This paper reviews the latest research advancements in cathodic membrane (CM)-based electrochemical redox processes (CMERs) for water treatment. The water purification mechanisms by CMERs, including CMER reduction, CMER Fenton, and CMER coupling other oxidant processes (CMEOs), are explained. Especially, the pathways of formation of reactive species (e.g. •OH, 1O2, and O2•e) are presented in detail. Besides, the effects of different CMs and operating conditions are considered. The applications extending to refractory pollutants removal, disinfection, membrane fouling alleviation, and resource recovery are well presented and analyzed. CMER reactors are also discussed for their potentials of scale up for water treatment. Finally, the trends in the field encompassing current knowledge gaps are highlighted, and the recommendations for future research are proposed.