Is Coda still available to buy?

No. Panic stopped selling Coda in 2020 and removed it from the Mac App Store. If you already own it, you can still download and use it, but there are no updates. Panic's replacement is Nova ($49/year), which imports your Coda sites and settings.

Does Coda work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Coda runs on M1/M2/M3 Macs through Rosetta translation, but performance is sluggish and some features may not work correctly. Panic has no plans to release a native ARM version. Switch to Nova or VS Code for a better experience on Apple Silicon.

Coda vs Nova: what's the difference?

Nova is Panic's ground-up replacement for Coda. It's faster (40x faster file indexing), has modern features like multiple cursors and split editors, and runs natively on Apple Silicon. The core workflow is similar: integrated FTP, file browser, and live preview. Nova costs $49/year; Coda was a one-time purchase.

Can I import my Coda sites into Nova?

Yes. When you first launch Nova, it offers to import your Coda 2 sites, clips, and some preferences. If you missed this, go to Nova > File > Import and look for Coda import options. Most settings transfer cleanly, though some plugins may need replacement.

What's the best free alternative to Coda?

VS Code is the most popular free alternative. It doesn't have built-in FTP like Coda, but the SFTP extension adds similar functionality. VS Code works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, has thousands of extensions, and handles modern workflows like Git better than Coda ever did.

Should I learn Coda as a beginner?

No. Coda is discontinued software with no future. Learn VS Code (free, cross-platform, massive community) or Nova (if you want Panic's Mac-native experience). Both are actively developed and will serve you better for years to come.

Coda for Designers: All-in-One Web Code Editor with Live Preview

Coda is an all-in-one code editor from Panic designed specifically for web designers. It combines text editing, file management (FTP/SFTP), live preview, and even MySQL database administration in a single Mac app. The appeal is staying in one app instead of juggling separate tools for code, files, and preview.

Key Specs


Price	No longer sold; replaced by Nova ($49/year)
Platform	Mac only (no longer updated)
Best for	HTML/CSS/PHP editing, FTP workflows
Learning curve	1-2 hours for basics; deep features take weeks

How Designers Use Coda

For Direct-to-Server Workflows

Open an SFTP connection and Coda shows your remote files in the sidebar. Edit a file and save. Coda uploads automatically. No separate FTP app needed. This workflow suits designers who build WordPress themes or maintain static sites without version control.

For Live CSS Editing

Coda’s built-in WebKit preview updates in real-time as you edit CSS. Change a color or margin and see it instantly without refreshing. The preview can shrink to iPhone or iPad sizes to test responsive layouts. This makes Coda faster than the edit-save-refresh cycle in separate browsers.

For Quick Server-Side Edits

Coda includes a MySQL editor for database administration. Edit WordPress settings or troubleshoot database issues without leaving the code editor. Run queries, edit table structure, or browse content. Useful for designers who maintain client sites without deep DBA knowledge.

Coda vs. Alternatives

Feature	Coda 2	Nova	VS Code
Platform	Mac only	Mac only	Mac, Win, Linux
Price	Discontinued	$49/year	Free
Built-in FTP	✅	✅	⚠️ Via extension
Live preview	✅ WebKit	✅	⚠️ Via extension
Git support	✅ Basic	✅	✅ Strong
Extension ecosystem	⚠️ Small	⚠️ Growing	✅ Huge
Speed	⚠️ Moderate	✅ 40x faster	✅ Fast

Choose Nova if: You liked Coda’s integrated approach and want Panic’s modern replacement with multiple cursors, better debugging, and native Apple Silicon support.

Choose VS Code if: You want the most popular editor with thousands of extensions, cross-platform support, and active development. Trade integrated design for flexibility.

Choose Sublime Text if: You want a fast, lightweight editor with FTP plugins and prefer one-time purchase pricing over subscriptions.

Getting Started with Coda

Since Coda is no longer sold, these steps apply if you already own it or are migrating to Nova:

Step 1: Create a site

Go to Sites > New Site. Name it, then add FTP or SFTP credentials. Coda saves this as a reusable connection. Open the site and the sidebar shows your remote files. Edit any file and Coda uploads on save.

Step 2: Use Clips for faster coding

Open the Clips panel (sidebar). Clips are text snippets with placeholders. Type html and insert the HTML5 boilerplate. Tab through placeholders to fill in title, meta tags, etc. Create your own clips for repetitive code blocks.

Step 3: Enable live preview

Open Preview in the sidebar. Load any HTML file. As you edit CSS, the preview updates automatically. Use the device size buttons to test mobile layouts. Pair this with dual monitors: code on one screen, preview on another.

Coda in Your Design Workflow

Coda fits into FTP-based workflows common before Git. Here’s how it used to connect to other tools.

Before Coda: Design in Photoshop or Sketch; export images
During design: Coda for coding HTML/CSS and live preview
After Coda: Upload via Coda’s built-in FTP; site goes live immediately

Common tool pairings (for legacy workflows):

Coda + Transmit for serious file management (Transmit is also by Panic, with more FTP features)
Coda + Tower for Git version control (Coda’s Git support was basic)
Coda + Diet Coda (iPad) for mobile editing and AirPreview mirroring

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“Coda crashes on macOS Catalina or newer”

Panic released a final Coda update for Catalina compatibility but hasn’t updated it since. On Apple Silicon Macs, Coda runs under Rosetta with performance issues. If crashes persist, migrate to Nova. Nova imports your Coda sites and clips automatically.

“Live preview doesn’t update”

Make sure the preview pane is set to the correct file and that auto-refresh is enabled (gear icon in preview). If it still doesn’t work, try refreshing manually or restarting Coda. The WebKit engine sometimes stalls on complex JavaScript.

“FTP uploads are slow”

Coda uses the Transmit file transfer engine, which is fast. If uploads lag, check your internet connection or try switching from FTP to SFTP. Some servers throttle FTP connections. For large batches, use Transmit directly (it has turbo mode).

“Can’t import Coda data into Nova”

Open Nova and go through first-run setup. Nova should prompt to import from Coda 2, including sites, clips, and themes. If it doesn’t, manually export clips from Coda (File > Export) and import into Nova. Sites need manual recreation if auto-import fails.

“Should I still use Coda?”

No, unless you’re on an older Mac and can’t upgrade. Coda receives no updates and lacks modern features like multiple cursors, better autocomplete, and native ARM support. Nova is Panic’s official replacement with a migration path. For cross-platform work, switch to VS Code.