Raman spectra of low-temperature polymorphic forms of AlPO 4 (berlinite, phosphocristobalite and phosphotridymite) are presented. The interpretation of the spectra has been carried out using the model of [PO 4 ] 3 - tetrahedron isolated by Al 3 + cations. The theoretical number of Raman active modes has been determined using the factor group analysis. Raman and IR spectra have been compared regarding adequate selection rules. The crystalline field splitting and Davydov effects have been discussed.It has been shown that AlPO 4 polymorphs, usually classified as a framework structure, because of the similarity to SiO 2 , should be rather treated as an orthophosphate structure. Thus the model of the oxygen bridge, commonly used for interpretation of framework structures, should not be used in the case of AlPO 4 .