The modeling method of non-alcoholic fatty liver has always been a research focus. The selection of appropriate animal and cell models in accordance with experimental purposes is of great significance to study the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The commonly used modeling method are high fat and sugar feeding, choline-methionine deficiency, drug induction, and saturated or unsaturated fatty acid induction. Rats, mice, genemodified mice, and cells are most frequently used to model non-alcoholic fatty liver. This review focuses on the research progress of rats, mice, genetically defective mice, and cell models of non-alcoholic fatty liver.