diff --git a/rascal2/app.py b/rascal2/app.py
index 7fddba1e..283192d6 100644
--- a/rascal2/app.py
+++ b/rascal2/app.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ def ui_execute(splash):
         app.setStyleSheet(style)
 
     window = MainWindowView()
+    window.check_update_dialog.check(silent=True)
     window.show()
     splash.finish(window)
 
diff --git a/rascal2/dialogs/check_update_dialog.py b/rascal2/dialogs/check_update_dialog.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6bd4a94a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rascal2/dialogs/check_update_dialog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+import json
+import logging
+import urllib.request
+from urllib.error import HTTPError, URLError
+
+from packaging.version import Version
+from PyQt6 import QtCore, QtWidgets
+
+from rascal2 import RASCAL2_VERSION
+from rascal2.core.worker import Worker
+from rascal2.settings import get_global_settings
+
+RELEASES_URL = "https://github.com/RascalSoftware/RasCAL-2/releases"
+UPDATE_URL = "https://api.github.com/repos/RascalSoftware/RasCAL-2/releases/latest"
+
+
+def get_check_on_start_setting():
+    """Get the `check_update_on_start` setting.
+
+    When loaded from file, QSetting will not cast back to boolean so this function
+    ensures the returned setting is a boolean.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    check_on_start: bool
+        Indicates if updates should be checked for  on startup
+
+    """
+    check_on_start = get_global_settings().value("check_update_on_start", True)
+    if isinstance(check_on_start, str):
+        check_on_start = check_on_start.lower() == "true"
+    return check_on_start
+
+
+class CheckUpdateDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
+    """Dialog for checking software updates.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    parent : QtWidgets.QWidget
+        The parent of this widget.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, parent):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+
+        self.startup = False
+        self.parent = parent
+        self.setFixedSize(400, 200)
+        self.setWindowTitle("Check for Update")
+
+        main_layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
+        self.setLayout(main_layout)
+
+        self.stack = QtWidgets.QStackedLayout()
+        main_layout.addLayout(self.stack)
+        self.stack.addWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget())
+        self.stack.addWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget())
+
+        progress_bar = QtWidgets.QProgressBar()
+        progress_bar.setTextVisible(False)
+        progress_bar.setMinimum(0)
+        progress_bar.setMaximum(0)
+
+        message = QtWidgets.QLabel("Checking the Internet for Updates")
+        message.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
+
+        sub_layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
+        sub_layout.addStretch(1)
+        sub_layout.addWidget(progress_bar)
+        sub_layout.addWidget(message)
+        sub_layout.addStretch(1)
+        widget = self.stack.widget(0)
+        widget.setLayout(sub_layout)
+
+        self.result = QtWidgets.QLabel("")
+        self.result.setWordWrap(True)
+        self.result.setOpenExternalLinks(True)
+        self.result.setTextFormat(QtCore.Qt.TextFormat.RichText)
+        self.result.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
+
+        checkbox = QtWidgets.QCheckBox("Check for updates on startup")
+        checkbox.setChecked(get_check_on_start_setting())
+        checkbox.stateChanged.connect(
+            lambda state: get_global_settings().setValue(
+                "check_update_on_start", state == QtCore.Qt.CheckState.Checked.value
+            )
+        )
+
+        sub_layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
+        sub_layout.addStretch(1)
+        sub_layout.addWidget(self.result)
+        sub_layout.addSpacing(10)
+        sub_layout.addWidget(checkbox)
+        sub_layout.addStretch(1)
+        widget = self.stack.widget(1)
+        widget.setLayout(sub_layout)
+
+        button_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        button_layout.addStretch(1)
+        close_button = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Close")
+        close_button.clicked.connect(self.close)
+        button_layout.addWidget(close_button)
+        main_layout.addLayout(button_layout)
+
+        self.worker = Worker(self.check_helper, [])
+        self.worker.job_succeeded.connect(self.on_success)
+        self.worker.job_failed.connect(self.on_failure)
+
+    def check(self, startup=False):
+        """Asynchronous check for new release using the GitHub release API.
+
+        The user is notified when update is found, not found or an error occurred. If startup is true, the user will
+        only be notified if update is found.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        startup : bool
+            indicates the check is happening at startup.
+        """
+        if startup and not get_check_on_start_setting():
+            return
+
+        self.startup = startup
+        if not startup:
+            self.stack.setCurrentIndex(0)
+            self.show()
+        self.worker.start()
+
+    def check_helper(self):
+        """Check for the latest release version on the GitHub repository.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        startup : str
+            The latest version tag.
+        """
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(UPDATE_URL) as response:
+            tag_name = json.loads(response.read()).get("tag_name")
+
+        return tag_name
+
+    def on_success(self, latest_version):
+        """Report the version found after successful check.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        latest_version : str
+            version tag.
+        """
+        if latest_version and Version(latest_version) > Version(RASCAL2_VERSION):
+            self.update_message(
+                f"A new version ({latest_version}) of RasCAL-2 is available. Download "
+                f'the installer from <a href="{RELEASES_URL}">{RELEASES_URL}</a>.<br/><br/>'
+            )
+            self.show()  # Always tell user of new version even if startup
+
+        else:
+            if not self.startup:
+                self.update_message("You are running the latest version of RasCAL-2.\n")
+
+    def on_failure(self, exception):
+        """Log and report error after failed check.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        exception: : Exception
+            An exception which occurred when checking for update.
+        """
+        logging.error("An error occurred while checking for updates", exc_info=exception)
+        if self.startup:
+            return
+
+        if isinstance(exception, HTTPError):
+            self.update_message("You are running the latest version of RasCAL-2.\n")
+        elif isinstance(exception, URLError):
+            self.update_message(
+                "An error occurred when attempting to connect to the update server. "
+                "Check your internet connection and/or firewall and try again.\n"
+            )
+        else:
+            self.update_message(f"An unexpected error occurred when checking for updates: {exception}\n")
+
+    def update_message(self, message):
+        """Update UI and show the given message.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        message: : str
+            A message to display.
+        """
+        self.stack.setCurrentIndex(1)
+        self.result.setText(message)
+
+    def closeEvent(self, event):
+        if self.worker.isRunning():
+            self.worker.terminate()
+        event.accept()
diff --git a/rascal2/ui/view.py b/rascal2/ui/view.py
index 54ec00a3..d1ebcc77 100644
--- a/rascal2/ui/view.py
+++ b/rascal2/ui/view.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from rascal2.config import SETTINGS
 from rascal2.core.enums import UnsavedReply
 from rascal2.dialogs.about_dialog import AboutDialog
+from rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog import CheckUpdateDialog
 from rascal2.dialogs.settings_dialog import SettingsDialog
 from rascal2.dialogs.startup_dialog import PROJECT_FILES, LoadDialog, LoadR1Dialog, NewProjectDialog, StartupDialog
 from rascal2.paths import EXAMPLES_PATH, EXAMPLES_TEMP_PATH, path_for
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.startup_dlg = StartUpWidget(self)
         self.setCentralWidget(self.startup_dlg)
 
+        self.check_update_dialog = CheckUpdateDialog(self)
         self.about_dialog = AboutDialog(self)
         self.restoreGeometry(get_global_settings().value("window_geometry", bytearray(b"")))
 
@@ -176,11 +178,14 @@ def create_actions(self):
         self.toggle_slider_action.setEnabled(False)
         self.disabled_elements.append(self.toggle_slider_action)
 
-        open_about_action = QtGui.QAction("&About", self)
-        open_about_action.setStatusTip(f"About {MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE}")
-        open_about_action.triggered.connect(self.open_about_info)
-        open_about_action.setMenuRole(QtGui.QAction.MenuRole.AboutQtRole)
-        self.open_about_action = open_about_action
+        self.check_update_action = QtGui.QAction("&Check for Updates", self)
+        self.check_update_action.setStatusTip("Check the internet for software updates")
+        self.check_update_action.triggered.connect(lambda: self.check_update_dialog.check())
+
+        self.open_about_action = QtGui.QAction("&About", self)
+        self.open_about_action.setStatusTip(f"About {MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE}")
+        self.open_about_action.triggered.connect(self.open_about_info)
+        self.open_about_action.setMenuRole(QtGui.QAction.MenuRole.AboutQtRole)
 
         self.exit_action = QtGui.QAction("E&xit", self)
         self.exit_action.setStatusTip(f"Quit {MAIN_WINDOW_TITLE}")
@@ -252,8 +257,10 @@ def create_menus(self):
         tools_menu.addAction(self.clear_terminal_action)
 
         help_menu = main_menu.addMenu("&Help")
-        help_menu.addAction(self.open_about_action)
         help_menu.addAction(self.open_help_action)
+        help_menu.addSeparator()
+        help_menu.addAction(self.check_update_action)
+        help_menu.addAction(self.open_about_action)
 
     def toggle_sliders(self):
         """Toggle sliders for the fitted parameters in project class view."""
diff --git a/rascal2/widgets/terminal.py b/rascal2/widgets/terminal.py
index 71185824..be33eb36 100644
--- a/rascal2/widgets/terminal.py
+++ b/rascal2/widgets/terminal.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from PyQt6 import QtGui, QtWidgets
 
 from rascal2 import RASCAL2_VERSION
+from rascal2.config import LOGGER
 
 
 class CustomStreamHandler(logging.StreamHandler):
@@ -56,11 +57,11 @@ def __init__(self):
 
     def add_stream_handler(self):
         """Add terminal as a stream for the log handler."""
-        logger = logging.getLogger()
+        # logger = logging.getLogger()
         log_term_handler = CustomStreamHandler(stream=self)
         term_formatting = logging.Formatter("%(levelname)s - %(message)s")
         log_term_handler.setFormatter(term_formatting)
-        logger.addHandler(log_term_handler)
+        LOGGER.addHandler(log_term_handler)
 
     def write(self, text: str):
         """Append plain text to the terminal.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 652a092c..e3e74db2 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+numpy==2.2.6
+packaging==25.0
 PyInstaller==6.9.0
 PyQt6==6.7.1
 PyQt6-Qt6==6.7.3
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index ff31b498..7ab45044 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ def mock_setting(request):
     ini_file = Path(tmp_dir.name) / "settings.ini"
     GLOBAL_SETTING = QtCore.QSettings(str(ini_file), QtCore.QSettings.Format.IniFormat)
     setting_patch = []
-    for target in ["rascal2.ui.view.get_global_settings", "rascal2.settings.get_global_settings"]:
+    for target in [
+        "rascal2.ui.view.get_global_settings",
+        "rascal2.settings.get_global_settings",
+        "rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.get_global_settings",
+    ]:
         setting_patch.append(patch(target, return_value=GLOBAL_SETTING))
         setting_patch[-1].start()
 
diff --git a/tests/dialogs/test_check_update_dialog.py b/tests/dialogs/test_check_update_dialog.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f47d1a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/dialogs/test_check_update_dialog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+from urllib.error import HTTPError, URLError
+
+import pytest
+from PyQt6 import QtWidgets
+
+from rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog import CheckUpdateDialog
+from tests.utils import TestWorker
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def update_dialog():
+    with (
+        patch("rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.logging", autospec=True) as log_mock,
+        patch("rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.Worker", TestWorker),
+    ):
+        dialog = CheckUpdateDialog(QtWidgets.QMainWindow())
+        dialog.show = Mock()
+        dialog.logger = log_mock
+
+        yield dialog
+
+
+@patch("rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.urllib.request.urlopen", autospec=True)
+def test_check_for_update(urlopen_mock, update_dialog, global_setting):
+    global_setting.setValue("check_update_on_start", False)
+    update_dialog.check(True)
+    urlopen_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    test_version = "2.0.0"
+    with patch("rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.RASCAL2_VERSION", test_version):
+        global_setting.setValue("check_update_on_start", True)
+        urlopen_mock.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = '{"tag_name":""}'
+        update_dialog.check(True)
+        update_dialog.show.assert_not_called()  # No tag so no update
+        urlopen_mock.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = '{"tag_name":"2.0.0"}'
+        update_dialog.check(True)
+        update_dialog.show.assert_not_called()  # same tag so no update
+        urlopen_mock.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = '{"tag_name":"3.0.0"}'
+        update_dialog.check(True)
+        update_dialog.show.assert_called_once()  # same tag so no update
+
+    urlopen_mock.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = '{"tag_name":"0.0.0a"}'
+    update_dialog.worker.isRunning = Mock(return_value=True)
+    update_dialog.worker.terminate = Mock()
+    update_dialog.check()
+    assert update_dialog.result.text() == "You are running the latest version of RasCAL-2.\n"
+    assert update_dialog.show.call_count == 2
+    update_dialog.close()
+    update_dialog.worker.terminate.assert_called()
+
+
+@patch("rascal2.dialogs.check_update_dialog.urllib.request.urlopen", autospec=True)
+def test_check_update_exception(urlopen_mock, update_dialog, global_setting):
+    global_setting.setValue("check_update_on_start", "True")
+    urlopen_mock.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = '{"tag_name":"2.0.0"}'
+    update_dialog.worker.side_effect = HTTPError("", 400, "", {}, None)
+    update_dialog.check(True)
+    assert update_dialog.result.text() == ""
+    assert update_dialog.logger.error.call_count == 1
+    assert update_dialog.show.call_count == 0
+
+    update_dialog.check()
+    assert update_dialog.result.text() == "You are running the latest version of RasCAL-2.\n"
+    assert update_dialog.logger.error.call_count == 2
+    assert update_dialog.show.call_count == 1
+
+    update_dialog.worker.side_effect = URLError("")
+    update_dialog.check()
+    assert update_dialog.result.text() == (
+        "An error occurred when attempting to connect to the update server. "
+        "Check your internet connection and/or firewall and try again.\n"
+    )
+    assert update_dialog.logger.error.call_count == 3
+    assert update_dialog.show.call_count == 2
+
+    update_dialog.worker.side_effect = ValueError("blah")
+    update_dialog.check()
+    assert update_dialog.result.text() == "An unexpected error occurred when checking for updates: blah\n"
+    assert update_dialog.logger.error.call_count == 4
+    assert update_dialog.show.call_count == 3
diff --git a/tests/ui/test_view.py b/tests/ui/test_view.py
index e9754f8a..e8493658 100644
--- a/tests/ui/test_view.py
+++ b/tests/ui/test_view.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def test_menu_element_present(test_view, submenu_name):
         ("&Edit", ["&Undo", "&Redo", "Undo &History"]),
         ("&Windows", ["Tile Windows", "Reset to Default", "Save Current Window Positions"]),
         ("&Tools", ["Show &Sliders", "", "Clear Terminal"]),
-        ("&Help", ["&About", "&Help"]),
+        ("&Help", ["&Help", "", "&Check for Updates", "&About"]),
     ],
 )
 def test_help_menu_actions_present(test_view, submenu_name, action_names_and_layout):
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 0a5fd8a9..0124b231 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from unittest.mock import Mock
+
 import numpy as np
 import ratapi.outputs
 
@@ -90,3 +92,38 @@ def check_bayes_fields_equal(actual_results, expected_results) -> None:
                 )
 
     assert (actual_results.chain == expected_results.chain).all()
+
+
+class TestSignal:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.call = Mock()
+
+    def connect(self, call):
+        self.call = call
+
+    def emit(self, *args):
+        self.call(*args)
+
+
+class TestWorker:
+    side_effect = None
+
+    def __init__(self, call, args, side_effect=None):
+        self.finished = TestSignal()
+        self.job_failed = TestSignal()
+        self.job_succeeded = TestSignal()
+        self.call = call
+        self.args = args
+        self.side_effect = side_effect
+        self.add_failed_args = False
+
+    def start(self):
+        result = self.call(*self.args)
+        if self.side_effect is not None:
+            if not self.add_failed_args:
+                self.job_failed.emit(self.side_effect)
+            else:
+                self.job_failed.emit(self.side_effect, self.args)
+        else:
+            self.job_succeeded.emit(result)
+        self.finished.emit()