The corrosion of metals and their alloys has caused great harm to mankind. In this paper, we explored the protection of metals from the point of superhydrophobic metal surface. On the basis of the theory about superhydrophobic surface, the latest research progress and application of superhydrophobic surface on metal substrates were reviewed. Research progresses in preparation methods of superhydrophobic surface such as chemical etching, laser texturing, spraying, electrochemical, hydrothermal, plasma treatment, replacement deposition, solution immersion and composite were discussed in detail. These methods mentioned above have achieved the superhydrophobic properties of the metals to a certain degree with the contact angle of more than 150 degree and sliding angle of less than 10 degree. Furthermore, this paper also introduced the applications of the superhydrophobic surface in decorating metal materials, corrosion resistance, self-cleaning, anti-freezing and anti-bacteria. At the end of the paper, the existing defects of superhydrophobic metal surface preparation in industrial application were pointed out, and the development direction in the future was prospected.