<p>Hydrogen is a promising clean energy carrier with high energy density, making it a viable alternative to fossil fuels. As the global focus shifts toward sustainable energy, hydrogen production via water splitting has gained attention, with methods such as electro catalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, thermochemical, photo biological, and photocatalytic approaches being explored. Among these, photocatalytic water splitting stands out as a solar-driven, renewable method that uses abundant water to produce hydrogen with minimal environmental impact. This review focuses on the role of spinel ferrites in photocatalytic water splitting, discussing modification strategies, challenges, and future directions. Spinel ferrites (MFe₂O₄, where M = Zn, Ni, Co, etc.) have emerged as effective photo catalysts due to their narrow bandgap ( ~ 1.9–2.2 eV), which allows visible light absorption, as well as their thermal and chemical stability, magnetic recoverability, and affordability. This review focuses on different methods of hydrogen production and also examines the role of spinel ferrites in photocatalytic water splitting, focusing on the underlying mechanisms, modification strategies such as doping and heterostructure formation, and their performance in hydrogen generation. Recent advancements demonstrate their versatility across various water-splitting techniques, with ongoing research targeting improved efficiency and scalability. Despite challenges like charge recombination, spinel ferrites offer significant potential for sustainable hydrogen production, supported by their adaptability and cost-effectiveness.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>