The world is currently facing the prospect of a severe global shortage of fresh water alongside finite energy resources and the development of energy-efficient desalination methods is of paramount importance to solve these complex problems. In this paper the basic principles of freeze concentration processes are presented. Even though the process has the advantage of low energy usage and high concentration factors, only lab and pilot scale studies have been conducted in the desalination industry and application of the process has been limited due to the dominance of more traditional thermal and membrane technologies. Finally, the paper looks at the future applications for freeze concentration and discusses the possibility of application to high saline brine wastes in hybrid-technology. Display omitted •Review of processes for desalination by freeze concentration•Developments in freeze concentration methodologies in food, wastewater and desalination industries•RO-freeze desalination hybrid process