Surface-enhanced　Raman　scattering　(SERS)　spectroscopy,　a　technique　with　high　sensitivity　and　high　resolution,　can　provide　the　fingerprint　vibration　spectrum　of　the　analyzed　molecule　and　realize　the　nondestructive　measurement　of　the　sample,　which　has　very　important　applications　in　field　of　spectrum　analysis.　The　sensitivity,　stability,　and　reproducibility　of　SERS　spectrum　depend　on　the　performance　of　SERS　substrate.　The　common　SERS　rigid　substrates　have　the　defects　of　complex　preparation　process,　poor　flexibility,　inconvenience　to　carry,　and　fragility.　Paper-based　SERS　substrate,　which　uses　paper　as　support　material,　can　effectively　overcome　the　shortcomings　of　rigid　substrates　and　meet　the　commands　of　fast,　handy,　and　personized　analysis　and　measurement　in　the　future.　In　this　review,　we　summarize　the　main　methods　(direct　dipping/dropping,　inkjet　printing,　chemical　reaction,　and　physical　spray　coating)　for　the　preparation　of　paper-based　SERS　substrates,　and　discuss　the　applications　in　biomedical　analysis　and　sensing,　environmental　monitoring,　and　food　safety.　©　2018,　Chinese　Lasers　Press.　All　right　reserved.