Isotropic　imaging　of　single　cells　is　crucial　in　single-cell　research　on　cellular　heterogeneity,　organelle　communication,　and　biophysical　cell　characterization.　Isotropic　imaging　is　extremely　challenging　due　to　the　limited　spatial　sampling　frequency　of　conventional　microscopes　and　anisotropy　in　3D　point　spread　functions.　Herein,　an　overview　of　various　contactless　manipulation　methods　in　single-cell　isotropic　imaging,　including　optical,　acoustic,　electrical,　magnetic,　and　fluidic　methods,　is　presented.　In　addition,　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　these　methods　when　combined　with　different　imaging　modalities　are　discussed.　Moreover,　the　spatial　resolution,　sample　throughput,　cellular　viability,　and　application　scenarios　are　reviewed　to　help　researchers　select　the　optimal　single-cell　isotropic　imaging　method　for　the　intended　application.　Finally,　the　prospects　of　isotropic　imaging　are　highlighted.(c)　2022　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.