The characteristics of different types of catalyst layers based on Pt, polymer and carbon for flexible dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are investigated. These counter electrodes prepared at low temperature on indium doped tin oxide polyethyleneterephtalate (ITO-PET) plastic are compared with high temperature treated platinum and carbon catalyst layers on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates. Here the electrical characteristics of the counter electrode and their optical performance are evaluated in order to compare their suitability for direct and reverse illumination. The morphology of the catalyst layers to the substrate is also investigated. Among the studied materials, the chemically platinized and carbon gel based counter electrodes demonstrated the highest potential for flexible DSSC. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.059207jes] All rights reserved.