ABSTRACT Kyphoplasty (KP) and vertebroplasty (VP) are both widely adopted treatments for patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), however, which of these techniques is more effective has not yet been established. We performed a systematic review of articles, followed by meta-analysis, in an attempt to establish the differences between KP and VP. Initially, 187 articles were obtained, 20 of which were systematically reviewed and submitted to meta-analysis. Thus, 2,226 patients comprised the universe of the present article, 1202 of whom underwent KP and 1024 of whom underwent VP. The statistically significant results observed included lower mean bone cement leakage (ml) in the group submitted to kyphoplasty, with OR: 1.50 [CI95%: 1.16 - 1.95], p <0.05; shorter mean surgical time (minutes), 0.45 [CI90% 0.08 - 0.82], p <0.1, for the group submitted to VP as compared to the KP group; and a lower mean postoperative Oswestry Disability Index score in the KP group, OR: −0.14 [CI95%: −0.28 - 0.01], p <0.05. KP was more effective in improving physical function and had a lower frequency of cement leakage when compared to VP, although it requires longer surgical time. Level of evidence III; Systematic review of level III studies.