We conducted a comparative study of gas phase dehydration of glycerol to acrolein over aluminium phosphate, iron phosphate and nickel phosphate catalysts prepared by a simple replacement reaction method (AlP, FeP and NiP). The textural properties, acid amounts, acid types, and coke contents of the samples were studied. The results showed that all metal phosphate catalysts remained in an amorphous state. The glycerol conversion was proportional to the acid amount of metal phosphate catalyst in the glycerol dehydration reaction. Higher value of B/L was more likely to produce acrolein. Among the metal phosphate catalysts, FeP showed superior performance due to its suitable textural and acid properties. After 2 h on stream, high glycerol conversion (96%), acrolein selectivity (82%) and acrolein yield (79%) were achieved on the FeP catalyst at 280 °C. The catalyst deactivation was ascribed to carbon deposition on the catalyst surface blocking the active sites during the glycerol dehydration reaction.