Serials　of　NaYF4,　NaLuF4　and　NaGdF4-based　nanocrystals　have　been　synthesized　successfully　by　solvothermal　and　hydrothermal,　respectively.　The　properties　of　the　products　were　characterized　and　compared.　The　nanocrystals　prepared　by　hydrothermal　method　exhibited　uniform　hexagonal　phase　and　large　size,　while　the　nanocrystals　prepared　by　solvothermal　method　displayed　high　upconversion　luminescence　(UCL)　and　small　size.　The　UCL　intensities　of　the　nanocrystals　prepared　by　solvothermal　method　were　higher　than　that　of　nanocrystals　from　hydrothermal　method.　Whether　using　solvothermal　or　hydrothermal　method,　the　UCL　intensities　of　the　nanocrystals　were　in　the　sequence　(from　strong　to　weak)　of　NaLuF4:Gd/Yb/Tm,　NaLuF4:Yb/Tm,　NaGdF4:Yb/Tm,　NaYF4:Gd/Yb/Tm　and　NaYF4:Yb/Tm,　respectively.　This　is　the　first　time　to　systematically　compare　three　kinds　of　host-based　nanocrystals,　which　are　prepared　by　two　different　approaches　with　various　lanthanide　ions　doped.　This　work　could　provide　new　insight　into　fabrication　of　upconversion　nanocrystals　with　intense　UCL　and　controllable　morphology　and　size　via　using　suitable　doping　ions,　host　materials　and　efficient　approaches.