Lithium-sulfur batteries (Li–S batteries) are promising candidates for the next generation high-energy rechargeable Li batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1672 mAh g−1) and energy density (2500 Wh kg−1). The commercialization of Li–S batteries is impeded by several key challenges at cathode side, e.g. the insulating nature of sulfur and discharged products (Li2S2 and Li2S), the solubility of long-chain polysulfides and volume variation of sulfur cathode upon cycling. Recently, the carbon-based derivatives from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged talent in their utilization as cathode hosts for Li–S batteries. They are not only highly conductive and porous to enable the acceleration of Li+/e− transfer and accommodation of volumetric expansion of sulfur cathode during cycling, but also enriched by controllable chemical active sites to enable the adsorption of polysulfides and promotion of their conversion reaction kinetics. In this review, based on the types of MOFs (e.g. ZIF-8, ZIF-67, Prussian blue, Al-MOF, MOF-5, Cu-MOF, Ni-MOF), the synthetic methods, formation process and morphology, structural superiority of MOFs-derived carbon frameworks along with their electrochemical performance as cathode host in Li–S batteries are summarized and discussed.