<p>Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries due to their lower cost and the abundance of sodium and potassium resources. Among various cathode materials, vanadate-based compounds have attracted significant attention due to their favorable electrochemical properties, including the multiple oxidation states of vanadium, which offer the potential for high-voltage platforms, and stable layered structures that promote efficient ion transport. Although significant breakthroughs have been made in the development of vanadate-based cathodes for SIBs and PIBs, comprehensive studies on their mechanisms, design strategies, and recent advances remain limited. This review highlights the pioneering research on vanadate materials as cathodes for SIBs and PIBs, summarizing the latest progress in their preparation methods, structural characteristics, charge storage mechanisms and electrochemical properties. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges and future research directions in this emerging field.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>