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The Bottom Line

Price
Paid plans only, free trial. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Runs scripts in real pseudo-terminals with proper process groups, shell environment reuse, and output streaming, no config files needed.
  • Enables AI agents to start, watch, and stop development servers through a built-in MCP server and CLI, with visible control in the menu bar.
  • Provides an on-device Explain feature that summarizes log output while automatically redacting sensitive data like tokens and passwords.

Pros

  • One-time purchase with no subscription or renewal fees
  • On-device log analysis preserves privacy, no data uploads
  • Automatically adapts to existing project structure without configuration overhead

Cons

  • macOS 15+ only, not available for Windows or Linux
  • License limited to 3 Macs per purchase

What is Grove?

Grove is a macOS-native terminal application that unifies local development and AI agent collaboration. It automatically discovers scripts and packages from your existing project workspaces (package.json, Deno, Python pyproject.toml, Cargo.toml, Go mod, Makefile, and custom .grove/scripts.json) without requiring any additional configuration files. You can run up to four live terminals side by side, with full color output, clickable port links, and visible failure states until resolved. The app includes an on-device AI Explain feature that summarizes log tails while stripping tokens and passwords before processing, no data leaves your machine. Grove also provides a built-in MCP server and CLI that allow AI agents to start, monitor, and stop development processes via a local Unix socket, with all activity visible in your menu bar. Purchased once for use on up to three Macs, Grove is designed for developers who work in monorepos, manage multiple services, or want to connect agent workflows with a real terminal environment.

Key Features

  • Auto-discovers scripts and packages from workspace manifests (package.json, deno.json, pyproject.toml, Cargo.toml, go.mod, Makefile, .grove/scripts.json)
  • Side-by-side terminal panels with up to four concurrent sessions, preserving colors and clickable port links
  • On-device AI Explain summarizes log end portions while stripping tokens and passwords before processing
  • MCP server and CLI allow AI agents to control dev processes via local Unix socket (start, stop, stream logs)
  • Proper process group management, stopping a script terminates child processes (no orphaned servers)
  • Shell environment resolved once from interactive shell, reused across sessions to avoid startup overhead (supports version managers)
  • CLI commands: grove list (show discovered scripts), grove start --wait-for-port, grove logs --follow
  • Menubar integration displays agent-started processes with logs, port info, and stop control

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 6, 2026

Grove plans and prices, checked October 2026
PlanPriceDetails
Grove

$5 once

  • The app, the CLI, and the built-in MCP server
  • Up to 3 of your own Macs
  • Automatic updates, signed and notarized

Is Grove worth the price?

Great value

The one-time fee and inclusion of a built-in MCP server make it a steal for macOS users.

Best for individual developers or small teams who want a local AI collaboration tool without recurring costs.

Full Grove pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Grove's pricing compares

At $5/mo, billing unit not specified, Grove is the most affordable of its 3 comparable direct competitors.

Grove
$5
$500

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Oct 6, 2026.

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Grove FAQ

How does Grove help developers working in monorepos manage multiple services?

Grove automatically discovers scripts and packages from your existing project workspaces, including package.json, Deno, Python pyproject.toml, and more, so you can run up to four live terminals side by side to manage multiple services without extra configuration. This eliminates the need to manually set up separate terminal windows or configuration files for each service.

How does Grove differ from Claude Code in terms of data privacy?

Grove's on-device AI Explain feature processes log summaries entirely on your machine, stripping tokens and passwords before any processing, ensuring no data leaves your machine. In contrast, Claude Code may rely on cloud-based analysis, which could involve sending data to external servers.

What are the main trade-offs of using Grove instead of a cross-platform tool?

Grove is limited to macOS 15 or later and cannot be used on Windows or Linux, and each purchase covers only three Macs. This means teams with mixed operating systems or many developer machines may need to consider alternatives.

What kind of user benefits most from Grove's built-in MCP server and CLI?

Developers who use AI agents to start, monitor, and stop development processes will benefit most from Grove's built-in MCP server and CLI. It allows agents to interact with a real terminal environment via a local Unix socket, with all activity visible in the menu bar.

How is Grove priced for individual developers?

Grove is a paid product with a one-time purchase that covers up to three Macs, with no subscription or renewal fees. It does not offer a permanently free tier.

Can Grove automatically integrate with existing project structures without configuration files?

Yes, Grove automatically discovers scripts and packages from your existing project workspaces, such as package.json, Deno, Python pyproject.toml, Cargo.toml, Go mod, Makefile, and custom .grove/scripts.json, without requiring any additional configuration files. This makes it easy to start using Grove with your current projects.

How does the on-device AI Explain feature ensure user privacy?

The on-device AI Explain feature processes log summaries entirely on your machine, stripping tokens and passwords before any processing, so no data leaves your machine. This ensures that sensitive information like API keys or credentials never leaves your local environment.

Which terminal features does Grove provide for managing multiple live processes?

Grove allows you to run up to four live terminals side by side with full color output, clickable port links, and visible failure states until resolved. These features make it easy to monitor and manage multiple development processes simultaneously.

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