In line with the rising global incidence of cancer, tumor metastasis has become the leading cause of mortality among cancer patients. Formation of the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) creates an optimal microenvironment for tumor cell colonization and metastasis, thus facilitating tumor dissemination. In this context, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)have garnered significant attention as a result of their multifaceted roles in tumor progression. CAFs enhance the formation of the PMN and promote the invasive behavior of tumor cells by remodeling the extracellular matrix, inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stimulating angiogenesis and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. These processes not only expedite metastasis but also enable tumor immune evasion. This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms and functions of CAFs in tumor metastasis, examines their potential applications in cancer research and therapy, and offers new perspectives and directions for the development of antitumor metastasis strategies.