Snails are gastropod mollusks. They play an important ecological role in wetland ecosystems by maintaining biodiversity, food web complexity, material cycling, and energy flow. In this review, we summarized the community composition and population structural characteristics of wetland snails including their abundant species, life forms, and functional groups. We then performed a detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of snails. We also discussed the main ecological and environmental factors that influence snail community structure and distribution patterns, including abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, salinity, and sediment), biological factors (e.g., vegetation and interactions between species), and human influences. We summarized the snail community changes during wetland ecosystem succession and identified potential indicator functions with respect to the wetland environment. Based on current research on snails in the natural wetlands of China and other global studies, we discussed further research necessary to understand wetland snail ecology in China.