In order to maintain good aerodynamic performance in both low and hypersonic velocity, related scholars took the advantages of the planform-controllable waverider and proposed the "vortex lift" waverider. This paper summarized the three types of vortex lift waveriders design method, namely the fixed leading edge profile method based on the osculating cone theory, the shock generating body method based on the shock-fitting method, and the projection method based on the given shock surface. The relevant research on the aerodynamic characteristics of the vortex lift waverider in the wide speed range was also reviewed, and some suggestions are put forward to the following research of vortex lift waveriders.