Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem relapsing-remitting autoimmune disease, which affects human health seriously. There are numerous animal models that have long been employed in an effort to understand the mechanism and treatment of SLE. Animal models of SLE were reviewed and compared in this paper, to provide references for the researchers to choose appropriate models for studying specific pathogenic mechanism and diagnostic criteria, searching for targeted treatment interventions and developing potential therapeutic drugs.