For the 1st time, nonstoichiometric WO2.72 was used as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). O-vacancy-rich WO2.72 nanorod bundles with notable catalytic activity for triiodide and thiolate redn. were prepd. The photovoltaic parameters of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with WO2.72 nanorod bundles as CEs are superior compared with those of the WO3-based cells, and nearly the same as those of the precious metal Pt-based cells. In a noncorrosive org. redox couple, the performance of WO2.72 CEs is better than that of Pt and WO3 CEs in DSSCs.