There are several best free streaming services for true crime shows in the US. But, no single service carries every major true crime title.
Of the choices you have, free platforms often combine scheduled channels with rotating on-demand collections. Paid libraries, on the other end, are divided among Investigation Discovery, Oxygen, CBS, HBO, and streaming originals.
Below we compare these options by content depth, episode selection, advertising, device support, household viewing features, and more.
Free options to watch true crime shows
These services provide permanent, legal access to true crime programming without a paid subscription.
1. Tubi
- Device support: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, supported smart TVs, mobile devices, Xbox, PlayStation, and web browsers.
This platform has one of the most developed free true crime sections. Its on-demand category includes documentaries, investigation series, courtroom stories, missing-person cases, and Tubi Originals. You choose an individual title and episode rather than waiting for a scheduled broadcast.
The service also carries about 10 live true crime channels. One of such examples is the Dateline 24/7.
Pros:
- The dedicated true crime section includes both individual programs and documentary films.
- Around 10 live channels provide scheduled crime programming throughout the day.
- Tubi Originals add programs that are not simply shared with other free services.
- A paid TV subscription or credit card is not required.
Cons:
- Commercial breaks cannot be removed through a paid upgrade.
- Licensed shows, episodes, and channels may rotate out of the catalog.
2. Pluto TV
- Device support: Works on all major TV OS, phones, and game consoles.
This option is especially useful for you if you prefer the experience of browsing television channels. Its live guide regularly includes true crime feeds built around programs such as Unsolved Mysteries and Dateline. They also air The New Detectives and Forensic Files.
A separate on-demand library provides you with greater control over what starts next. Access is free with advertising, and an account is optional for basic viewing.
Pros:
- The channel guide recreates a familiar cable television experience without a monthly payment.
- Several live feeds are devoted entirely to true crime or investigative programming.
- Selected shows and seasons are also available on demand.
- Basic viewing does not require a paid account.
Cons:
- Live channels do not provide full control over episode selection.
- Advertising appears in both live and on-demand programs.
3. The Roku Channel
- Device support: All Roku devices, Samsung, and Amazon Fire TV devices. Plus iOS and Android mobile apps and web browsers.
The Roku Channel’s most true crime selections cover murder investigations, missing-person cases, and criminal trials. A few deal with historical crimes and documentary series. The catalog has included titles such as Murder in the Bayou and the free-with-ads series True Crime Stories.
The Roku Channel also sells premium subscriptions inside the same interface. Those paid add-ons should not be confused with its free catalog, since locked titles require a separate subscription.
Pros:
- A physical Roku device is not necessary for web, mobile, Fire TV, or compatible Samsung TV viewing.
- A free account can synchronize saved titles and viewing progress.
- The service includes true crime films as well as episodic programs.
Cons:
- Premium subscription titles appear beside free programs and may cause confusion.
4. Plex
- Device support: All Smart TVs, mobile gadgets and game consoles.
Plex has free live channels and ad-supported on-demand programs. It also features its better-known personal media tools. Its crime section includes feeds such as FilmRise True Crime and other channels.
Selections here cover courtroom proceedings, police work, cold cases, and criminal investigations. Some channels can be opened without registration.
Pros:
- Many free channels can be opened without creating an account.
- On-demand programs provide an alternative to scheduled channel viewing.
- Support for game consoles and home-theater platforms is broader than on some free services.
Cons:
- The free live channels do not include a standard cloud DVR.
Paid options to watch true crime shows
Paid subscriptions provide more complete seasons, original documentaries, and control over which case or episode plays next.
1. discovery+
- Starting price (Per month): $5.99
- Device support: All connected devices.
This is the most focused paid option. It is best for you if you regularly watch Investigation Discovery. Its library includes programs about serial crimes, family cases, and forensic evidence. It has content on disappearances, suspicious deaths, and investigations reconstructed through interviews and archival material.
Current selections include Evil Lives Here, People Magazine Investigates, and other ID productions.
Pros:
- Viewers can select individual episodes instead of following a live channel schedule.
- The entry plan costs less than most major entertainment streaming subscriptions.
- An ad-free upgrade is available.
Cons:
- The $5.99 plan interrupts programs with commercials.
- A large part of the true crime library overlaps with HBO Max.
2. Netflix
- Starting price (Per month): $8.99
- Device support: All devices that can access the internet.
For high-profile true crime documentaries and limited series, this is the option you want to go with. Its catalog covers all types of cases.
For instance, recent selections include Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, American Nightmare, The Perfect Neighbor, and Maternal Instinct..
Pros:
- Many productions examine a single case in greater depth than weekly crime shows.
- The library covers financial crimes, cults, disappearances, murder, and online deception.
- Ad-free viewing and mobile downloads are available on the Standard plan.
Cons:
- Household rules can limit account sharing between separate homes.
3. Hulu
- Starting price (Per month): $9.99
- Device support: All gadgets.
Hulu blends original documentaries with programs from other services. It has ABC News, 20/20, A&E, Investigation Discovery, and other television networks.
Its crime library has included Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge, Wild Crime, The Fox Hollow Murders, and Girl on the Run.
Pros:
- ABC News and 20/20 productions add cases connected to recent headlines.
- True crime documentaries sit beside scripted series based on real investigations.
- Two simultaneous streams are included with the standard subscription.
Cons:
- The entry plan includes commercial breaks.
4. HBO Max
- Starting price (Per month): $10.99
- Device support: All Smart TVs and game consoles.
Max has HBO’s documentary work. It also features a large collection of Investigation Discovery programs. The result is a mix of carefully produced limited series and repeatable television formats.
The true crime section includes titles such as Murder in Boston, Murder on Middle Beach, Mind Over Murder.
Pros:
- Investigation Discovery contributes a large supply of episodic crime programs.
- The library covers both headline cases and wider failures in policing or the justice system.
- Higher plans add downloads and expanded video-quality options.
Cons:
- 4K access is limited to the Premium plan and supported titles.
5. Peacock
- Starting price (Per month): $10.99
- Device support: All devices.
This is the main subscription destination if you are interested in NBC News, Dateline, and Oxygen True Crime. Peacock selections span regular Dateline episodes and themed Dateline series. They have Snapped, Buried in the Backyard, and Homicide for the Holidays.
Lots of programs here are about killers, missing people, suspicious partners, and reopened investigations.
Pros:
- Peacock carries extensive Dateline and Oxygen True Crime programming.
- Long-running series provide far more episodes than most limited-series libraries.
- The service includes both network investigations and streaming-exclusive documentaries.
Cons:
- Premium Plus does not remove commercials from every live or linear program.