diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 06c123858b..f3fabec62c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ This removes the immediate connection between human emotions and version numbers
 **semantic-release** uses the commit messages to determine the consumer impact of changes in the codebase.
 Following formalized conventions for commit messages, **semantic-release** automatically determines the next [semantic version](https://semver.org) number, generates a changelog and publishes the release.
 
-By default, **semantic-release** uses [Angular Commit Message Conventions](https://github.com/angular/angular/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#-commit-message-format).
-The commit message format can be changed with the [`preset` or `config` options](docs/usage/configuration.md#options) of the [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer](https://github.com/semantic-release/commit-analyzer#options) and [@semantic-release/release-notes-generator](https://github.com/semantic-release/release-notes-generator#options) plugins.
+By default **semantic-release** uses the [Conventional Commits convention](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/). The commit message format can be changed with the [`preset` or `config` options](docs/usage/configuration.md#options) of the [@semantic-release/commit-analyzer](https://github.com/semantic-release/commit-analyzer#options) and [@semantic-release/release-notes-generator](https://github.com/semantic-release/release-notes-generator#options) plugins.
 
 Tools such as [commitizen](https://github.com/commitizen/cz-cli) or [commitlint](https://github.com/conventional-changelog/commitlint) can be used to help contributors and enforce valid commit messages.
 
diff --git a/cli.js b/cli.js
index 9040236228..23fb164789 100755
--- a/cli.js
+++ b/cli.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Usage:
     .option('r', {alias: 'repository-url', describe: 'Git repository URL', type: 'string', group: 'Options'})
     .option('t', {alias: 'tag-format', describe: 'Git tag format', type: 'string', group: 'Options'})
     .option('p', {alias: 'plugins', describe: 'Plugins', ...stringList, group: 'Options'})
+    .option('preset', {describe: 'Commit message format convention', type: 'string', group: 'Options'})
     .option('e', {alias: 'extends', describe: 'Shareable configurations', ...stringList, group: 'Options'})
     .option('ci', {describe: 'Toggle CI verifications', type: 'boolean', group: 'Options'})
     .option('verify-conditions', {...stringList, group: 'Plugins'})
diff --git a/lib/get-config.js b/lib/get-config.js
index 1f16962ac9..e2679bc96e 100644
--- a/lib/get-config.js
+++ b/lib/get-config.js
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ module.exports = async (context, cliOptions) => {
       '@semantic-release/npm',
       '@semantic-release/github',
     ],
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
     // Remove `null` and `undefined` options so they can be replaced with default ones
     ...pickBy(options, (option) => !isNil(option)),
     ...(options.branches ? {branches: castArray(options.branches)} : {}),
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 71e440d9c8..5b0ce77eee 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
         "@semantic-release/npm": "^8.0.0",
         "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator": "^10.0.0",
         "aggregate-error": "^3.0.0",
+        "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^4.6.3",
         "cosmiconfig": "^7.0.0",
         "debug": "^4.0.0",
         "env-ci": "^5.0.0",
@@ -2809,6 +2810,19 @@
         "node": ">=10"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": {
+      "version": "4.6.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits/-/conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits-4.6.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-LTTQV4fwOM4oLPad317V/QNQ1FY4Hju5qeBIM1uTHbrnCE+Eg4CdRZ3gO2pUeR+tzWdp80M2j3qFFEDWVqOV4g==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "compare-func": "^2.0.0",
+        "lodash": "^4.17.15",
+        "q": "^1.5.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=10"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/conventional-changelog-writer": {
       "version": "4.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/conventional-changelog-writer/-/conventional-changelog-writer-4.1.0.tgz",
@@ -18314,6 +18328,16 @@
         "q": "^1.5.1"
       }
     },
+    "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": {
+      "version": "4.6.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits/-/conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits-4.6.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-LTTQV4fwOM4oLPad317V/QNQ1FY4Hju5qeBIM1uTHbrnCE+Eg4CdRZ3gO2pUeR+tzWdp80M2j3qFFEDWVqOV4g==",
+      "requires": {
+        "compare-func": "^2.0.0",
+        "lodash": "^4.17.15",
+        "q": "^1.5.1"
+      }
+    },
     "conventional-changelog-writer": {
       "version": "4.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/conventional-changelog-writer/-/conventional-changelog-writer-4.1.0.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 44dd6b6b44..39fa953016 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     "@semantic-release/npm": "^8.0.0",
     "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator": "^10.0.0",
     "aggregate-error": "^3.0.0",
+    "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^4.6.3",
     "cosmiconfig": "^7.0.0",
     "debug": "^4.0.0",
     "env-ci": "^5.0.0",
diff --git a/test/get-config.test.js b/test/get-config.test.js
index 28a9ec6297..9c42693bb8 100644
--- a/test/get-config.test.js
+++ b/test/get-config.test.js
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ test('Read options from package.json', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ test('Read options from .releaserc.yml', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ test('Read options from .releaserc.json', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ test('Read options from .releaserc.js', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ test('Read options from .releaserc.cjs', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from .releaserc.cjs
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from .releaserc.cjs
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ test('Read options from release.config.js', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ test('Read options from release.config.cjs', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from release.config.cjs
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from release.config.cjs
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ test('Prioritise CLI/API parameters over file configuration and git repo', async
 
   const result = await t.context.getConfig({cwd}, options);
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['branch_cli']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['branch_cli'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from CLI/API
   t.deepEqual(result.options, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from CLI/API
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ test('Read configuration from file path in "extends"', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from shareable.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from shareable.json
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ test('Read configuration from module path in "extends"', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from shareable.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from shareable.json
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ test('Read configuration from an array of paths in "extends"', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = {...options1, ...options2, branches: ['test_branch']};
+  const expected = {...options1, ...options2, branches: ['test_branch'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'};
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from shareable1.json and shareable2.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from shareable1.json and shareable2.json
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ test('Prioritize configuration from config file over "extends"', async (t) => {
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
 
-  const expected = omit({...options1, ...pkgOptions, branches: ['test_pkg']}, 'extends');
+  const expected = omit({...options1, ...pkgOptions, branches: ['test_pkg'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'}, 'extends');
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json and shareable.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json and shareable.json
@@ -458,7 +458,10 @@ test('Prioritize configuration from cli/API options over "extends"', async (t) =
 
   const {options: result} = await t.context.getConfig({cwd}, cliOptions);
 
-  const expected = omit({...options2, ...pkgOptions, ...cliOptions, branches: ['branch_opts']}, 'extends');
+  const expected = omit(
+    {...options2, ...pkgOptions, ...cliOptions, branches: ['branch_opts'], preset: 'conventionalcommits'},
+    'extends'
+  );
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from package.json and shareable2.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from package.json and shareable2.json
@@ -492,6 +495,7 @@ test('Allow to unset properties defined in shareable config with "null"', async
     ...omit(options1, ['analyzeCommits']),
     ...omit(pkgOptions, ['extends', 'analyzeCommits']),
     plugins: DEFAULT_PLUGINS,
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
   });
   // Verify the plugins module is called with the plugin options from shareable.json and the default `plugins`
   t.deepEqual(t.context.plugins.args[0][0], {
@@ -499,6 +503,7 @@ test('Allow to unset properties defined in shareable config with "null"', async
       ...omit(options1, 'analyzeCommits'),
       ...omit(pkgOptions, ['extends', 'analyzeCommits']),
       plugins: DEFAULT_PLUGINS,
+      preset: 'conventionalcommits',
     },
     cwd,
   });
@@ -535,6 +540,7 @@ test('Allow to unset properties defined in shareable config with "undefined"', a
     ...omit(options1, 'analyzeCommits'),
     ...omit(pkgOptions, ['extends', 'analyzeCommits']),
     branches: ['test_branch'],
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
   };
   // Verify the options contains the plugin config from shareable.json
   t.deepEqual(result, expected);
@@ -577,3 +583,40 @@ test('Convert "ci" option to "noCi" when set from extended config', async (t) =>
   t.is(result.ci, false);
   t.is(result.noCi, true);
 });
+
+test('Allow to override preset', async (t) => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  const pkgOptions = {
+    preset: '1',
+  };
+  // Create package.json in repository root
+  await outputJson(path.resolve(cwd, 'package.json'), {release: pkgOptions});
+
+  const {
+    options: {preset: result},
+  } = await t.context.getConfig({cwd});
+
+  // Verify the preset contains the config from CLI/API
+  t.deepEqual(result, pkgOptions.preset);
+});
+
+test('Allow to override preset through CLI option --preset', async (t) => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  const pkgOptions = {
+    preset: '1',
+  };
+  const cliOptions = {
+    preset: '2',
+  };
+  // Create package.json in repository root
+  await outputJson(path.resolve(cwd, 'package.json'), {release: pkgOptions});
+
+  const {
+    options: {preset: result},
+  } = await t.context.getConfig({cwd}, cliOptions);
+
+  // Verify the preset contains the config from CLI/API
+  t.deepEqual(result, cliOptions.preset);
+});
diff --git a/test/index.test.js b/test/index.test.js
index d2533c4919..6f7ab94bb9 100644
--- a/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/index.test.js
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async (t) => {
     repositoryUrl,
     globalOpt: 'global',
     tagFormat: `v\${version}`,
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
   };
   const branches = [
     {
@@ -883,6 +884,7 @@ test('Call all "success" plugins even if one errors out', async (t) => {
     repositoryUrl,
     globalOpt: 'global',
     tagFormat: `v\${version}`,
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
   };
   const options = {
     ...config,
@@ -927,7 +929,12 @@ test('Log all "verifyConditions" errors', async (t) => {
   const error2 = new SemanticReleaseError('error 2', 'ERR2');
   const error3 = new SemanticReleaseError('error 3', 'ERR3');
   const fail = stub().resolves();
-  const config = {branches: [{name: 'master'}], repositoryUrl, tagFormat: `v\${version}`};
+  const config = {
+    branches: [{name: 'master'}],
+    repositoryUrl,
+    tagFormat: `v\${version}`,
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
+  };
   const options = {
     ...config,
     plugins: false,
@@ -971,7 +978,12 @@ test('Log all "verifyRelease" errors', async (t) => {
   const error1 = new SemanticReleaseError('error 1', 'ERR1');
   const error2 = new SemanticReleaseError('error 2', 'ERR2');
   const fail = stub().resolves();
-  const config = {branches: [{name: 'master'}], repositoryUrl, tagFormat: `v\${version}`};
+  const config = {
+    branches: [{name: 'master'}],
+    repositoryUrl,
+    tagFormat: `v\${version}`,
+    preset: 'conventionalcommits',
+  };
   const options = {
     ...config,
     verifyConditions: stub().resolves(),