The world faces numerous problems related to water scarcity and pollution, largely due to inefficient wastewater treatment and inadequate methods. A comparative account of five widely known adsorbents-plant powders, activated carbon, biochar, zeolite, and nanomaterials-includes a comparative analysis of their adsorption capacities, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. On one side, plant powders, being cheap and eco-friendly, on the other side, show lesser performance or lower adsorption capacity, particularly with heavy metals. Activated carbon shows a good degree of adsorption, but its production is costlier and energy-intensive. Due to its moderate performance, biochar also allows carbon sequestration. Zeolites are highly low in their lowness during the ion exchange process and removal of metals, and nanomaterials are good in both adsorption and catalytic activity, though costs and environmental risks delay their applications. This review also emphasizes the case for hybrid systems combining the strengths of different materials and their application in efficient and friendly wastewater treatment.