diff --git a/.changeset/plenty-tools-invite.md b/.changeset/plenty-tools-invite.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2884645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/plenty-tools-invite.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"create-solana-program": patch
+---
+
+Improve Solana version link script
+
+`pnpm solana:link` now also asks you to download the required Solana version if it's not already installed. Additionally, if the required Solana version is equal to or greater than `1.18.19`, the install URL will use `release.anza.xyz` instead of `release.solana.com`.
diff --git a/template/base/scripts/check-solana-version.mjs b/template/base/scripts/check-solana-version.mjs
index f0844be..28c1d19 100644
--- a/template/base/scripts/check-solana-version.mjs
+++ b/template/base/scripts/check-solana-version.mjs
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@ import { getInstalledSolanaVersion, getSolanaVersion } from './utils.mjs';
 const expectedVersion = getSolanaVersion();
 const installedVersion = await getInstalledSolanaVersion();
 
-if (installedVersion !== expectedVersion) {
+if (!installedVersion) {
+  echo(
+    chalk.red('[ ERROR ]'),
+    `No Solana installation found. Please install Solana ${expectedVersion} before proceeding.`
+  );
+  process.exit(1);
+} else if (installedVersion !== expectedVersion) {
   echo(
     chalk.yellow('[ WARNING ]'),
     `The installed Solana version ${installedVersion} does not match the expected version ${expectedVersion}.`
diff --git a/template/base/scripts/link-solana-version.mjs b/template/base/scripts/link-solana-version.mjs
index acc0a04..f92ae45 100644
--- a/template/base/scripts/link-solana-version.mjs
+++ b/template/base/scripts/link-solana-version.mjs
@@ -2,16 +2,8 @@
 import 'zx/globals';
 import { getInstalledSolanaVersion, getSolanaVersion } from './utils.mjs';
 
-const installedVersion = await getInstalledSolanaVersion();
 const expectedVersion = getSolanaVersion();
-
-if (installedVersion === expectedVersion) {
-  echo(
-    chalk.green('[ SUCCESS ]'),
-    `The expected Solana version ${expectedVersion} is installed.`
-  );
-  process.exit(0);
-}
+const installedVersion = await getInstalledSolanaVersion();
 
 const installPath = path.join(
   os.homedir(),
@@ -29,28 +21,54 @@ const releasePath = path.join(
 const activeReleasePath = path.join(installPath, 'active_release');
 const hasRelease = await fs.exists(releasePath);
 
-if (hasRelease) {
+if (!installedVersion) {
+  echo(
+    chalk.red('[ ERROR ]'),
+    `No Solana installation found. Solana ${expectedVersion} is required for this project.`
+  );
+  await askToInstallSolana(expectedVersion);
+} else if (installedVersion === expectedVersion) {
+  echo(
+    chalk.green('[ SUCCESS ]'),
+    `The expected Solana version ${expectedVersion} is installed.`
+  );
+} else if (hasRelease) {
   await $`rm -f "${activeReleasePath}"`;
   await $`ln -s "${releasePath}" "${activeReleasePath}"`;
   echo(
     chalk.green('[ SUCCESS ]'),
     `Successfully switched from Solana version ${installedVersion} to ${expectedVersion} to match the project's requirements.`
   );
-  process.exit(0);
+} else {
+  echo(
+    chalk.yellow('[ WARNING ]'),
+    `Cannot switch from Solana version ${installedVersion} to ${expectedVersion} because it is not installed.`
+  );
+  await askToInstallSolana(expectedVersion);
 }
 
-echo(
-  chalk.yellow('[ WARNING ]'),
-  `Cannot switch from Solana version ${installedVersion} to ${expectedVersion} because it is not installed.`
-);
-
-const installRelease = await question('Should we install it now? [y/N] ');
-if (installRelease === 'y') {
-  echo(`Installing Solana ${expectedVersion}...`);
-  await $`sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.solana.com/v${expectedVersion}/install)"`;
+async function askToInstallSolana(version) {
+  const installRelease = await question('Should we install it now? [y/N] ');
+  if (installRelease === 'y') {
+    await installSolana(version);
+    echo(
+      chalk.green('[ SUCCESS ]'),
+      `Successfully installed Solana version ${version}.`
+    );
+  } else {
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
 }
 
-echo(
-  chalk.green('[ SUCCESS ]'),
-  `Successfully switched from Solana version ${installedVersion} to ${expectedVersion} to match the project's requirements.`
-);
+async function installSolana(version) {
+  echo(`Installing Solana ${version}...`);
+  const cutoff = '1.18.19';
+  const isBeforeCutoff =
+    (await $`[[ "$(printf '%s\n' "${cutoff}" "${version}" | sort -V | head -n1)" = "${version}" ]] && [[ "${cutoff}" != "${version}" ]]`.quiet()
+      .exitCode) == 0;
+  if (isBeforeCutoff) {
+    await $`sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.solana.com/v${version}/install)"`;
+  } else {
+    await $`sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.anza.xyz/v${version}/install)"`;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/template/base/scripts/utils.mjs b/template/base/scripts/utils.mjs
index 274f217..44ee564 100644
--- a/template/base/scripts/utils.mjs
+++ b/template/base/scripts/utils.mjs
@@ -121,10 +121,6 @@ export async function getInstalledSolanaVersion() {
     const { stdout } = await $`solana --version`.quiet();
     return stdout.match(/(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/)?.[1];
   } catch (error) {
-    echo(
-      chalk.red('[ ERROR ]'),
-      `No Solana installation found. Please install Solana ${getSolanaVersion()} before proceeding.`
-    );
-    process.exit(1);
+    return '';
   }
 }