diff --git a/.changeset/create-emdash-ux.md b/.changeset/create-emdash-ux.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b11e92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/create-emdash-ux.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"create-emdash": patch
+---
+
+Improve create-emdash CLI experience: add the EmDash branded banner, let users pick their package manager (auto-detects the one that invoked it), and ask whether to install dependencies with a spinner showing progress.
diff --git a/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts b/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
index cb479ef..51e27dc 100644
--- a/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@ const PROJECT_NAME_PATTERN = /^[a-z0-9-]+$/;
 
 const GITHUB_REPO = "emdash-cms/templates";
 
+type PackageManager = "pnpm" | "npm" | "yarn" | "bun";
+
+/** Detect which package manager invoked us, or fall back to npm */
+function detectPackageManager(): PackageManager {
+	const agent = process.env.npm_config_user_agent ?? "";
+	if (agent.startsWith("pnpm")) return "pnpm";
+	if (agent.startsWith("yarn")) return "yarn";
+	if (agent.startsWith("bun")) return "bun";
+	return "npm";
+}
+
 type Platform = "node" | "cloudflare";
 
 interface TemplateConfig {
@@ -95,7 +106,8 @@ function selectOptions<K extends string>(
 async function main() {
 	console.clear();
 
-	p.intro(`${pc.bgCyan(pc.black(" create-emdash "))}`);
+	console.log(`\n  ${pc.bold(pc.cyan("— E M D A S H —"))}\n`);
+	p.intro("Create a new EmDash project");
 
 	const projectName = await p.text({
 		message: "Project name?",
@@ -132,16 +144,16 @@ async function main() {
 	const platform = await p.select<Platform>({
 		message: "Where will you deploy?",
 		options: [
-			{
-				value: "node",
-				label: "Node.js",
-				hint: "SQLite + local file storage",
-			},
 			{
 				value: "cloudflare",
 				label: "Cloudflare Workers",
 				hint: "D1 + R2",
 			},
+			{
+				value: "node",
+				label: "Node.js",
+				hint: "SQLite + local file storage",
+			},
 		],
 		initialValue: "node",
 	});
@@ -175,6 +187,38 @@ async function main() {
 			? NODE_TEMPLATES[templateKey as NodeTemplate]
 			: CLOUDFLARE_TEMPLATES[templateKey as CloudflareTemplate];
 
+	// Step 3: pick package manager
+	const detectedPm = detectPackageManager();
+	const pm = await p.select<PackageManager>({
+		message: "Which package manager?",
+		options: [
+			{ value: "pnpm", label: "pnpm" },
+			{ value: "npm", label: "npm" },
+			{ value: "yarn", label: "yarn" },
+			{ value: "bun", label: "bun" },
+		],
+		initialValue: detectedPm,
+	});
+
+	if (p.isCancel(pm)) {
+		p.cancel("Operation cancelled.");
+		process.exit(0);
+	}
+
+	// Step 4: install dependencies?
+	const shouldInstall = await p.confirm({
+		message: "Install dependencies?",
+		initialValue: true,
+	});
+
+	if (p.isCancel(shouldInstall)) {
+		p.cancel("Operation cancelled.");
+		process.exit(0);
+	}
+
+	const installCmd = `${pm} install`;
+	const runCmd = (script: string) => (pm === "npm" ? `npm run ${script}` : `${pm} ${script}`);
+
 	const s = p.spinner();
 	s.start("Creating project...");
 
@@ -204,19 +248,25 @@ async function main() {
 
 		s.stop("Project created!");
 
-		s.start("Installing dependencies...");
-		try {
-			execSync("pnpm install", {
-				cwd: projectDir,
-				stdio: "ignore",
-			});
-			s.stop("Dependencies installed!");
-		} catch {
-			s.stop("Failed to install dependencies");
-			p.log.warn(`Run ${pc.cyan(`cd ${projectName} && pnpm install`)} manually`);
+		if (shouldInstall) {
+			s.start(`Installing dependencies with ${pc.cyan(pm)}...`);
+			try {
+				execSync(installCmd, {
+					cwd: projectDir,
+					stdio: "ignore",
+				});
+				s.stop("Dependencies installed!");
+			} catch {
+				s.stop("Failed to install dependencies");
+				p.log.warn(`Run ${pc.cyan(`cd ${projectName} && ${installCmd}`)} manually`);
+			}
 		}
 
-		p.note(`cd ${projectName}\npnpm run bootstrap\npnpm run dev`, "Next steps");
+		const steps = [`cd ${projectName}`];
+		if (!shouldInstall) steps.push(installCmd);
+		steps.push(runCmd("bootstrap"), runCmd("dev"));
+
+		p.note(steps.join("\n"), "Next steps");
 
 		p.outro(`${pc.green("Done!")} Your EmDash project is ready at ${pc.cyan(projectName)}`);
 	} catch (error) {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/ai-moderation/package.json b/packages/plugins/ai-moderation/package.json
index 69f35bb..e71ddd1 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/ai-moderation/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/ai-moderation/package.json
@@ -1,43 +1,48 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-ai-moderation",
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "AI-powered comment moderation plugin for EmDash CMS using Cloudflare Workers AI (Llama Guard)",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "src/descriptor.ts",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/descriptor.ts",
-    "./plugin": "./src/index.ts",
-    "./admin": "./src/admin.tsx"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "src"
-  ],
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "ai",
-    "moderation",
-    "comments",
-    "llama-guard"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "peerDependencies": {
-    "emdash": "workspace:*",
-    "react": "^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0",
-    "@phosphor-icons/react": "^2.1.10",
-    "@cloudflare/kumo": "^1.0.0"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {
-    "@cloudflare/workers-types": "^4.20250224.0",
-    "@types/react": "catalog:",
-    "vitest": "catalog:"
-  },
-  "scripts": {
-    "test": "vitest run",
-    "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
-  },
-  "dependencies": {},
-  "optionalDependencies": {}
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-ai-moderation",
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "AI-powered comment moderation plugin for EmDash CMS using Cloudflare Workers AI (Llama Guard)",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "src/descriptor.ts",
+	"exports": {
+		".": "./src/descriptor.ts",
+		"./plugin": "./src/index.ts",
+		"./admin": "./src/admin.tsx"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"src"
+	],
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"ai",
+		"moderation",
+		"comments",
+		"llama-guard"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"emdash": "workspace:*",
+		"react": "^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0",
+		"@phosphor-icons/react": "^2.1.10",
+		"@cloudflare/kumo": "^1.0.0"
+	},
+	"devDependencies": {
+		"@cloudflare/workers-types": "^4.20250224.0",
+		"@types/react": "catalog:",
+		"vitest": "catalog:"
+	},
+	"scripts": {
+		"test": "vitest run",
+		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"dependencies": {},
+	"optionalDependencies": {},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/ai-moderation"
+	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/api-test/package.json b/packages/plugins/api-test/package.json
index 88817f5..2a3712f 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/api-test/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/api-test/package.json
@@ -1,32 +1,37 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-api-test",
-  "private": true,
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "Test plugin that exercises all EmDash plugin APIs",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "src/index.ts",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/index.ts",
-    "./admin": "./src/admin.tsx"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "src"
-  ],
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "test",
-    "api"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "peerDependencies": {
-    "emdash": "workspace:*",
-    "react": "^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0",
-    "@phosphor-icons/react": "^2.1.10"
-  },
-  "dependencies": {},
-  "devDependencies": {},
-  "optionalDependencies": {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-api-test",
+	"private": true,
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "Test plugin that exercises all EmDash plugin APIs",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "src/index.ts",
+	"exports": {
+		".": "./src/index.ts",
+		"./admin": "./src/admin.tsx"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"src"
+	],
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"test",
+		"api"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"emdash": "workspace:*",
+		"react": "^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0",
+		"@phosphor-icons/react": "^2.1.10"
+	},
+	"dependencies": {},
+	"devDependencies": {},
+	"optionalDependencies": {},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/api-test"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugins/atproto/package.json b/packages/plugins/atproto/package.json
index a826779..68dbb7d 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/atproto/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/atproto/package.json
@@ -32,5 +32,10 @@
 	"scripts": {
 		"test": "vitest run",
 		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/atproto"
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/audit-log/package.json b/packages/plugins/audit-log/package.json
index 6e8f31d..ce29e2b 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/audit-log/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/audit-log/package.json
@@ -1,33 +1,38 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-audit-log",
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "Audit logging plugin for EmDash CMS - tracks content changes",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "src/index.ts",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/index.ts",
-    "./sandbox": "./src/sandbox-entry.ts"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "src"
-  ],
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "audit",
-    "logging",
-    "history"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "dependencies": {},
-  "peerDependencies": {
-    "emdash": "workspace:*"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {},
-  "scripts": {
-    "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
-  },
-  "optionalDependencies": {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-audit-log",
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "Audit logging plugin for EmDash CMS - tracks content changes",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "src/index.ts",
+	"exports": {
+		".": "./src/index.ts",
+		"./sandbox": "./src/sandbox-entry.ts"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"src"
+	],
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"audit",
+		"logging",
+		"history"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"dependencies": {},
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"emdash": "workspace:*"
+	},
+	"devDependencies": {},
+	"scripts": {
+		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"optionalDependencies": {},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/audit-log"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugins/color/package.json b/packages/plugins/color/package.json
index ce4f444..b467bc9 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/color/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/color/package.json
@@ -30,5 +30,10 @@
 	},
 	"scripts": {
 		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/color"
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/embeds/package.json b/packages/plugins/embeds/package.json
index 84beab6..47676a0 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/embeds/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/embeds/package.json
@@ -1,37 +1,42 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-embeds",
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "Embed blocks for EmDash CMS - YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, and more",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "src/index.ts",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/index.ts",
-    "./astro": "./src/astro/index.ts"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "src"
-  ],
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "embed",
-    "youtube",
-    "vimeo",
-    "twitter",
-    "bluesky"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "peerDependencies": {
-    "astro": ">=6.0.0-beta.0",
-    "emdash": "workspace:*"
-  },
-  "dependencies": {
-    "@emdash-cms/blocks": "workspace:*",
-    "astro-embed": "^0.12.0"
-  },
-  "scripts": {
-    "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
-  }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-embeds",
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "Embed blocks for EmDash CMS - YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, and more",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "src/index.ts",
+	"exports": {
+		".": "./src/index.ts",
+		"./astro": "./src/astro/index.ts"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"src"
+	],
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"embed",
+		"youtube",
+		"vimeo",
+		"twitter",
+		"bluesky"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"astro": ">=6.0.0-beta.0",
+		"emdash": "workspace:*"
+	},
+	"dependencies": {
+		"@emdash-cms/blocks": "workspace:*",
+		"astro-embed": "^0.12.0"
+	},
+	"scripts": {
+		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/embeds"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugins/forms/package.json b/packages/plugins/forms/package.json
index 6e2dd53..8409d45 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/forms/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/forms/package.json
@@ -36,5 +36,10 @@
 	},
 	"scripts": {
 		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/forms"
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/marketplace-test/package.json b/packages/plugins/marketplace-test/package.json
index 357db00..0c5fd84 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/marketplace-test/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/marketplace-test/package.json
@@ -35,5 +35,10 @@
 	"devDependencies": {
 		"tsdown": "catalog:",
 		"typescript": "catalog:"
+	},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/marketplace-test"
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/sandboxed-test/package.json b/packages/plugins/sandboxed-test/package.json
index 9c1d9ce..51f0792 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/sandboxed-test/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/sandboxed-test/package.json
@@ -1,41 +1,46 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-sandboxed-test",
-  "private": true,
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "Test plugin for sandboxed plugin system",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "dist/index.mjs",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": {
-      "import": "./dist/index.mjs",
-      "types": "./dist/index.d.mts"
-    },
-    "./sandbox": "./dist/sandbox-entry.mjs"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "dist"
-  ],
-  "scripts": {
-    "build": "tsdown src/index.ts src/sandbox-entry.ts --format esm --dts --clean",
-    "dev": "tsdown src/index.ts src/sandbox-entry.ts --format esm --dts --watch",
-    "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
-  },
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "test",
-    "sandbox"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "dependencies": {
-    "emdash": "workspace:*"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {
-    "tsdown": "catalog:",
-    "typescript": "catalog:"
-  },
-  "peerDependencies": {},
-  "optionalDependencies": {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-sandboxed-test",
+	"private": true,
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "Test plugin for sandboxed plugin system",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "dist/index.mjs",
+	"exports": {
+		".": {
+			"import": "./dist/index.mjs",
+			"types": "./dist/index.d.mts"
+		},
+		"./sandbox": "./dist/sandbox-entry.mjs"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"dist"
+	],
+	"scripts": {
+		"build": "tsdown src/index.ts src/sandbox-entry.ts --format esm --dts --clean",
+		"dev": "tsdown src/index.ts src/sandbox-entry.ts --format esm --dts --watch",
+		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"test",
+		"sandbox"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"dependencies": {
+		"emdash": "workspace:*"
+	},
+	"devDependencies": {
+		"tsdown": "catalog:",
+		"typescript": "catalog:"
+	},
+	"peerDependencies": {},
+	"optionalDependencies": {},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/sandboxed-test"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugins/webhook-notifier/package.json b/packages/plugins/webhook-notifier/package.json
index 7a5d074..f47dfdb 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/webhook-notifier/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugins/webhook-notifier/package.json
@@ -1,33 +1,38 @@
 {
-  "name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-webhook-notifier",
-  "version": "0.0.2",
-  "description": "Webhook notification plugin for EmDash CMS - posts to external URLs on content changes",
-  "type": "module",
-  "main": "src/index.ts",
-  "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/index.ts",
-    "./sandbox": "./src/sandbox-entry.ts"
-  },
-  "files": [
-    "src"
-  ],
-  "keywords": [
-    "emdash",
-    "cms",
-    "plugin",
-    "webhook",
-    "notifications",
-    "integration"
-  ],
-  "author": "Matt Kane",
-  "license": "MIT",
-  "peerDependencies": {
-    "emdash": "workspace:*"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {},
-  "scripts": {
-    "typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
-  },
-  "dependencies": {},
-  "optionalDependencies": {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	"name": "@emdash-cms/plugin-webhook-notifier",
+	"version": "0.0.2",
+	"description": "Webhook notification plugin for EmDash CMS - posts to external URLs on content changes",
+	"type": "module",
+	"main": "src/index.ts",
+	"exports": {
+		".": "./src/index.ts",
+		"./sandbox": "./src/sandbox-entry.ts"
+	},
+	"files": [
+		"src"
+	],
+	"keywords": [
+		"emdash",
+		"cms",
+		"plugin",
+		"webhook",
+		"notifications",
+		"integration"
+	],
+	"author": "Matt Kane",
+	"license": "MIT",
+	"peerDependencies": {
+		"emdash": "workspace:*"
+	},
+	"devDependencies": {},
+	"scripts": {
+		"typecheck": "tsgo --noEmit"
+	},
+	"dependencies": {},
+	"optionalDependencies": {},
+	"repository": {
+		"type": "git",
+		"url": "git+https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash.git",
+		"directory": "packages/plugins/webhook-notifier"
+	}
+}