With the rapid development of technology, energy storage and conversion has become an emerging field, which accommodates requirements for higher efficiency and sustainability. As a main electrical energy source of electric vehicles (EV) and portable devices, it is hard for the conventional rechargeable batteries to meet the growing energy demand; thus, further exploration of advanced materials for basic components of secondary batteries is necessary. Among the novel materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely considered and regarded as promising candidates for the design of next-generation advanced batteries due to their enticing nature including easy preparation, abundant diversity, adjustable porosity, large surface area and high redox activity. Although MOF-based materials exhibited potential for advanced batteries, their practical applications in full cell systems are still in need of more in-depth studies. Herein, we carry out a comprehensive discussion on the progress of MOF-based materials for full cell applications. Initially, various synthetic routes for MOFs and their derivatives as well as the impact of different parameters like solvents, temperature, pH, and the gas atmosphere on the morphology of the resulting products are summarized and compared. Afterwards, an overview of the applications of MOF-based materials in full cells of lithium batteries, sodium batteries, aqueous batteries, fuel cells and other secondary batteries serving as cathodes, anodes, electrolytes and separators is provided. Finally, future outlook including main challenges and feasible solutions for the practical use of MOF-based materials in full cells is further explored.