From real-life investigations to courtroom drama and long-running crime series, Pluto TV has quietly built one of the largest free true crime streaming lineups available today. And like everything on Pluto, it’s completely free to watch.
The service features a wide mix of curated true crime channels, franchise-based streams, and nonstop programming built around some of the most recognizable series in the genre. Whether you’re into unsolved cases, police ride-alongs, or forensic deep dives, Pluto offers a 24/7 lineup designed for binge-watching.
We took a look at Pluto’s channel guide to break down the true crime channels currently available.
Pluto True Crime
A central hub for crime-focused programming, featuring a mix of investigations, documentaries, and real-life case coverage.
Pluto More True Crime
An extended lineup of crime series and documentaries, offering additional cases and continuous true crime storytelling.
The First 48 by A&E
Episodes from the long-running series following homicide detectives during the critical first hours of investigations.
Cops on Pluto
Classic episodes of Cops, featuring real police encounters and on-the-ground law enforcement footage.
Live PD Presents
A collection of programming built around the popular live police series, showcasing real-time law enforcement activity.
American Crimes
A channel focused on high-profile criminal cases and stories from across the United States.
Dateline 24/7
Around-the-clock streaming of episodes from Dateline, featuring investigative journalism and true crime reporting.
NBC News 48 Hours Mystery
A continuous stream of 48 Hours episodes, exploring real-life mysteries and criminal cases.
Living With Evil
Programming centered on personal accounts of crime, focusing on victims and those affected by real-life events.
Unsolved Mysteries
The iconic series covering unexplained disappearances, cold cases, and paranormal elements.
The New Detectives
A forensic-focused series that highlights how science and investigative techniques solve complex cases.
Forensic Files
One of the most recognizable true crime series, breaking down cases through forensic evidence and analysis.
Court TV
Live and recorded courtroom coverage, offering a detailed look at trials and legal proceedings.
Oxygen True Crime Archives
A library of crime-focused programming from Oxygen, featuring investigations and documentary series.
A&E Crime 360
Crime programming centered on law enforcement perspectives and real-world investigations.
Unlike subscription streaming services, Pluto’s true crime lineup is entirely free and available without sign-ups, making it easy to jump between channels or leave a favorite series running in the background.
Pluto TV was founded in 2013 by Nick Grouf, Tom Ryan, and Ilya Pozin and helped pioneer the Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST) model, launching its beta service in March 2014. Originally designed to aggregate web video into a cable-like channel grid, the platform quickly positioned itself as “cable without the bill,” even allowing users to save content through an early “myPluto” feature.
In 2019, Viacom (now Paramount Global) acquired the service for $340 million, accelerating its growth through access to a larger content library and major media partnerships. Since then, Pluto TV has expanded internationally across Latin America, Europe, and beyond, while adding channels from partners including the NFL, BBC, A&E, and MLB. As of 2026, the platform has grown to more than 80 million global users and remains a leader in the FAST space, offering hundreds of channels through a free, ad-supported, linear viewing experience that continues to evolve with branded content from major networks.