Four novel metal free dyes for application as photosensitizers in DSSC have been synthesized and their chemical–physical properties characterized by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and DFT theoretical computations. The dyes are based on a pyran core, functionalized with different electron acceptor groups, symmetrically linked to carbazole electron donor mojeties. The four dyes have different optical absorption properties, affording a range of colors ranging from orange to blue, covering most of the visible spectral region. All the dyes feature high molar extinction coefficient, up to a value of 1.0 × 105 L mol−1 cm−1. The dyes were used as photosensitizers in DSSC and the photovoltaic characterization of these devices was...