IntelliJ IDEA vs Nova: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for IntelliJ IDEA and Nova side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
IntelliJ IDEA
The capable & ergonomic Java IDE
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Nova
A powerful and flexible native macOS code editor with integrated tools for development workflows.
Best for you if:
- • You want mac native editor
| At a Glance | IntelliJ IDEA | Nova |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $599/year Ultimate plan | Not published |
Category | IDE & Code Editors Developer Tools | IDE & Code Editors Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 3,653 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 6 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Plugin ecosystem is free, but some premium plugins (Database Tools, AI Assistant Pro) are bundled only with Ultimate | Updates beyond 1st year cost $49/year |
Choose IntelliJ IDEA or Nova?
Choose IntelliJ IDEA if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want best Java IDE
- You want smart completions
Choose Nova if
- You want mac native editor
- You want good performance
In-Depth Analysis
IntelliJ IDEA
The capable & ergonomic Java IDE
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is the best free Java IDE available, it covers core Java, Kotlin, Gradle, and Maven with full refactoring support.
Watch out
Plugin ecosystem is free, but some premium plugins (Database Tools, AI Assistant Pro) are bundled only with Ultimate
Strengths
- Pro: Best Java IDE
- Pro: Smart completions
- Pro: Refactoring tools
Weaknesses
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Expensive Ultimate
Key features
Nova
A powerful and flexible native macOS code editor with integrated tools for development workflows.
Nova's pricing at $99 for a perpetual license with one year of updates is fair, especially for a native macOS application.
Watch out
Updates beyond 1st year cost $49/year
Strengths
- Pro: Mac native editor
- Pro: Good performance
- Pro: Beautiful UI
- Pro: One-time purchase
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Mac only
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: VS Code free alternative
- Con: Extension limits
Key features
Plans and prices: IntelliJ IDEA vs Nova
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IntelliJ IDEA |
| jetbrains.com/idea read Sep 30, 2026 |
| Nova |
| nova.app read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on IntelliJ IDEA pricing and Nova pricing.
Key Takeaways
IntelliJ IDEA
- Has a free plan
Nova
- Choose if you want a powerful and flexible native macOS code editor with integrated tools for development workflows
What the data shows
On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 3,653 reviews for IntelliJ IDEA, 4.3/5 from 6 reviews for Nova; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- IntelliJ IDEA starts at $599/year; Nova has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only IntelliJ IDEA has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do IntelliJ IDEA and Nova compare in 2026?
On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 3,653 reviews for IntelliJ IDEA, 4.3/5 from 6 reviews for Nova; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). IntelliJ IDEA starts at $599/year; Nova has no public paid plan price on file. Only IntelliJ IDEA has a free plan.
What are IntelliJ IDEA and Nova used for?
IntelliJ IDEA: The capable & ergonomic Java IDE. Nova: A powerful and flexible native macOS code editor with integrated tools for development workflows.
What does IntelliJ IDEA cost vs Nova?
IntelliJ IDEA's cheapest paid plan is Ultimate at $599/year; it also has a free plan. Nova has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between IntelliJ IDEA and Nova?
IntelliJ IDEA's main strength: best Java IDE. Nova's main strength: mac native editor.