diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/options.js b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/options.js
index 8aad95c6c9..797b1ecb59 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/options.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/options.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const presetSchema = createSchema(joi => joi.object().keys({
 }))
 
 const schema = createSchema(joi => joi.object().keys({
-  latestVersion: joi.string().regex(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+$/),
+  latestVersion: joi.string().regex(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-(alpha|beta|rc)\.\d+)?$/),
   lastChecked: joi.date().timestamp(),
   packageManager: joi.string().only(['yarn', 'npm', 'pnpm']),
   useTaobaoRegistry: joi.boolean(),
diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/util/getVersions.js b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/util/getVersions.js
index d66aede5f5..3d32c03200 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/util/getVersions.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/util/getVersions.js
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ module.exports = async function getVersions () {
     })
   }
 
+  // should also check for prerelease versions if the current one is a prerelease
+  const includePrerelease = !!semver.prerelease(local)
+
   const { latestVersion = local, lastChecked = 0 } = loadOptions()
   const cached = latestVersion
   const daysPassed = (Date.now() - lastChecked) / (60 * 60 * 1000 * 24)
@@ -26,11 +29,11 @@ module.exports = async function getVersions () {
   if (daysPassed > 1) {
     // if we haven't check for a new version in a day, wait for the check
     // before proceeding
-    latest = await getAndCacheLatestVersion(cached)
+    latest = await getAndCacheLatestVersion(cached, includePrerelease)
   } else {
     // Otherwise, do a check in the background. If the result was updated,
     // it will be used for the next 24 hours.
-    getAndCacheLatestVersion(cached)
+    getAndCacheLatestVersion(cached, includePrerelease)
     latest = cached
   }
 
@@ -42,8 +45,14 @@ module.exports = async function getVersions () {
 
 // fetch the latest version and save it on disk
 // so that it is available immediately next time
-async function getAndCacheLatestVersion (cached) {
-  const version = await pm.getRemoteVersion('vue-cli-version-marker', 'latest')
+async function getAndCacheLatestVersion (cached, includePrerelease) {
+  let version = await pm.getRemoteVersion('vue-cli-version-marker', 'latest')
+
+  if (includePrerelease) {
+    const next = await pm.getRemoteVersion('vue-cli-version-marker', 'next')
+    version = semver.gt(next, version) ? next : version
+  }
+
   if (semver.valid(version) && version !== cached) {
     saveOptions({ latestVersion: version, lastChecked: Date.now() })
     return version