Due　to　its　lightweight,　high　strength,　good　machinability,　and　low　cost,　aluminum　alloy　has　been　widely　used　in　fields　such　as　aerospace,　automotive,　electronics,　and　construction.　Traditional　manufacturing　processes　for　aluminum　alloys　often　suffer　from　low　material　utilization,　complex　procedures,　and　long　manufacturing　cycles.　Therefore,　more　and　more　scholars　are　turning　their　attention　to　the　laser　powder　bed　fusion　(LPBF)　process　for　aluminum　alloys,　which　has　the　advantages　of　high　material　utilization,　good　formability　for　complex　structures,　and　short　manufacturing　cycles.　However,　the　widespread　promotion　and　application　of　LPBF　aluminum　alloys　still　face　challenges.　The　excellent　printable　ability,　favorable　mechanical　performance,　and　low　manufacturing　cost　are　the　main　factors　affecting　the　applicability　of　the　LPBF　process　for　aluminum　alloys.　This　paper　reviews　the　research　status　of　traditional　aluminum　alloy　processing　and　LPBF　aluminum　alloy　and　makes　a　comparison　from　various　aspects　such　as　microstructures,　mechanical　properties,　application　scenarios,　and　manufacturing　costs.　At　present,　the　LPBF　manufacturing　cost　for　aluminum　alloys　is　2-120　times　higher　than　that　of　traditional　manufacturing　methods,　with　the　discrepancy　depending　on　the　complexity　of　the　part.　Therefore,　it　is　necessary　to　promote　the　further　development　and　application　of　aluminum　alloy　3D　printing　technology　from　three　aspects:　the　development　of　aluminum　matrix　composite　materials　reinforced　with　nanoceramic　particles,　the　development　of　micro-alloyed　aluminum　alloy　powders　specially　designed　for　LPBF,　and　the　development　of　new　technologies　and　equipment　to　reduce　the　manufacturing　cost　of　LPBF　aluminum　alloy.