The problem of organic pollution in wastewater is an important challenge due to its negative impact on the aquatic environment and human health. This review provides an outline of the research status for a sulfate-based advanced oxidation process in the removal of organic pollutants from water. The progress for metal catalyst activation and electrochemical activation is summarized including the use of catalyst-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS) to generate hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals to degrade pollutants in water. This review covers mainly single metal (e.g., cobalt, copper, iron and manganese) and mixed metal catalyst activation as well as electrochemical activation in recent years. The leaching of metal ions in transition metal catalysts, the application of mixed metals, and the combination with the electrochemical process are summarized. The research and development process of the electrochemical activation process for the degradation of the main pollutants is also described in detail.