This review summarizes recent research on rational-designed anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), focusing on improving sodium storage performance and controlling morphologies to enhance electrochemical performance. SIBs are attractive due to their abundant sodium resources, lower cost compared to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and similar electrochemical performance with high safety. However, SIB anodes face challenges such as low specific capacity, rapid capacity degradation, and slow ion diffusion. The review highlights the importance of developing anode materials with enhanced specific capacity and controlled morphologies. It discusses various anode materials, including organic, alloy-type, carbon-based, and chalcogen-based materials, and strategies to improve their electrochemical performance. Organic materials, such as disodium terephthalate and 2D polyimide nanosheets, are highlighted for their high capacity, flexibility, and tunable redox performance. The review also discusses the challenges faced by SIB anodes, including low initial coulombic efficiency, volume expansion, and poor cycle/rate performance. The review emphasizes the need for further research to develop anode materials with high capacity, stability, and safety. The review concludes that SIBs have significant potential for industrial applications due to their low cost, high safety, and improved energy density. The review also highlights the importance of modifying anode materials through nanocrystallization, carbon coating, and heteroatom doping to enhance their performance. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on SIB anode materials and their potential for future development.This review summarizes recent research on rational-designed anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), focusing on improving sodium storage performance and controlling morphologies to enhance electrochemical performance. SIBs are attractive due to their abundant sodium resources, lower cost compared to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and similar electrochemical performance with high safety. However, SIB anodes face challenges such as low specific capacity, rapid capacity degradation, and slow ion diffusion. The review highlights the importance of developing anode materials with enhanced specific capacity and controlled morphologies. It discusses various anode materials, including organic, alloy-type, carbon-based, and chalcogen-based materials, and strategies to improve their electrochemical performance. Organic materials, such as disodium terephthalate and 2D polyimide nanosheets, are highlighted for their high capacity, flexibility, and tunable redox performance. The review also discusses the challenges faced by SIB anodes, including low initial coulombic efficiency, volume expansion, and poor cycle/rate performance. The review emphasizes the need for further research to develop anode materials with high capacity, stability, and safety. The review concludes that SIBs have significant potential for industrial applications due to their low cost, high safety, and improved energy density. The review also highlights the importance of modifying anode materials through nanocrystallization, carbon coating, and heteroatom doping to enhance their performance. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on SIB anode materials and their potential for future development.