diff --git a/docs/dev-guide/generator-api.md b/docs/dev-guide/generator-api.md
index 889b44bba5..286128ee9d 100644
--- a/docs/dev-guide/generator-api.md
+++ b/docs/dev-guide/generator-api.md
@@ -1,5 +1,44 @@
 # Generator API
 
+## cliVersion
+
+Type: `string`
+
+The version string for the **global** `@vue/cli` version that is invoking the plugin.
+
+
+## assertCliVersion
+
+- **Arguments**
+  - `{integer | string} range` - a semver range that `@vue/cli` needs to satisfy
+
+- **Usage**
+
+  While api.version can be useful in general, it's sometimes nice to just declare your version.
+  This API exposes a simple way to do that.
+
+  Nothing happens if the provided version is satified. Otherwise, an error will be thrown.
+
+
+## cliServiceVersion
+
+Type: `string`
+
+The version string for the **project local** `@vue/cli-service` version that is invoking the plugin.
+
+
+## assertCliServiceVersion
+
+- **Arguments**
+  - `{integer | string} range` - a semver range that `@vue/cli-service` needs to satisfy
+
+- **Usage**
+
+  This API exposes a simple way to declare the required project local `@vue/cli-service` version.
+
+  Nothing happens if the provided version is satified. Otherwise, an error will be thrown.
+
+
 ## resolve
 
 - **Arguments**
diff --git a/docs/dev-guide/plugin-api.md b/docs/dev-guide/plugin-api.md
index ab7ecf4c54..2e23920233 100644
--- a/docs/dev-guide/plugin-api.md
+++ b/docs/dev-guide/plugin-api.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Type: `string`
 The version string for the `@vue/cli-service` version that is loading the plugin.
 
 
-## assertVersion(range)
+## assertVersion
 
 - **Arguments**
   - `{integer | string} range` - a semver range that `@vue/cli-service` needs to satisfy
diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/GeneratorAPI.js b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/GeneratorAPI.js
index b6ac7ee8f6..9aec3478e6 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli/lib/GeneratorAPI.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli/lib/GeneratorAPI.js
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ const path = require('path')
 const merge = require('deepmerge')
 const resolve = require('resolve')
 const { isBinaryFileSync } = require('isbinaryfile')
+const semver = require('semver')
 const mergeDeps = require('./util/mergeDeps')
 const stringifyJS = require('./util/stringifyJS')
 const ConfigTransform = require('./ConfigTransform')
-const { getPluginLink, toShortPluginId } = require('@vue/cli-shared-utils')
+const { getPluginLink, toShortPluginId, loadModule } = require('@vue/cli-shared-utils')
 
 const isString = val => typeof val === 'string'
 const isFunction = val => typeof val === 'function'
@@ -71,6 +72,55 @@ class GeneratorAPI {
     return path.resolve(this.generator.context, _path)
   }
 
+  get cliVersion () {
+    return require('../package.json').version
+  }
+
+  assertCliVersion (range) {
+    if (typeof range === 'number') {
+      if (!Number.isInteger(range)) {
+        throw new Error('Expected string or integer value.')
+      }
+      range = `^${range}.0.0-0`
+    }
+    if (typeof range !== 'string') {
+      throw new Error('Expected string or integer value.')
+    }
+
+    if (semver.satisfies(this.cliVersion, range)) return
+
+    throw new Error(
+      `Require global @vue/cli "${range}", but was invoked by "${this.cliVersion}".`
+    )
+  }
+
+  get cliServiceVersion () {
+    const servicePkg = loadModule(
+      '@vue/cli-service/package.json',
+      this.generator.context
+    )
+
+    return servicePkg.version
+  }
+
+  assertCliServiceVersion (range) {
+    if (typeof range === 'number') {
+      if (!Number.isInteger(range)) {
+        throw new Error('Expected string or integer value.')
+      }
+      range = `^${range}.0.0-0`
+    }
+    if (typeof range !== 'string') {
+      throw new Error('Expected string or integer value.')
+    }
+
+    if (semver.satisfies(this.cliServiceVersion, range)) return
+
+    throw new Error(
+      `Require @vue/cli-service "${range}", but was loaded with "${this.cliServiceVersion}".`
+    )
+  }
+
   /**
    * Check if the project has a given plugin.
    *