DNA metabarcodes provide an accurate means for identifying a taxonomically diverse range of species in bulk samples. This makes DNA metabarcoding well suited to identifying species in macroinvertebrate samples. We show how DNA metabarcoding has been refined, to make it a cost-effective and accurate approach ready to be applied to routine macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring and assessment programs. We show how DNA metabarcoding compares to traditional morphological based family level macroinvertebrate identifications; how it can be integrated in biomonitoring and research programs; new opportunities for taxonomists arising from DNA metabarcoding and why species information, available thorough DNA metabarcoding, could provide new insights into freshwater ecosystems.