The properties of non-oxide materials are continuously revealed, and their applications in the fields of ceramics, energy, and catalysis are increasingly extensive. Regardless of the traditional binary materials or the MAX phases, the preparation methods, which are environmentally friendly, efficient, economical, and easy to scale-up, have always been the focus of attention. Molten salt synthesis has demonstrated unparalleled advantages in achieving non-oxide materials. In addition, with the development of the process in molten salt synthesis, it also shows great potential in scale-up production. In this review, the recent progress of molten salt synthesis in the preparation of binary non-oxide and MAX phase is reviewed, as well as some novel processes. The reaction mechanisms and the influence of synthetic conditions for certain materials are discussed in detail. The paper is finalized with the discussion of the application prospect and future research trends of molten salt synthesis in non-oxide materials.