starts at $40.00/month. Right now, you can save $25 on your first month.

  Does Sling Have A Free Trial?

  No, Sling does not currently offer a free trial.

  What Are the Best True Crime Channels on Sling?

  • A&E Crime Central
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Lifetime

  What Else Can I Watch on Sling?

  The three true crime-centric networks above are included in both base plans: Sling Orange (32 channels total) and Sling Blue (42 channels total). Sling Blue comes with live local NBC, Fox and ABC in addition to 17 channels exclusive to the Blue plan. It’s one of the most well-rounded live TV streaming service channel offerings.

  SUBSCRIBE TO SLING $40.00/MONTH+ $15.00+

Best Streaming Services for True Crime:

• Max

  How Much Does Max Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Max has three subscription plans: With Ads ($9.99/month), Ad-Free ($15.99/month), and Ultimate Ad-Free ($19.99/month). There are currently no deals available, but if you bundle ad-free Max with Cinemax on Amazon Prime Video Channels, you can save $5.00/month.

  Does Max Have A Free Trial?

  Unfortunately, Max does not have a free trial whether you subscribe directly or use Prime Video Channels.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on Max?

  Since merging with Discovery+ in May 2023, Max’s true crime offerings have grown thanks to new titles from Investigation Discovery and more. These come in addition to Max originals and HBO documentaries.

  • The Truth About Jim
  • They Called Him Mostly Harmless
  • Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God
  • Murder in Boston
  • The Idaho College Murders
  • The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
  • The Curious Case of Natalia Grace
  • There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane
  • The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin
  • The Vow
  • I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
  • McMillion$

  What Else Can I Watch on Max?

  Max is “the one to watch” for HBO, Discovery networks, live sports, CNN, and more. You’ll be able to stream HBO’s Sunday night shows as they air on cable, live sports from TNT and TBS, Max originals like Tokyo Vice and Hacks, and HBO’s signature rotating library of acclaimed movies which now includes A24.

  SUBSCRIBE TO MAX $9.99/MONTH+

• Peacock

  How Much Does Peacock Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Peacock costs $5.99/month with ads and $11.99/month without ads. The only current offer available for Peacock is the student discount price of $1.99/month for 12 months.

  Does Peacock Have A Free Trial?

  Unfortunately, Peacock does not currently have a free trial.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on Peacock?

  • Oxygen Network
    • 20+ seasons of Snapped
    • Violent Minds: Killers on Tape
    • Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them
  • Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies
  • Dateline
  • The Disappearance of Maura Murray
  • Myth of the Zodiac Killer
  • Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot

  What Else Can I Watch on Peacock?

  Peacock is the next-day streaming home for everything on NBC and Bravo — this includes shows like Law & Order: SVU, and the One Chicago universe, plus Real Housewives, Below Deck, and Top Chef. The service also has originals, like The Traitors, and movies, like this year’s most nominated movie at the Oscars, Oppenheimer.

  SUBSCRIBE TO PEACOCK $5.99/MONTH

• Hulu

  How Much Does Hulu Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Hulu costs $7.99/month with ads and $17.99/month without ads. Hulu is also available as part of the Disney Bundle — you can bundle it with Disney+ or Disney+ and ESPN+ at a discounted price.

  Does Hulu Have A Free Trial?

  Yes! Hulu offers a month-long free trial for new subscribers. The trial only comes with the Hulu or Hulu (No Ads) plans, not any iteration of the Disney Bundle.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on Hulu?

  In addition to some Hulu original true crime series and documentaries, the service also has titles from ID, A&E, Discovery Networks, and National Geographic collected in a true crime hub.

  • ABC 20/20
  • Me Hereafter
  • Fyre Fraud
  • To Catch A Smuggler
  • Killing Country
  • Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story

  Hulu also has limited series inspired by true crime, including:

  • Candy
  • The Dropout

  What Else Can I Watch on Hulu?

  Hulu is the next-day streaming home for shows on ABC, Fox, and FX, so you can watch new episodes of shows like Abbott Elementary, The Bachelor, Shōgun, American Horror Story, and more the day after they air on TV. The service is also home to popular originals like The Bear, Life & Beth, and The Great, in addition to new movies like Suncoast, All of Us Strangers, and Next Goal Wins.

  SUBSCRIBE TO HULU $7.99/MONTH+

• A&E Crime Central

  How Much Does A&E Crime Central Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  A&E Crime Central is available to add on to Prime Video for $4.99/month. There are currently no deals or bundles for Prime Video channels that include A&E.

  Does A&E Crime Central Have A Free Trial?

  Yes! When adding A&E Crime Central to a Prime Video account, you’ll get seven days free before payment starts.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on A&E Crime Central?

  • Cold Case Files
  • I Survived…
  • Meet Marry Murder
  • The First 48
  • Evil Genius
  • City Confidential
  SUBSCRIBE TO A&E $4.99/MONTH

• Discovery+

  How Much Does Discovery+ Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Discovery+ is available on Amazon as a Prime Video Channels add-on for $4.99/month. There are currently no deals or bundles for Prime Video Channels that include Discovery+.

  Does Discovery+ Have A Free Trial?

  Yes! There’s a week-long free trial for all new Prime Video Channels users.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on Discovery+?

  If you’re interested in some of Max’s true crime offerings (like the ID titles), but feel you won’t use the service for much beyond that, Discovery+ is the service for you (since Max is Discovery+ + HBO).

  • The Man Who Played with Fire
  • Quite on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
  • The Curious Case of Natalia Grace
  • See No Evil
  • Evil Lives Here
  • The Playboy Murders
  • Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?
  • Forensic Files
  • Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty

  What Else Can I Watch on Discovery+?

  Discovery+ also features reality TV titles from Food Network, Magnolia Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, HGTV, and more.

  SUBSCRIBE TO DISCOVERY+ $4.99/MONTH

• Netflix

  How Much Does Netflix Cost? Are There Any Deals or Bundles Available?

  Netflix starts at $6.99/month with ads, but you can pay $15.49/month for ad-free full HD resolution or $22.99/month for UHD ad-free streaming. There are no bundles or deals currently available for Netflix.

  Does Netflix Have A Free Trial?

  No, Netflix does not currently offer a free trial.

  What Are the Best True Crime Offerings on Netflix?

  Netflix is known for its originals, and there is no shortage of original true crime documentaries on the service.

  • American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
  • Lover Stalker Killer
  • The Staircase
  • American Nightmare
  • Evil Genius
  • Tiger King
  • Making a Murderer
  • Wild Wild Country
  • The Keepers
  • Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
  • Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

  The service also has limited series inspired by true crime, including:

  • Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
  • When They See Us
  • Griselda
  • Inventing Anna

  What Else Can I Watch on Netflix?

  As we noted above, Netflix is known for its large library of acclaimed original series and movies. These include shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Heartstopper, and One Day, and movies like May December, Nyad, Maestro, and more. Netflix also licenses shows from other networks — it’s responsible for Suits blowing up in 2023 and is the go-to service for Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights, and This Is Us, among other popular older series.

  SUBSCRIBE TO NETFLIX $6.99/MONTH+

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