Background <p>It was recently discovered that the fractional order system model more accurately depicted the plant than the integer order model. Naturally, fractional order controllers are the best option for these fractional order models. Because classical control theory has been extended, they are also frequently utilized for integer order models. In recent days, a number of research have been reported that demonstrate fractional order calculus in control applications.</p> Objective <p>This review aims to analyze and summarize recent advancements in controller design for Fractional-Order Nonlinear Systems (FONSs), highlighting their performance, applications, strengths, limitations, and future research opportunities.</p> Methods <p>A comprehensive review of research articles published between 2019 and 2023 was conducted. Various fractional-order control strategies developed for nonlinear systems across diverse engineering applications were systematically examined and compared based on their design approaches, implementation techniques, control performance, and practical applicability.</p> Results <p>The survey reveals that fractional-order controllers generally provide enhanced robustness, flexibility, disturbance rejection capability, and dynamic response compared with traditional integer-order controllers.</p> Conclusion <p>Fractional-order control has shown significant potential for improving the control performance of nonlinear systems. Nevertheless, challenges related to controller design complexity, implementation feasibility, and experimental verification remain open research issues.</p>