The main benefit of using microservices for application development is the ability to create applications as a collection of loosely coupled, independently deployable services. This architecture enhances scalability, as each service can be developed, deployed, and scaled individually according to demand. Microservices promote flexibility in technology choices, allowing teams to utilize different programming languages or frameworks as needed. Additionally, this approach simplifies maintenance and updates, reduces the risk of system failures, and encourages faster development cycles and innovation.