diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 6041f6e0..f4a641b3 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -20,4 +20,5 @@
 - [ ] There are no (new) build warnings or errors
 - [ ] _(If a new config option is added)_ Attribute is outlined in the schema and documented
 - [ ] _(If a new dependency is added)_ Package is essential, and has been checked out for security or performance
+- [ ] Bumps version, if new feature added
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2dc77a18..a7c219ed 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "Dashy",
-  "version": "1.4.3",
+  "version": "1.4.4",
   "license": "MIT",
   "main": "server",
   "scripts": {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "pm2-start": "npx pm2 start server.js",
     "build-watch": "vue-cli-service build --watch --mode production",
     "build-and-start": "npm-run-all --parallel build-watch start",
-    "validate-config": "node src/utils/ConfigValidator",
+    "validate-config": "node services/config-validator",
     "health-check": "node services/healthcheck"
   },
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 102cbb25..ee74ea37 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ const dns = require('dns');
 const os = require('os');
 const bodyParser = require('body-parser');
 
+/* Kick of some basic checks */
+require('./services/update-checker'); // Checks if there are any updates available, prints message
+require('./services/config-validator'); // Include and kicks off the config file validation script
+
 /* Include helper functions and route handlers */
 const pingUrl = require('./services/ping'); // Used by the status check feature, to ping services
 const saveConfig = require('./services/save-config'); // Saves users new conf.yml to file-system
 const printMessage = require('./services/print-message'); // Function to print welcome msg on start
 const rebuild = require('./services/rebuild-app'); // A script to programmatically trigger a build
-require('./src/utils/ConfigValidator'); // Include and kicks off the config file validation script
 
 /* Checks if app is running within a container, from env var */
 const isDocker = !!process.env.IS_DOCKER;
diff --git a/src/utils/ConfigValidator.js b/services/config-validator.js
similarity index 89%
rename from src/utils/ConfigValidator.js
rename to services/config-validator.js
index 5f9bfdb6..bc6545e3 100644
--- a/src/utils/ConfigValidator.js
+++ b/services/config-validator.js
@@ -4,14 +4,16 @@ const Ajv = require('ajv');
 const yaml = require('js-yaml');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
-const schema = require('./ConfigSchema.json');
+const schema = require('../src/utils/ConfigSchema.json');
 
+/* Tell AJV to use strict mode, and report all errors */
 const validatorOptions = {
   strict: true,
   allowUnionTypes: true,
   allErrors: true,
 };
 
+/* Initiate AJV validator */
 const ajv = new Ajv(validatorOptions);
 
 /* Message printed when validation was successful */
@@ -58,13 +60,13 @@ const validate = (config) => {
 try {
   const config = yaml.load(fs.readFileSync('./public/conf.yml', 'utf8'));
   validate(config);
-} catch (e) {
+} catch (e) { // Something went very wrong...
   setIsValidVariable(false);
   console.log(bigError());
   console.log('Please ensure that your config file is present, '
     + 'has the correct access rights and is parsable. '
     + 'If this warning persists, it may be an issue with the '
     + 'validator function. Please raise an issue, and include the following stack trace:\n');
-  console.warn('\x1b[33mStack Trace for ConfigValidators.js:\x1b[0m\n', e);
+  console.warn('\x1b[33mStack Trace for config-validator.js:\x1b[0m\n', e);
   console.log('\n\n');
 }
diff --git a/services/update-checker.js b/services/update-checker.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c55492fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/update-checker.js
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+const axios = require('axios').default;
+
+const currentVersion = require('../package.json').version;
+
+const packageUrl = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Lissy93/dashy/master/package.json';
+
+const makeMsg = (latestVersion) => {
+  const parse = (version) => parseInt(version.replaceAll('.', ''), 10);
+  const difference = parse(latestVersion) - parse(currentVersion);
+  let msg = '';
+  if (difference <= 0) {
+    msg = '\x1b[1m\x1b[32m✅ Dashy is Up-to-Date\x1b[0m\n';
+  } else {
+    msg = `\x1b[103m\x1b[34m${new Array(27).fill('━').join('')}\x1b[0m\n`
+      + `\x1b[103m\x1b[34m⚠️ Update Available: ${latestVersion} \x1b[0m\n`
+      + `\x1b[103m\x1b[34m${new Array(27).fill('━').join('')}\x1b[0m\n`;
+  }
+  return msg;
+};
+
+axios.get(packageUrl).then((response) => {
+  if (response && response.data && response.data.version) {
+    console.log(`\nUsing Dashy V-${currentVersion}. Update Check Complete`);
+    console.log(makeMsg(response.data.version));
+  }
+}).catch(() => {
+  console.log('Unable to check for updates');
+});
diff --git a/src/utils/ConfigSchema.json b/src/utils/ConfigSchema.json
index bb7a04d1..c07d1e95 100644
--- a/src/utils/ConfigSchema.json
+++ b/src/utils/ConfigSchema.json
@@ -244,6 +244,11 @@
           "type": "boolean",
           "default": false,
           "description": "If set to true, custom right-click context menu will be disabled"
+        },
+        "disableUpdateChecks": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "default": false,
+          "description": "Prevents Dashy from checking for updates"
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false