Water contamination has developed as a serious environmental concern and attracted global attention as a result of the fast expansion of industry and growing population rates throughout the world. Water scarcity, water quality, and worldwide water shortages are all issues that must be addressed, making efficient wastewater treatment technologies a pressing necessity.In this review, we provide an introduction to water contamination and the various pollutants responsible for it. Additionally, we present a brief overview of the classification of dyes based on their source and provide examples of their applications. Due to concerns regarding environmental and health implications, different water treatment methods have been implemented for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions. However, these methods often have high handling and maintenance costs and generate toxic sludge. Therefore, this review highlights the benefits and limitations of various water treatment methods, with a particular focus on the promising technique of adsorption. Moreover, given the growing interest in low-cost adsorbents as an alternative to conventional methods for wastewater treatment, we discuss economical adsorbents for dye removal and present a table summarizing the maximum dye adsorption capacities of various adsorbents. It is suggested that, in the evaluation of wastewater treatment technologies, it is vital to consider the cost of preparation and consumption associated with adsorbents. To enhance the practicality and relevance of published research, there is a need for more investigations into the cost analysis of adsorbents, particularly in routine adsorption studies.