The development status of equipment for cold spraying of Al-matrix composite coatings was summarized and the advantages and disadvantages of all those cold spraying systems including low-pressure, medium-pressure, high-pressure, vacuum, laser-assisted and in-situ shot-assisted cold spraying systems were compared to point out the applicability of the existing cold spraying equipment for the preparation of Al-matrix composites. Then, the related studies of cold spraying in the preparation of composite coatings of Al-matrix intermetallic compounds, Al-matrix ceramics, Al-matrix graphene were concluded, showing the advantages and feasibility of cold spraying technology in the preparation of various types of Al-matrix composites. At last, the common post-treatment methods of composite coatings prepared by cold spraying such as heat treatment, friction stir, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and laser remelting technology were analyzed, indicating the important significance of those post-treatment methods to improve the properties of the composite coatings. In a word, the systematic study of cold spraying equipment development, composite structure design and post-treatment strategy is the key to promote the application of cold spraying in preparing metal matrix composites.