Nonviral gene delivery (NVGD) is an appealing alternative to viral gene delivery for clinical applications due to its lower cost and increased safety. A variety of promising nonviral vectors are under development, including cationic polymers, lipids, lipid-polymer hybrids (LPHs) and inorganic nanoparticles. However, some NVGD strategies have disadvantages that have limited their adoption, including high toxicity and low efficiency. This review focuses on the most common NVGD vehicles with an emphasis on recent developments in the field.