<p>Synthetic riboswitches have undergone great development in the past decade, evolving into valuable regulatory tools. Operating entirely at the RNA level and independently of auxiliary proteins, they offer a promising alternative to protein-based systems such as TetON/OFF or CRISPR-Cas. As compact, modular RNA elements they unite sensing and regulatory functions within a single molecule, giving them the advantages of high modularity, portability and low metabolic burden. Here, we explore the unique features of synthetic riboswitches, highlight key applications, assess current bottlenecks and limitations and put them in context with emerging solutions, to emphasise the potential of synthetic riboswitches.</p>