Abstract Bearing capacity of saturated soils can be estimated using effective or total stress approaches extending the concepts proposed by Terzaghi (1943) and Skempton (1948), respectively. Recent studies have shown that similar approaches (i.e., Modified Effective Stress Approach, MESA and Modified Total Stress Approach, MTSA) can be used for interpretation and prediction of the bearing capacity of unsaturated soils by considering the influence of matric suction. However, comprehensive discussion for the application of the MESA and the MTSA in geotechnical engineering practice applications is lacking in the literature. For this reason, in this state-of-the-art paper, the background associated with the MESA and MTSA is first introduced. The analytical and numerical methods available for the prediction of the bearing capacity of unsaturated soils from the literature are revisited. The various available methods are explained by categorizing them into two groups: MESA and MTSA along with their applications using examples. The focus of this state-of-the-art paper is directed towards not only for providing tools for rational understanding but also for better prediction of the bearing capacity of unsaturated soils for extending them in geotechnical engineering practice applications.