In order to study the effect of CeO2 addition on the structure and performance of Ni-Mo-P electroless plating coatings, Ni-Mo-P coatings and Ni-Mo-P/CeO2 composite coatings on the surface of GH4169 nickel-based superalloy were prepared by electroless composite plating technology. The influence of the heat treatment at 400 ℃ on the structure and properties of the coatings was also investigated. The microstructure, element composition, and phase structure of the coatings were analyzed by SEM, EDS and XRD respectively. The mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings was analyzed by microhardness tester, nanoindenter, ball-disk friction and wear tester, and three-dimensional surface profiler.The results show that the Ni-Mo-P coatings exhibits a typical spherical structure with nano and amorphous mixed crystalline structure.The crystallinity of the coatings was only 16%. The addition of CeO2 particles in the Ni-Mo-P/CeO2 composite coatings induces the voids in coatings and promotes the coarseness in morphology. The crystallinity of the mixed crystalline structure increases to 51%. The heat treatment has positive effect on the structure of the coatings, such as promoting the precipitation of Ni3P nano phase, increasing the crystallinity, eliminating the voids and promoting the density. Addition of CeO2 reduces the hardness of the coating. However, heat treatment can improve the hardness of the coatings significantly. The hardness of the Ni-Mo-P coatings increases from 645 HV in the plating state to 1378 HV in the heat treatment state, and the hardness of the Ni-Mo-P/CeO2 composite coatings increases from 546 HV in the plating state to 1141 HV in the heat treatment state. The wear resistance of the coatings is improved obviously after heat treatment. The addition of CeO2 particles to the coatings could enhance the toughness of the coatings, inhibit the occurrence of cracks during the wear process, thus the Ni-Mo-P/CeO2 composite coating have the best wear resistance.