This review summarizes recent advances and perspectives of zinc metal-free anodes for zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). ZIBs are promising energy storage devices due to their low cost, high energy density, and environmental friendliness. However, zinc anodes suffer from dendrite growth, passivation, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution, which hinder practical applications. Zinc metal-free anodes offer higher working potentials and effectively address these issues, improving battery safety and cycle life, thus facilitating commercialization. The review systematically introduces the research progress of zinc metal-free anodes in "rocking chair" ZIBs, discussing four main categories: transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, MXene composites, and organic compounds. It also outlines future development prospects for zinc metal-free anodes. The paper aims to provide a reference for the further promotion of commercial rechargeable ZIBs. ZIBs consist of three components: cathode, anode, and electrolyte. Common cathode materials include vanadium oxides, manganese oxides, and Prussian blue analogs. Zinc metal is an ideal anode material due to its abundance, environmental friendliness, and low redox potential. However, dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion on the zinc anode surface during charging and discharging severely limit battery performance. Various modification strategies have been implemented to improve these issues, but the low discharge depth and poor plating/stripping efficiencies of zinc anodes result in low energy density. "Rocking chair" ZIBs have been developed to provide a proper operating potential between electrodes, almost completely avoiding dendrites and hydrogen evolution. Despite progress, challenges remain in completely resolving zinc anode issues, especially dendrite growth. The review discusses the features and challenges of zinc metal-free anodes, highlighting their potential for future development.This review summarizes recent advances and perspectives of zinc metal-free anodes for zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). ZIBs are promising energy storage devices due to their low cost, high energy density, and environmental friendliness. However, zinc anodes suffer from dendrite growth, passivation, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution, which hinder practical applications. Zinc metal-free anodes offer higher working potentials and effectively address these issues, improving battery safety and cycle life, thus facilitating commercialization. The review systematically introduces the research progress of zinc metal-free anodes in "rocking chair" ZIBs, discussing four main categories: transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, MXene composites, and organic compounds. It also outlines future development prospects for zinc metal-free anodes. The paper aims to provide a reference for the further promotion of commercial rechargeable ZIBs. ZIBs consist of three components: cathode, anode, and electrolyte. Common cathode materials include vanadium oxides, manganese oxides, and Prussian blue analogs. Zinc metal is an ideal anode material due to its abundance, environmental friendliness, and low redox potential. However, dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion on the zinc anode surface during charging and discharging severely limit battery performance. Various modification strategies have been implemented to improve these issues, but the low discharge depth and poor plating/stripping efficiencies of zinc anodes result in low energy density. "Rocking chair" ZIBs have been developed to provide a proper operating potential between electrodes, almost completely avoiding dendrites and hydrogen evolution. Despite progress, challenges remain in completely resolving zinc anode issues, especially dendrite growth. The review discusses the features and challenges of zinc metal-free anodes, highlighting their potential for future development.