Abstract: Friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM) is a novel solid phase additive manufacturing technology. Due to the advantages of avoiding the holes and cracks caused by material fusion and enhancing the mechanical properties of additive manufactured components, it is considered as a great break-through in metallic additive manufacturing. This article introduced the development history and characteristics of additive manufacturing, compared and analyzed the technical features of liquid phase and solid phase additive manufacturing, reviewed the basic conception, forming mechanism, developing trend, texture micro-structure evolution behavior, mechanical property of FSAM. Based on this, the article analyzed the equipment type and control system of FSAM in detail, discussed the influence of technical parameters, and emphatically analyzed the opportunities and challenges of FSAM in future development in application.