Sodium-ion batteries represent a drop-in replacement for lithium-ion batteries to meet our ever-growing energy demands. Advantages include the abundance and lower cost of sodium compared to lithium, and the possibility of using cheaper aluminum current collectors instead of the copper ones in lithium-ion cells. Among the many cell components, proper choice of electrode materials are essential for enabling proper functioning of sodium-ion batteries. Compared to the massive exploration of cathode materials, the development of anode materials remains challenging for sodium ion batteries as graphite does not intercalate sodium to an appreciable extent. Sodium titanates are among the few anode materials that can reversibly intercalate sodium ions at appropriately low potentials and moderate capacities1 although they have low first-cycle coulombic efficiency. Sodium titanates encompass a range of materials with different compositional and structural characteristics, which remain relatively unexplored for this application.2-4 There is a clear need to build a comprehensive knowledge scenario linking their compositional and structural characteristics and relevant performance metrics. Herein, we compare several sodium titanate compounds, ranging from sodium nonatitanate, lepidocrocite-structured titanates, and Na2Ti3O7. These materials all have stepped layered or corrugated structures, with sodium ions located between transition metal oxide layers, yet display distinctly different electrochemical behaviors. By coupling electrochemical characterization with an array of synchrotron techniques, we offer more insights into their sodium storage mechanisms and provide effective measures to improve their battery behaviors.