Ecosystem service flows have increasingly been a hot topic in recent years, as it serves as an important bridge connecting ecosystem services supply and human demand. Research on ecosystem service flows contributes to our understanding of the completed delivery processes of ecosystem services and analyzes the relationship between ecosystem services supply and demand. It has great significance for achieving regional sustainable development and improving human well-being. Based on the comprehensive analysis of relevant studies, this paper described the concept of ecosystem service flows and summarized the approaches for quantifying ecosystem service flows. Following that, the research progress from both theoretical and applied aspects was systematically reviewed. In addition, the shortcomings of recent studies were summarized. These include:1) the ecosystem serveries delivery process from supply areas to demand areas has not been fully explored; 2) the method of quantitative assessment of ecosystem service flows needs to be improved; 3) research on integrating the concept of ecosystem service flows into practical application was relatively rare; and 4) the research framework of ecosystem service flows in the coupled human and environmental systems needs improvement. Furthermore, four research perspectives were proposed, including exploration of the ecosystem services delivery processes in the complex system, developing spatially distributed models to simulate the delivery process and delivery path of ecosystem services, applying the concept of ecosystem service flows into ecological restoration, ecological compensation, and urban planning, and improving the research framework of ecosystem service flows. These prospects and reviews were expected to serve as a reference for research of ecosystem service flows and provide a scientific foundation for regional planning and sustainable development.