<p>Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), boasting low-cost zinc resources, high safety, and environmental friendliness, are pivotal for green energy storage. However, their practical deployment is hindered by zinc dendrite growth, corrosion, passivation, and hydrogen evolution, which degrade cycling stability. Among various mitigation strategies, electrolyte additives have gained prominence owing to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Organic additives, in particular, with their tunable molecular structures and versatile interfacial interactions, have become a focal point for electrolyte engineering innovation. Despite their potential, a systematic and critical analysis of organic additives, encompassing their classification, structural features, and universal operational mechanisms, remains conspicuously absent. The knowledge gap hinders rational design and performance optimization. To address this, the present review systematically categorizes organic additives, elucidates their structural characteristics, and deciphers shared mechanistic principles. By dissecting the interplay between additive chemistry, electrolyte microenvironment, and electrode dynamics, we aim to establish guiding principles for designing eco-friendly, high-performance organic additives. This work not only advances fundamental understanding but also accelerates the translation of AZIBs from laboratory research to commercial applications, reinforcing their role in sustainable energy storage systems.</p>