CodeEdit
Native macOS code editor in Swift — lightweight, open-source, and free forever.
MIT-licensed VS Code alternative built for Mac with Tree-sitter, Git, terminal, and debugging. Community-driven, Apple HIG native — pre-release, macOS only.
Nova is Panic's proprietary, Mac-native code editor — the spiritual successor to Coda, combining editing, Git, a terminal, and live preview in one app. It costs $99 for the first year and $49/year to keep receiving updates, though you can keep using a purchased version indefinitely without renewing.
CodeEdit is a free, open-source Mac-native editor built in Swift aimed at the same niche as Nova: a lightweight, macOS-first alternative to heavier cross-platform editors.
FAQ
Is there a free, open-source alternative to Nova?
Yes. CodeEdit is open source (MIT-licensed) and free forever, with no license fee or renewal cost.
What's the best open-source alternative to Nova?
CodeEdit is the closest match — a native macOS editor built specifically to fill the same gap Nova targets, without a paid license.
What are the top open-source alternatives to Nova?
Browse all open-source alternatives to Nova above, or explore the full Developer Tools category for more options.