BackgroundThe occurrence of a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a significant complication of diabetes that often precedes the need for amputation. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (Au-PRP), a substance abundant in various growth factors and cytokines, is increasingly being recognized as a promising method for promoting ulcer healing due to its potential similarities to the physiological wound healing process.MethodsThe databases Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were systematically accessed on January 26, 2023, without any consideration for the date of publication. The selection and assessment of research studies were conducted autonomously, based on predetermined criteria and methodological standards. Two researchers gathered data and evaluated the potential for bias separately. We utilize the Stata 17.0 software to conduct data analysis and generate relevant visual representations.ResultsThe results of the meta-analysis indicate that autologous PRP has a significant positive effect on the healing rate (RR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.30–1.56,P< 0.001), reduces the healing time (MD = − 3.13, 95% CI − 5.86 to − 0.39,P< 0.001), accelerates the reduction of ulcer area (MD = 1.02, 95% CI 0.51–1.53,P< 0.001), decreases the rate of amputation (RR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.83,P< 0.001), and does not increase the incidence of adverse events (RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.57–1.61,P> 0.05) when compared to conventional therapy.ConclusionsAu-PRP therapy has been shown to facilitate the process of wound healing and represents a viable and secure therapeutic alternative for individuals with DFU.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-023-03854-x.