Since ca. 2000 methanesulfonic acid has become a popular replacement for other acids in numerous industrial and laboratory applications, because it:
* is a strong acid,
* has a low vapor pressure (see boiling points in the "Properties" inset),
* is not an oxidant or explosive, like nitric, sulfuric or perchloric acids.
* is a liquid at room temperature, 
* is soluble in many organic solvents,
* forms water-soluble salts with all inorganic cations and with most organic cations,
* does not form complexes with metal ions in water,
* its anion, mesylate, is non-toxic and suitable for pharmaceutical preparations.
The closely related p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) is solid. 
Methanesulfonic acid can be used in the generation of borane (BH) by reacting methanesulfonic acid with NaBH in an aprotic solvent such as THF or DMSO, the complex of BH and the solvent is formed.