In the past decade, visible light photoredox catalysis has been established as a gentle and powerful strategy for the activation of organic molecules. As an important part of this, organic photocatalysts are widely used in chemical synthesis due to their attributes, such as cheapness and relatively high redox potential. In this article, we review the related organic reactions promoted by visible light in the presence of various organic photocatalysts over the past 5 years. The reaction mechanisms involving single electron transfer, energy transfer and proton-coupled electron transfer are also discussed. The recovery and reuse of some supported organic photocatalysts are highlighted. Moreover, prospects for the development of organic photocatalysts are emphasized.