diff --git a/plinth/app.py b/plinth/app.py
index 0cc195039..45e6e0b94 100644
--- a/plinth/app.py
+++ b/plinth/app.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ Base class for all Freedombox applications.
 """
 
 import collections
+import enum
+import sys
 
 from . import clients as clients_module
 
@@ -40,6 +42,12 @@ class App:
 
     _all_apps = collections.OrderedDict()
 
+    class SetupState(enum.Enum):
+        """Various states of app being setup."""
+        NEEDS_SETUP = 'needs-setup'
+        NEEDS_UPDATE = 'needs-update'
+        UP_TO_DATE = 'up-to-date'
+
     def __init__(self):
         """Build the app by adding components.
 
@@ -118,6 +126,51 @@ class App:
         for component in self.components.values():
             component.setup(old_version=old_version)
 
+    def get_setup_state(self) -> SetupState:
+        """Return whether the app is not setup or needs upgrade."""
+        current_version = self.get_setup_version()
+        if current_version and self.info.version <= current_version:
+            return self.SetupState.UP_TO_DATE
+
+        # If an app needs installing/updating but no setup method is available,
+        # then automatically set version.
+        #
+        # Minor violation of 'get' only discipline for convenience.
+        module = sys.modules[self.__module__]
+        if not hasattr(module, 'setup'):
+            self.set_setup_version(self.info.version)
+            return self.SetupState.UP_TO_DATE
+
+        if not current_version:
+            return self.SetupState.NEEDS_SETUP
+
+        return self.SetupState.NEEDS_UPDATE
+
+    def get_setup_version(self) -> int:
+        """Return the setup version of the app."""
+        # XXX: Optimize version gets
+        from . import models
+
+        try:
+            app_entry = models.Module.objects.get(pk=self.app_id)
+            return app_entry.setup_version
+        except models.Module.DoesNotExist:
+            return 0
+
+    def needs_setup(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether the app needs to be setup.
+
+        A simple shortcut for get_setup_state() == NEEDS_SETUP
+        """
+        return self.get_setup_state() == self.SetupState.NEEDS_SETUP
+
+    def set_setup_version(self, version: int) -> None:
+        """Set the app's setup version."""
+        from . import models
+
+        models.Module.objects.update_or_create(
+            pk=self.app_id, defaults={'setup_version': version})
+
     def enable(self):
         """Enable all the components of the app."""
         for component in self.components.values():
diff --git a/plinth/tests/test_app.py b/plinth/tests/test_app.py
index 95e95b092..759b904f0 100644
--- a/plinth/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/plinth/tests/test_app.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Test module for App, base class for all applications.
 """
 
 import collections
+import sys
 from unittest.mock import Mock, call, patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -18,6 +19,16 @@ class AppTest(App):
     app_id = 'test-app'
 
 
+class AppSetupTest(App):
+    """Sample App for testing setup operations."""
+    app_id = 'test-app-setup'
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        info = Info('test-app-setup', 3)
+        self.add(info)
+
+
 class LeaderTest(FollowerComponent):
     """Test class for using LeaderComponent in tests."""
     is_leader = True
@@ -124,6 +135,52 @@ def test_app_setup(app_with_components):
         component.setup.assert_has_calls([call(old_version=2)])
 
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_setup_state():
+    """Test retrieving the current setup state of the app."""
+    app = AppSetupTest()
+    app.info.version = 3
+    module = sys.modules[__name__]
+
+    app.set_setup_version(3)
+    assert app.get_setup_state() == App.SetupState.UP_TO_DATE
+    assert not app.needs_setup()
+
+    app.set_setup_version(0)
+    try:
+        delattr(module, 'setup')
+    except AttributeError:
+        pass
+    assert app.get_setup_state() == App.SetupState.UP_TO_DATE
+    assert not app.needs_setup()
+    assert app.get_setup_version() == 3
+
+    setattr(module, 'setup', True)
+    app.set_setup_version(0)
+    assert app.get_setup_state() == App.SetupState.NEEDS_SETUP
+    assert app.needs_setup()
+
+    app.set_setup_version(2)
+    assert app.get_setup_state() == App.SetupState.NEEDS_UPDATE
+    assert not app.needs_setup()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_get_set_setup_version():
+    """Setting and getting the setup version of the app."""
+    app = AppSetupTest()
+
+    from plinth import models
+    try:
+        models.Module.objects.get(pk=app.app_id).delete()
+    except models.Module.DoesNotExist:
+        pass
+    assert app.get_setup_version() == 0
+
+    app.set_setup_version(5)
+    assert app.get_setup_version() == 5
+
+
 def test_app_enable(app_with_components):
     """Test that enabling an app enables components."""
     app_with_components.disable()