diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 520b424e..01528b81 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ env.read_env()
 DOMAIN = env("DOMAIN")
 VERSION = "0.3.0"
 
+RELEASE_API = env(
+    "RELEASE_API",
+    "https://api.github.com/repos/bookwyrm-social/bookwyrm/releases/latest"
+)
+
 PAGE_LENGTH = env("PAGE_LENGTH", 15)
 DEFAULT_LANGUAGE = env("DEFAULT_LANGUAGE", "English")
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/dashboard/dashboard.html b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/dashboard/dashboard.html
index 65c666a6..45c4d22f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/dashboard/dashboard.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/dashboard/dashboard.html
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
         </a>
     </div>
     {% endif %}
+
     {% if pending_domains %}
     <div class="column">
         <a href="{% url 'settings-link-domain' %}" class="notification is-primary is-block">
@@ -59,9 +60,10 @@
         </a>
     </div>
     {% endif %}
+
     {% if not site.allow_registration and site.allow_invite_requests and invite_requests %}
     <div class="column">
-        <a href="{% url 'settings-invite-requests' %}" class="notification is-block is-success is-light">
+        <a href="{% url 'settings-invite-requests' %}" class="notification is-block is-success">
             {% blocktrans trimmed count counter=invite_requests with display_count=invite_requests|intcomma %}
             {{ display_count }} invite request
             {% plural %}
@@ -70,6 +72,16 @@
         </a>
     </div>
     {% endif %}
+
+    {% if current_version %}
+    <div class="column">
+        <a href="https://docs.joinbookwyrm.com/updating-your-instance.html" class="notification is-block is-warning" target="_blank">
+            {% blocktrans trimmed with current=current_version available=available_version %}
+            An update is available! You're running v{{ current }} and the latest release is {{ available }}.
+            {% endblocktrans %}
+        </a>
+    </div>
+    {% endif %}
 </div>
 
 <div class="block content">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/admin/dashboard.py b/bookwyrm/views/admin/dashboard.py
index 6c6ab009..9476e3ff 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/admin/dashboard.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/admin/dashboard.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """ instance overview """
 from datetime import timedelta
 from dateutil.parser import parse
+from packaging import version
 
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required, permission_required
 from django.db.models import Q
@@ -9,7 +10,9 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.decorators import method_decorator
 from django.views import View
 
-from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm import models, settings
+from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import get_data
+from bookwyrm.connectors.connector_manager import ConnectorException
 
 
 # pylint: disable= no-self-use
@@ -107,6 +110,17 @@ class Dashboard(View):
             "register_stats": register_chart.get_chart(start, end, interval),
             "works_stats": works_chart.get_chart(start, end, interval),
         }
+
+        # check version
+        try:
+            release = get_data(settings.RELEASE_API, timeout=3)
+            available_version = release.get("tag_name", None)
+            if available_version and version.parse(available_version) > version.parse(settings.VERSION):
+                data["current_version"] = settings.VERSION
+                data["available_version"] = available_version
+        except ConnectorException:
+            pass
+
         return TemplateResponse(request, "settings/dashboard/dashboard.html", data)