N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) esters are easily available, stable, inexpensive, and highly photoactive compounds, which are derived from the corresponding carboxylic acids. In recent years, the application of NHP esters in photocatalytic decarboxylative reactions has captured huge attention. Herein, the vigorous development of photocatalytic alkylation reactions using alkyl NHP esters as alkylating reagents is summarized based on the classification of photocatalysts.