The safety and rapid development of nuclear industry highly depends on the production of nuclear grade zirconium and hafnium products. The deep separation of zirconium and hafnium is the most important factor. The separation method of zirconium and hafnium is divided into two categories: fire method and wet method. Solvent extraction is the main method to obtain nuclear grade zirconium and hafnium products in industry. The commercialized zirconium and hafnium separation systems include MIBK-HSCN, TBP-HNO3 and TOA-H2SO4. However, they all have shortcomings such as low extraction efficiency, large amount of reagent consumption and serious environmental pollution. Researchers have always been devoting to more green and efficient new zirconium and hafnium separation systems, like amine-based extractants, neutral phosphine extractants, organic phosphine/phosphoric acid extractants, hydroxamic acid extractants, synergistic extraction systems, etc. In this paper, we summarized the extraction mechanisms, performance and advantages and disadvantages of various extraction systems from the point of preferential zirconium or hafnium extraction systems, and hope to provide a new mentality for solvent extraction and separation.