Nova
Native Mac code editor from Panic, the makers of Transmit
Nova is a native macOS code editor from Panic, the company behind Transmit and Coda. It pairs a Mac-style interface with language server support, Git source control, a built-in terminal, task runners and publishing to remote servers, and can be extended with JavaScript extensions from its library. Nova is a paid app with a free trial, aimed at web and app developers who prefer a fully native editor.
- features
- 4
- alternatives
- 8
- platform
- 1
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- Fully native Mac interface that feels fast and polished
- Built-in terminal, Git, task runners and remote publishing
- JavaScript extensions add languages and tools
Cons
- Available on macOS only
- Smaller extension library than VS Code
- Requires a paid license after the trial, while strong free editors exist
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
Best Nova alternatives
See all 8 alternatives
Visual Studio CodeFreeOpen sourceFree, extensible code editor from Microsoft for most languages
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Sublime TextFree trialFast, lightweight text editor for code, markup and prose
ZedFreemiumOpen sourceFast, collaborative open source code editor written in Rust
91.6Kstars
WebStormFreemiumJetBrains IDE for JavaScript, TypeScript and web frameworks
CursorFreemiumAI code editor built on VS Code, with agents and multi-line autocomplete
VSCodiumFreeOpen sourceCommunity builds of VS Code without Microsoft telemetry or branding
33.6Kstars
User reviews
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