Cathode oxygen reduction reaction is one of the core reactions of fuel cells. At present, the catalyst for catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction is usually the noble metal platinum. However, its high cost, poor tolerance to methanol, and easy carbon monoxide poisoning limit its widespread use. Therefore, it is essential to research non-platinum-based catalysts. Iron-based catalysts are favored due to their excellent catalytic activity, high stability, good methanol tolerance, and low price, and they are the most promising alternatives to platinum-based catalysts. In this paper, the research status, catalytic mechanism and factors affecting the activity of several types of iron-based oxygen reduction catalysts are reviewed. Then, the problems to be solved and the development direction of various catalysts are also proposed.