Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs) are important cation channels that play a pivotal role in the regulation of growth and development, as well as in response to stresses such as cold, heat, salt, and pathogen attacks in plants. In this review, we briefly outlined the classification, structure and location of CNGCs in plants, and comprehensively summarized the recent research progress of their ionic selectivity, regulation mechanisms, and biological functions, in order to enhance our understanding of plant CNGCs and provide a reference for future research.