If you’re a fan of spine-tingling tales, eerie mysteries, or unsettling stories, these horror podcasts will have you hooked—and possibly leave you sleeping with one eye open. Here’s a list of the ten best horror podcasts that offer a mix of fiction, real-life terror, and everything in between.

1. Scary Story Podcast

Created by Edwin Covarrubias, Scary Story Podcast is a collection of original horror tales designed to haunt your nights. The podcast delves into the fears lurking in the dark and explores the unexplainable events that make you question reality. With each episode, you’ll find yourself teetering between what’s fact and what’s fiction.

2. Archive 81

This fictional podcast uses a found-footage narrative style to create an unnervingly realistic atmosphere. The story follows an audio archivist working in a remote bunker, tasked with cataloging a series of unsettling interview tapes. What starts as a routine project soon spirals into a chilling mystery. Now a Netflix original, Archive 81 will have you piecing together theories after just one episode.

3. The Horror of Dolores Roach

Before it became an Amazon Prime series, The Horror of Dolores Roach started as a podcast—and even earlier as a one-woman play. Fans of Sweeney Todd will love this dark tale. The story follows Dolores, freshly released from a 16-year prison sentence, as she tries to rebuild her life in New York City. Things take a gruesome turn when she opens a massage parlor with the help of an old friend. What happens next is a deadly mix of survival and horror.

4. Limetown

Set in Limetown, Tennessee, this fictional podcast feels eerily real. Over 300 people mysteriously disappear from a neuroscience research facility, prompting an American Public Radio journalist to investigate. Each episode unravels layers of conspiracy and mystery, making it impossible to stop listening until you’ve uncovered the truth—or at least tried to.

5. The Last Podcast on the Left

For those who enjoy a mix of humor and horror, this podcast delivers. Hosted by a group of comedic friends, The Last Podcast on the Left dives into everything spooky, from cults and serial killers to supernatural entities. Known for its blend of chilling content and witty banter, Spotify even dubbed it the spookiest podcast available.

6. Dark House

If true crime and ghost stories pique your interest, Dark House combines the two in a way that’s both terrifying and fascinating. Hosts Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino explore America’s most infamous homes, diving into the dark history behind each. From abandoned mansions to notorious crime scenes, the duo unpacks tales of those who lived—and died—there, leaving their eerie marks behind.

7. My Favorite Murder

A cult favorite among true crime enthusiasts, My Favorite Murder is hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Their mix of humor and storytelling brings a fresh perspective to their favorite murder cases. With its massive following and even its own podcast network, this show is a must-listen for self-proclaimed “Murderinos.”

8. Dr. Death

Sometimes real life is scarier than fiction, and Dr. Death proves just that. This true-crime podcast tells the horrifying story of a neurosurgeon whose botched spinal surgeries resulted in permanent injuries and even death. As chilling as it is tragic, the series has since been adapted into a Peacock original show, making it one of the most unforgettable horror stories in recent years.

9. Small Town Dicks

Hosted by Yeardley Smith (best known as the voice of Lisa Simpson) and twin detectives Dan and Dave, Small Town Dicks delves into crimes committed in small-town America. Each episode features detectives recounting real cases they worked on, offering a fascinating glimpse into crime-solving outside of the big city.

10. The No Sleep Podcast

For fans who shy away from true-crime due to its real-life horrors, The No Sleep Podcast provides a perfect alternative. This show weaves fictional spooky tales that feel like ghost stories told around a campfire. With showrunner David Cummings at the helm, each episode delivers chills and thrills in equal measure.

Whether you’re drawn to ghost stories, dark humor, or real-life nightmares, these podcasts promise an unforgettable listening experience. Just be warned—you might not want to listen alone.