Single molecule detection based on nanopore technology is a very promising approach for medical diagnostics, drug therapy and even DNA sequencing. Compared with other biological nanopores and solid-state nanopores, the glass capillary nanopore has low cost, easy availability and stable mechanical characteristics, thus it has been widely used in the nanopore technology for single molecule detection. In this review, we will focus on the studies of the glass nanopore sensors. The popular glass nanopore fabrication methods would be introduced, and the applications of glass nanopores in the detection of nanoparticles, proteins and DNA molecules would be presented. We hope this review will help widen field of vision and promote the development of the nanopore technology based on the glass capillary nanopores. Single molecule detection based on nanopore technology is a very promising approach for medical diagnostics, drug therapy and even DNA sequencing. Compared with other biological nanopores and solid-state nanopores, the glass capillary nanopore has low cost, easy availability and stable mechanical characteristics, thus it has been widely widely used in the nanopore technology for single molecule detection. we this focus, we will focus on the studies of the glass nanopore sensors. The popular glass nanopore fabrication methods would be introduced, and the applications of glass nanopores in the detection of nanoparticles, proteins and DNA molecules would be presented. We hope this review will help widen field of vision and promote the development of the nanopore technology based on the glass capillary nanopores.