CrAssphages represent the most abundant virus in the human gut microbiota, but the lack of available genome sequences for comparison has kept them enigmatic. Recently, sequence-based classification of distantly related crAss-like phages from multiple environments was reported, leading to a proposed familial-level taxonomic group. Here, we assembled the metagenomic sequencing reads from 702 human fecal virome/phageome samples and analyzed 99 complete circular crAss-like phage genomes and 150 contigs ≥70 kb. In silico comparative genomics and taxonomic analysis enabled a classification scheme of crAss-like phages from human fecal microbiomes into four candidate subfamilies composed of ten candidate genera. Laboratory analysis was performed on fecal samples from an individual harboring seven distinct crAss-like phages. We achieved crAss-like phage propagation in ex vivo human fecal fermentations and visualized short-tailed podoviruses by electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry of a crAss-like phage capsid protein could be linked to metagenomic sequencing data, confirming crAss-like phage structural annotations. Display omitted •Screening of human fecal metagenomic samples reveals 249 crAss-like phage genomes•The crAss-like phages were classified into 4 subfamilies composed of 10 candidate genera•A crAss-like phage was propagated in ex vivo human fecal fermentations•Short-tailed phage virions could be visualized by electron microscopy CrAssphage is the most abundant human gut-associated virus. Guerin et al. identify 249 crAss-like phage genomes and classify them into four subfamilies and ten candidate genera that differ among human populations. These in silico predictions are combined with ex vivo propagations, electron microscopy imaging, and mass spectrometry detection.