Nova

What it is for

Nova is a Mac-native code-editor desk: you open README.md in a Panic workspace, keep the Git sidebar on nevenova-14-redesign, and own the app forever for US$99. Use it when the job is a native Mac IDE you start at a public $, not when you need Cursor’s Agent / Tab first.

Soft-note: US$99 perpetual (“own it forever”) includes one full year of updates + optional update plan US$49/year + tax after year one (cancel anytime; keep what you have) + Coda 1/2 upgrade US$79 + tax — nova.app/buy plus Purchasing & Licensing. Free 30-day full-featured trial; download requires macOS 15.6+ (Nova 14.x zip ~75.8 MB). Distinct from Cursor, Zed, Windsurf, and TRAE.

What makes it unique: the cover is Panic’s official Nova 14 workspace (Nova Website / selected README.md / file tree assets → source + Git sidebar nova-website / nevenova-14-redesign / Stage All) from hero-14.png — not a wordmark. The selected README.md row itself is ops of the editor.

Key features

• Project file tree — assets / Dockerfile / README.md / source (cover still; product). One desk. Cover README.md sits here.
• Git sidebar — nova-website / nevenova-14-redesign + Stage All / Commit (cover). A git desk, not a $99 meter.
• Editor tabs + terminal chrome — README.md tab, Development / Running Elementy (cover). Chrome, not Get started.
• Language servers — Nova 14 installs / pins LSPs (Rust / Swift / C/C++ built-in) (product; releases). An LSP, not Enterprise.
• Remote files + publish — browse / edit / publish to servers in-app (product). A transfer, not a trial tile.
• Live preview — the page updates as you type, inside Nova (product). A preview, not SSO.

Download / Buy are CTAs (not desks). US$99 / US$49 stay in Pricing. There is no AI extra to drop (Nova is not an AI-first IDE).

Who it's for

Best fit: 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.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) from nova.app/buy plus help.nova.app/faqs/purchasing (last updated May 19, 2026) and nova.app (Nova 14; macOS 15.6+; ~75.8 MB zip). Soft-note: USD + tax as printed.

• Trial — 30 days, full-featured (printed on nova.app).
• Nova — US$99 + tax perpetual (“own it forever”). Includes one full year of updates / new features.
• Update plan — US$49/year + tax after year one. Cancel anytime; keep the last version you received. Renewals stay $49 even after a gap (purchasing FAQ).
• Coda 1/2 upgrade — US$79 + tax (serial required).
• Education — 25% off for students / faculty (contact from a school email). Do not invent the student $.
• macOS 15.6+.
• The product is not OSS. We omit a GitHub CTA.

Limitations / costs

• macOS-only (15.6+). No Windows / Linux build.
• Not an AI-first IDE. Thinner coding-agent story than Cursor / Windsurf / TRAE.
• Update plan is optional, but majors after year one need a renewal. You keep the last eligible major forever.
• LSP / extension ecosystem is narrower than VS Code forks. Remote/SFTP + publish is the strength.

Alternatives

• Cursor — an AI-native VS Code fork when you want Free / Plus $8 / Premium $30, not Panic’s native Git + files desk.
• Zed — a GPU editor + agent sidebar when you want Personal $0 forever / Pro $10, not a Mac-only US$99 perpetual.
• Windsurf — an AI IDE when you want Free $0 / Pro $20, not Nova’s native AppKit workspace.
• TRAE — ByteDance’s AI IDE when you want Free $0 / Lite $3 / Pro $10, not a Panic perpetual.

Official tutorial

Official Panic channel video (oEmbed author Panic, channel @PanicVideo): Welcome to Nova.

We also searched @NovaApp and @novaapp (HTTP 200 — do not treat as this product without a Panic oEmbed). Written path: nova.app plus buy, releases, and on-site feature loops (language-settings.mp4, all-in-one.mp4, live-preview.mp4). Narrative: Nova is here.

Website

https://nova.app

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Panic’s official Nova 14 workspace still (README.md + Git sidebar nevenova-14-redesign) from nova.app/images/en/hero-14.png — not a wordmark. Dollars checked on nova.app/buy + help.nova.app/faqs/purchasing (US$99 + tax; update plan US$49/year + tax; Coda upgrade US$79 + tax; 30-day trial; macOS 15.6+). Official YouTube: nd-VvQZaB78 on @PanicVideo. No GitHub.

Last verified

2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.