We make a short review about the synchronization in coupled phase oscillator models. Next, we study the common-noise-induced synchronization among active rotators. At an intermediate noise strength, the noise-induced synchronization takes place most effectively, which is analogous to the stochastic resonance. Finally, we study the synchronization of coupled phase oscillators with nonvariational interaction on scale-free networks. We find a sharp transition and a weak hysteresis in the nonvariational systems. The sharp transition is found also in the mean-field approximation.