The invention discloses an instantaneous frequency measuring device based on optical power monitoring, and relates to the field of optoelectronic devices and microwave photonics. The device comprises a continuous wave laser (1), a polarization controller (2), a signal generator (3), an electric power divider (4), an electric delay line (5), an optical power divider (6), an electric power divider (7), an electric power divider (8), an I / Q modulator (9), an I / Q modulator (10), an optical power meter (11) and an optical power meter (12). By monitoring the power values of the two optical power meters, the frequency of the radio frequency signal can be calculated. By changing the delay amount of the electric delay line (5), the measurement range and measurement error of the instantaneous frequency measurement can be adjusted.