Fuel cells as a kind of clear energy source have great prospects, and Pt-based catalysts are often used to boost the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However the limited Pt reserves and high cost seriously obstruct the commercialization of fuel cells. To find new cheap materials with high ORR activity and stability to replace traditional Pt-based catalyst becomes one of the key issues of large-scale commercialization of fuel cells. Carbon-based materials derived from biomass are considered to be one of the ideal alternatives, which have been intensively investigated recently. The research progress in biomass-based carbon materials as ORR electrocatalysts was reviewed and the future development was prospected.