In recent years, implementing “carbon neutral” political measures has made developing and utilizing new energy sources a key focus in addressing current energy challenges. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a research hotspot in energy storage devices due to their low cost, high safety, and high energy density. The high theoretical capacity, diverse valence states, and unique structural properties of vanadium-based compounds contribute to their recognition as the most promising cathode materials in AZIBs research. In this work, we delve into the energy storage mechanism of AZIBs, review the preparation strategies and electrochemical properties of the commonly studied vanadium-based materials (V₂O₅, VO₂, V₂O₃, etc.), in recent years, providing a guidance for further optimization of cathode materials for future AZIBs applications. However, vanadium-based materials still face challenges such as low capacity and poor cycling performance, which limit the widespread application of AZIBs. Further development and research on vanadium-based electrode materials are still needed.