•Application of AuNPs-based colorimetric and electrochemical sensors are reviewed.•Four kinds of synthetic strategies for AuNPs are discussed.•Differences and relations of colorimetric and electrochemical sensors are summarized.•Some new regulations and challenges in this field needed to be noticed are proposed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), the huge potential functional nanoparticles in scientific research, have attained tremendous interest for their unique physical–optical property since they have been discovered. They have been very popularly used as labels in diagnostics, sensors, etc. The use of AuNPs in sensor fabrication is widespread, and so many papers have been reported over the past years. The development of AuNPs used in sensor has been reviewed in some previous papers. Most of them tend to review a certain kind of analyte using one kind of technique. However, few of these reviews include the detection of inorganic and organic contaminant, as well as biomolecules at the same time. Besides, the development for AuNPs application is very fast in modern science. Therefore, in this review we summarize some recent progresses made in the field of AuNPs research. We summarize the typical synthetic strategies of AuNPs, classify the mechanism analysis of AuNPs-based sensors, and expound the role of AuNPs in these sensors. Typical advanced examples of the newly developed AuNPs-based colorimetric and electrochemical sensors and their applications in detection of various analytes, including biomolecules, metal ions, and organic environmental hormones are presented and discussed.