This review compares conventional and advanced methods for heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment, emphasizing filter-based strategies. Conventional techniques, such as coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, flotation, and ion exchange, are effective but often suffer from high costs, environmental side effects, and limited selectivity. Advanced methods, including membrane filtration and adsorption, offer improved efficiency, reduced costs, and lower environmental impact. Membrane filtration, particularly reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO), effectively removes heavy metals with high efficiency but can be prone to membrane fouling. Adsorption, especially using nanostructured materials like carbon nanotubes and graphene, provides high adsorption capacity and selectivity, making it a promising alternative. The review also highlights the advantages of adsorption-based filters, which are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. Synthetic, natural, and hybrid filters are discussed, each with unique properties and applications. The reusability and regeneration of adsorbents are crucial for their long-term effectiveness and sustainability. Overall, the review underscores the potential of advanced filter-based strategies to address the challenges of heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment.This review compares conventional and advanced methods for heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment, emphasizing filter-based strategies. Conventional techniques, such as coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, flotation, and ion exchange, are effective but often suffer from high costs, environmental side effects, and limited selectivity. Advanced methods, including membrane filtration and adsorption, offer improved efficiency, reduced costs, and lower environmental impact. Membrane filtration, particularly reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO), effectively removes heavy metals with high efficiency but can be prone to membrane fouling. Adsorption, especially using nanostructured materials like carbon nanotubes and graphene, provides high adsorption capacity and selectivity, making it a promising alternative. The review also highlights the advantages of adsorption-based filters, which are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. Synthetic, natural, and hybrid filters are discussed, each with unique properties and applications. The reusability and regeneration of adsorbents are crucial for their long-term effectiveness and sustainability. Overall, the review underscores the potential of advanced filter-based strategies to address the challenges of heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment.