As modern society develops, the need for clean energy becomes increasingly important on a global scale. Because of this, the exploration of novel materials for energy storage and utilization is urgently needed to achieve low-carbon economy and sustainable development. Among these novel materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials, have gained increasing attention for utilization in energy storage and conversion systems because of ultra-high surface areas, controllable structures, large pore volumes and tunable porosities. In addition to pristine MOFs, MOF derivatives such as porous carbons and nanostructured metal oxides can also exhibit promising performances in energy storage and conversion applications. In this review, the latest progress and breakthrough in the application of MOF and MOF-derived materials for energy storage and conversion devices are summarized, including Li-based batteries (Li-ion, Li–S and Li–O2 batteries), Na-ion batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells and fuel cells.