ZnO　with　high　theoretical　capacity,　low　cost,　natural　abundance,　and　environmentally　friendliness　is　regarded　as　a　promising　anode　material　for　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs).　Unfortunately,　it　suffers　from　low　conductivity　and　huge　volume　expansion　during　charge/discharge,　which　finally　leads　to　rapid　capacity　degradation　and　poor　rate　capability.　To　overcome　these　issues,　the　honeycombed　ZnO@N-doped　carbon　(HC-ZnO@NC)　composite　with　improved　performances　is　prepared　in　this　work.　The　composite　could　be　easily　prepared　as　an　anode　for　LIBs　and　sodium-ion　batteries　(SIBs)　by　cross-linking　and　subsequent　calcining　at　a　target　temperature.　When　used　as　an　anode　for　LIBs,　it　could　possess　a　reversible　capacity　of　687　mAh　g−1　after　500　cycles　at　a　rate　of　0.5C.　At　a　higher　rate　of　2C,　388　mAh　g−1　is　observed　after　500　cycles.　Additionally,　HC-ZnO@NC　also　obtains　a　capacity　of　166　mAh　g−1　after　200　cycles　at　0.5C　for　SIBs.　When　the　rate　reaches　1C,　it　maintains　a　capacity　of　126　mAh　g−1　after　1000　cycles.　The　outstanding　electrochemical　metal　ion　storage　properties　might　be　ascribed　to　the　synergistic　effect　of　honeycombed　carbon　architecture　and　micro　ZnO　nanocrystals.　©　2022　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.