CubeSat propulsion is a key area of development to advance technology, yet miniature propulsion systems lag behind similar communications or power generation technology. Previous reviews focus on mechanisms behind propulsion types. We review the flight heritage, recent advancements, and current challenges of seven different propulsion technologies. We analyze the engineering and system-level concerns surrounding miniature satellite propulsion: power consumption, cost, commercial availability, physical size/mass, and reliability. We also discuss a CubeSat’s ability to support each propulsion system and their associated mission function. While deorbit devices drive much of the current research, large-scale interplanetary missions, precision pointing, and formation/constellation missions have diverse requirements. Most current propulsion development uses conventional systems like cold-gas, chemical, and solid propellant. Although these devices can reliably provide high delta-v, their integration is limited to 3U and above CubeSats. Despite the high specific impulse of electric systems like hall-effect and pulsed plasma devices, excessive power consumption poses an integration challenge. Electrospray/colloid systems maintain better characteristics post-miniaturization than other ion/plasma devices. Power generation and physical size are the main barriers to propulsion development and integration. CubeSat propulsion has seen significant technological advances which will extend the capabilities of future missions.