Abstract: Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are commercially available in electric vehicles and portable smart devices, but the resources are dwindling and there is a rising demand which has to be catered. Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) with cost less are a promising candidate for supplanting or supplying LIBs in the future owing to rich resource reserve of Na element in the nature for the large-scale energy storage. Anodes of SIBs are necessary component of a battery, which is a bottleneck and being less understood as compared to the cathode. A comprehensive study of the progress for various types of carbon-based anode, metallic compounds anode and organic anode by intercalation, alloying and conversion etc. different reaction mechanisms is reported in this review to reveal the prospects and challenges in depth. The structural modification and nano-structural, doping, coating, and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) modification etc. strategies are being discussed, which have a good impact on the electrochemical performance of the anodes of SIBs. The sodiation mechanism should also be understood in depth to enhance the kinetics of the redox reactions in the sodiation and desodiation process. The economical and environmentally friendly anodes with synthesizing commercially viable, higher initial coulombic efficiency and electrochemical performance are necessary to promote the commercialization of the SIBs anode materials.