Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Llianhua Qingwen capsule versus oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza. Methods Data from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, VIP, CNKI and CBM, RCTs about Lianhua Qingwen capsule or Lianhua Qingwen capsule combined with other drugs (trial group) versus oseltamivir (control group) in the influenza were collected. The outcome indicators such as the effective rate of extraction, the time for viral nucleic acid to become negative, the time for fever and the time for symptom resolution, etc., were used for Meta analysis with RevMan 5.3 statistical software. Results Totally 14 studies were included, involving 1459 patients. The Meta analysis results showed that there was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect, the time of virus turning negative and defervescence, and fever reduction time in the experimental group compared with the control group. In terms of symptom relief, the effect of cough and headache resolution in the experimental group was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the time to subside of general muscle soreness and pharyngeal pain in the test group and the control group. In terms of safety, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion Lianhua Qingwen capsule is similar to oseltamivir phosphate in curative effect and adverse reaction rate in the treatment of influenza, and is superior to oseltamivir in relieving cough and headache symptoms.