Pick Cursor if
software engineers already in git who want an agent in the editor.
Read the Cursor pageCursor vs Nova
Our take
Pick Cursor if software engineers already in git who want an agent in the editor. Pick Nova if mac developers who will finish the 30-day trial then keep Nova at US$99 — plus US$49/year if they want updates after year one, not Cursor Plus $8 first unless they want an Agent/Tab VS Code fork, and not if they need Windows or Linux. Skip Cursor if non-developers, or teams that cannot send code to a third-party model API.
Best for
Cursor Changing a real repo
Nova A native Mac IDE you start at a public $
Free plan
Cursor $0 · limited Agent and Chat requests
Nova No free plan
Lowest paid
Cursor Plus $8/mo · Grok models only
Nova Update plan $49/yr
Next step up
Cursor Premium $30/mo · other models at API price
Nova Coda 1/2 upgrade $79
Coding agent
Cursor Agent + Tab inside the editor
Nova
Runs where
Cursor Desktop editor; models hosted
Nova
Watch out
Cursor Plus is Grok-only
Nova macOS-only (15.6+)
Last checked
Cursor 2026-10-19 · cursor.com/pricing
Nova 2026-10-23 · nova.app/buy
Which one, then?
Pick Nova if
mac developers who will finish the 30-day trial then keep Nova at US$99 — plus US$49/year if they want updates after year one, not Cursor Plus $8 first unless they want an Agent/Tab VS Code fork, and not if they need Windows or Linux.
Read the Nova page