The phase measurement methods for label-free cells, as non-invasive methods, are applied to realizing the quantitative reconstruction for spatial morphologies of static and dynamic biological samples. It can provide implementable conditions for visualizing complex biophysical information in the process of cell dynamic detection. The novel phase detection technologies for dynamic cells are mainly described, such as the synchronous phase shift methods, the digital holographic methods, and the methods for focused fluid. The traditional phase detection technologies for static cells are reviewed briefly. Then the key parameters of these technologies are compared, such as sampling rate, imaging resolution, and detection accuracy. Furthermore, we illustrate their application fields considering their various biological information detections. Finally, the basic principles, technical characteristics and recent developments for various phase retrieval technologies are analyzed and summarized.