# Accounts

> Before you can work with Wandelbots NOVA, you need a NOVA account and a license assigned to it. Learn how to create the account, get the license, and what each of them gives you access to.

Everything in Wandelbots NOVA starts with a NOVA account. The account carries your license,
owns the cloud instances you create, and grants access to the downloads. This page is a one-time
setup: once your account has a license, continue with the Quickstart.

### Step 1: Create an account

Open [NOVA Cloud](https://portal.wandelbots.io) and log into your NOVA account.
If you don't have one, use `Sign up` and follow the instructions.

### Step 2: Get a license assigned

Licenses are assigned to accounts by Wandelbots Customer Success. Provide your account email to
your Customer Success contact.

→ The lock icon next to the `Cloud instances` tab disappears once a license is assigned.

To receive information on pricing and legal terms, or to purchase a license, contact
<customersuccess@wandelbots.com>. The license types and their limits are described in
[Licenses](/nova-cloud/licenses).

### Step 3: Sign in

Log in to NOVA Cloud with the account that has the license assigned.

## What the account gives you

| Capability | Requires a license |
| - | - |
| Sign in to NOVA Cloud | No |
| [Downloads](/nova-cloud/downloads), for example the Wandelbots NOVA image | Account, and a license for some artifacts |
| Install and open Wandelbots NOVA | No |
| [Cloud instances](/nova-cloud/cloud-instances) | Yes |
| Virtual robot controllers and connecting physical robots | Yes |
| Access to a registered instance and its cells | Yes, plus a role and cell assignment |

Without a license you can still install and access Wandelbots NOVA, but you cannot use virtual
robot controllers or connect your robots to it.

## One account, one role

Each user has exactly one role in the organization: Admin, Developer, or Operator. Admins and
Developers require licensed seats, Operators do not. Your role decides what you can do, and
your cell assignments decide where you can do it. See
[Roles and permissions](/nova-cloud/roles-and-permissions) and the guide on
[managing licenses and assigning roles](/nova-cloud/guides/licensing-and-roles).

## Accounts and instances

A cloud instance belongs to the account that created it. Opening it with a different account
returns `503 Service Temporarily Unavailable`. Log in with the account that created the
instance, then open the `Cloud instances` tab to see all instances of that account.

For instances you run yourself, access works the other way around: an Admin assigns NOVA
account holders to the instance and its cells after connecting it to NOVA Cloud, see the
Quickstart.

## Next steps

- Create your first instance and connect it to NOVA Cloud in the
  [Quickstart](/nova-cloud/quickstart).
- Get the Wandelbots NOVA image and other artifacts from [Downloads](/nova-cloud/downloads).