Display omitted •Photo, electro-Fenton and photo-electro-Fenton processes were compared for the removal of % color and COD from landfill leachate.•Photo-electro-Fenton process yielded higher % color and COD removal with low power consumption than the photo and electro-Fenton process.•Operating parameters were studied to obtain the process efficiency.•Direct and alternating current photo-electro-Fenton process was studied. The comparison of photo (UV), electro-Fenton and photo-electro-Fenton process on the removal of % color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) along with power consumption on landfill leachate wastewater was investigated. Experimental results showed that, the hybrid photo-electro-Fenton process yielded higher color (100%) and COD (97%) removal efficiencies with lower power consumption (3.10 kWhr/m3) than the photo and electro-Fenton processes alone. Effect of major operating parameters such as current density (0.07–0.35 A/dm2), solution pH (1.5–5), inter-electrode distance (0.75–3 cm), hydrogen per oxide (H2O2) concentration (75–450 mg/L), COD concentration (1000–5000 ppm) and UV power (8–32 W) on the % COD removal efficiency and power consumption of landfill leachate were investigated. The direct and alternating current photo-electro-Fenton process was studied and reported on the % COD removal and power consumption. The alternating current photo-electro-Fenton process is most suitable in comparison to the direct current photo-electro-Fenton process and can be applied effectively and efficiently for the removal of pollutant from wastewater.