Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been the epicenter of attention for past few decades as a potentially cost-effective substitute for silicon-based solar cells. In DSSCs, the counter electrode (CE) plays a pivotal role in amassing electrons from the external circuit and catalyzing the I3− reduction in the electrolyte. In this paper, the development of nickel sulfide (NiS) CEs for DSSCs are studied, emphasizing significant crescendos that assure economical, competent, and stable DSSC systems. Specially, we pinpoint on the design of highly efficient NiS CE, including design ideas, fabrication approaches, characterization techniques and simulations that serve as practical replacements to conventional noble metal Pt electrodes. DSSC fabricated with the NiS CE achieved a power conversion efficiency of 5.69% under 1 sunlight illumination (100 mW cm−2, AM 1.5 G).