To transform the methane oxidation to methanol in a selective, straight, economically attractive, and less energy intense process is a goal pursued by the industry since its discovery. Methane is the main constituent of shale and natural gas while methanol is either a fuel as feedstock in the chemical industry. Thus, to develop a technology that combines an affordable raw material with a strategic product became pivotally important for the chemical industry. Currently, the industrial route for methanol production from methane is accomplished via a syngas process, passing by stream catalytic reform of products (i.e., CO and H-2). This is a costly route due to its high-energy consumption. Alternatively, methane partial oxidation to methanol (i.e. DMTM route) in a single step can constitute a more economically viable strategy. Toward achieving this goal, different approaches were proposed; nonetheless, until now, any was industrially feasible. In this review, we paid particular attention to the methane direct oxidation processes to methanol carried out in a gas phase under homogeneous or heterogeneous conditions. In general, heterogeneous processes are solid-catalyzed in the gas phase, while homogeneous processes occur without a catalyst. We too assessed the advances achieved in the traditional route to producing methanol from syngas, as well as recent developments of syngas production from methane. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.