The advantages and disadvantages of the relevant drought remote sensing techniques are analyzed in detail on the basis of three kinds of different underlying surfaces (bare surface, partly and fully covered surface by vegetation). In the case of the bare underlying surface, the microwave remote sensing method has great potential; in the case of the partly covered underlying surface, the double model method is better, which is, however, complicated, and in which the emphasis should be put on the simplification of the classic layer model. In the case of the fully covered underlying surface, each monitoring method has both good and bad sides. Meanwhile, the developing trend and application prospects of the remote sensing techniques are discussed, so to provide useful reference to drought monitoring service.