diff --git a/e2e/__tests__/init.test.js b/e2e/__tests__/init.test.js
index 08cd0f780..d8760d17b 100644
--- a/e2e/__tests__/init.test.js
+++ b/e2e/__tests__/init.test.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ test('init --template', () => {
     'TestInit',
   ]);
 
-  expect(stdout).toContain('Initializing new project from external template');
+  expect(stdout).toContain('Welcome to React Native!');
   expect(stdout).toContain('Run instructions');
 
   // make sure we don't leave garbage
diff --git a/packages/cli/package.json b/packages/cli/package.json
index e1a7fcfdf..4a7684e49 100644
--- a/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
     "node-fetch": "^2.2.0",
     "node-notifier": "^5.2.1",
     "opn": "^3.0.2",
+    "ora": "^3.4.0",
     "plist": "^3.0.0",
     "semver": "^5.0.3",
     "serve-static": "^1.13.1",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/cliEntry.js b/packages/cli/src/cliEntry.js
index fded0f87f..af2827b28 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/cliEntry.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/cliEntry.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {getCommands} from './commands';
 import init from './commands/init/initCompat';
 import assertRequiredOptions from './tools/assertRequiredOptions';
 import logger from './tools/logger';
-import {setProjectDir} from './tools/PackageManager';
+import {setProjectDir} from './tools/packageManager';
 import pkgJson from '../package.json';
 import loadConfig from './tools/config';
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/__tests__/template.test.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/__tests__/template.test.js
index 657a2ca1f..829dcd2f6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/__tests__/template.test.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/__tests__/template.test.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // @flow
+jest.mock('execa', () => jest.fn());
+import execa from 'execa';
 import path from 'path';
-import ChildProcess from 'child_process';
-import * as PackageManger from '../../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManger from '../../../tools/packageManager';
 import {
   installTemplatePackage,
   getTemplateConfig,
@@ -14,15 +15,17 @@ const TEMPLATE_NAME = 'templateName';
 
 afterEach(() => {
   jest.restoreAllMocks();
+  jest.clearAllMocks();
 });
 
-test('installTemplatePackage', () => {
+test('installTemplatePackage', async () => {
   jest.spyOn(PackageManger, 'install').mockImplementationOnce(() => {});
 
-  installTemplatePackage(TEMPLATE_NAME, true);
+  await installTemplatePackage(TEMPLATE_NAME, true);
 
   expect(PackageManger.install).toHaveBeenCalledWith([TEMPLATE_NAME], {
     preferYarn: false,
+    silent: true,
   });
 });
 
@@ -68,21 +71,20 @@ test('copyTemplate', () => {
   expect(copyFiles.default).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(String), CWD);
 });
 
-test('executePostInitScript', () => {
+test('executePostInitScript', async () => {
   const RESOLVED_PATH = '/some/path/script.js';
   const SCRIPT_PATH = './script.js';
 
   jest.spyOn(path, 'resolve').mockImplementationOnce(() => RESOLVED_PATH);
-  jest.spyOn(ChildProcess, 'execFileSync').mockImplementationOnce(() => {});
 
-  executePostInitScript(TEMPLATE_NAME, SCRIPT_PATH);
+  await executePostInitScript(TEMPLATE_NAME, SCRIPT_PATH);
 
   expect(path.resolve).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
     'node_modules',
     TEMPLATE_NAME,
     SCRIPT_PATH,
   );
-  expect(ChildProcess.execFileSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(RESOLVED_PATH, {
+  expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(RESOLVED_PATH, {
     stdio: 'inherit',
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/banner.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/banner.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf865302d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/banner.js
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// @flow
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+
+const reactLogoArray = [
+  '                                                          ',
+  '               ######                ######               ',
+  '             ###     ####        ####     ###             ',
+  '            ##          ###    ###          ##            ',
+  '            ##             ####             ##            ',
+  '            ##             ####             ##            ',
+  '            ##           ##    ##           ##            ',
+  '            ##         ###      ###         ##            ',
+  '             ##  ########################  ##             ',
+  '          ######    ###            ###    ######          ',
+  '      ###     ##    ##              ##    ##     ###      ',
+  '   ###         ## ###      ####      ### ##         ###   ',
+  '  ##           ####      ########      ####           ##  ',
+  ' ##             ###     ##########     ###             ## ',
+  '  ##           ####      ########      ####           ##  ',
+  '   ###         ## ###      ####      ### ##         ###   ',
+  '      ###     ##    ##              ##    ##     ###      ',
+  '          ######    ###            ###    ######          ',
+  '             ##  ########################  ##             ',
+  '            ##         ###      ###         ##            ',
+  '            ##           ##    ##           ##            ',
+  '            ##             ####             ##            ',
+  '            ##             ####             ##            ',
+  '            ##          ###    ###          ##            ',
+  '             ###     ####        ####     ###             ',
+  '               ######                ######               ',
+  '                                                          ',
+];
+
+const welcomeMessage =
+  '                  Welcome to React Native!                ';
+const learnOnceMessage =
+  '                 Learn Once Write Anywhere                ';
+
+export default `${chalk.blue(reactLogoArray.join('\n'))}
+
+${chalk.yellow.bold(welcomeMessage)}
+${chalk.gray(learnOnceMessage)}
+`;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
index 24c8b965a..e39421d70 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ import {
   executePostInitScript,
 } from './template';
 import {changePlaceholderInTemplate} from './editTemplate';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import {processTemplateName} from './templateName';
+import banner from './banner';
+import {getLoader} from '../../tools/loader';
 
 type Options = {|
   template?: string,
@@ -39,21 +41,46 @@ async function createFromExternalTemplate(
   templateName: string,
   npm?: boolean,
 ) {
-  logger.info('Initializing new project from external template');
+  logger.debug('Initializing new project from external template');
+  logger.log(banner);
 
-  let {uri, name} = await processTemplateName(templateName);
+  const Loader = getLoader();
 
-  installTemplatePackage(uri, npm);
-  name = adjustNameIfUrl(name);
-  const templateConfig = getTemplateConfig(name);
-  copyTemplate(name, templateConfig.templateDir);
-  changePlaceholderInTemplate(projectName, templateConfig.placeholderName);
+  const loader = new Loader({text: 'Downloading template'});
+  loader.start();
 
-  if (templateConfig.postInitScript) {
-    executePostInitScript(name, templateConfig.postInitScript);
-  }
+  try {
+    let {uri, name} = await processTemplateName(templateName);
+
+    await installTemplatePackage(uri, npm);
+    loader.succeed();
+    loader.start('Copying template');
+
+    name = adjustNameIfUrl(name);
+    const templateConfig = getTemplateConfig(name);
+    copyTemplate(name, templateConfig.templateDir);
+
+    loader.succeed();
+    loader.start('Preparing template');
 
-  PackageManager.installAll({preferYarn: !npm});
+    changePlaceholderInTemplate(projectName, templateConfig.placeholderName);
+
+    loader.succeed();
+    const {postInitScript} = templateConfig;
+    if (postInitScript) {
+      // Leaving trailing space because there may be stdout from the script
+      loader.start('Executing post init script ');
+      await executePostInitScript(name, postInitScript);
+      loader.succeed();
+    }
+
+    loader.start('Installing all required dependencies');
+    await PackageManager.installAll({preferYarn: !npm, silent: true});
+    loader.succeed();
+  } catch (e) {
+    loader.fail();
+    throw new Error(e);
+  }
 }
 
 async function createFromReactNativeTemplate(
@@ -61,28 +88,52 @@ async function createFromReactNativeTemplate(
   version: string,
   npm?: boolean,
 ) {
-  logger.info('Initializing new project');
+  logger.debug('Initializing new project');
+  logger.log(banner);
 
-  if (semver.valid(version) && !semver.satisfies(version, '0.60.0')) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Cannot use React Native CLI to initialize project with version less than 0.60.0',
-    );
-  }
+  const Loader = getLoader();
+  const loader = new Loader({text: 'Downloading template'});
+  loader.start();
 
-  const TEMPLATE_NAME = 'react-native';
+  try {
+    if (semver.valid(version) && !semver.gte(version, '0.60.0')) {
+      throw new Error(
+        'Cannot use React Native CLI to initialize project with version less than 0.60.0',
+      );
+    }
 
-  const {uri} = await processTemplateName(`${TEMPLATE_NAME}@${version}`);
+    const TEMPLATE_NAME = 'react-native';
 
-  installTemplatePackage(uri, npm);
-  const templateConfig = getTemplateConfig(TEMPLATE_NAME);
-  copyTemplate(TEMPLATE_NAME, templateConfig.templateDir);
-  changePlaceholderInTemplate(projectName, templateConfig.placeholderName);
+    const {uri} = await processTemplateName(`${TEMPLATE_NAME}@${version}`);
 
-  if (templateConfig.postInitScript) {
-    executePostInitScript(TEMPLATE_NAME, templateConfig.postInitScript);
-  }
+    await installTemplatePackage(uri, npm);
+
+    loader.succeed();
+    loader.start('Copying template');
+
+    const templateConfig = getTemplateConfig(TEMPLATE_NAME);
+    copyTemplate(TEMPLATE_NAME, templateConfig.templateDir);
 
-  PackageManager.installAll({preferYarn: !npm});
+    loader.succeed();
+    loader.start('Processing template');
+
+    changePlaceholderInTemplate(projectName, templateConfig.placeholderName);
+
+    loader.succeed();
+    const {postInitScript} = templateConfig;
+    if (postInitScript) {
+      loader.start('Executing post init script');
+      await executePostInitScript(TEMPLATE_NAME, postInitScript);
+      loader.succeed();
+    }
+
+    loader.start('Installing all required dependencies');
+    await PackageManager.installAll({preferYarn: !npm, silent: true});
+    loader.succeed();
+  } catch (e) {
+    loader.fail();
+    throw new Error(e);
+  }
 }
 
 function createProject(projectName: string, options: Options, version: string) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/initCompat.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/initCompat.js
index 4d059f29d..9c18fca00 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/initCompat.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/initCompat.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import path from 'path';
 import process from 'process';
 import printRunInstructions from './printRunInstructions';
 import {createProjectFromTemplate} from '../../tools/generator/templates';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import logger from '../../tools/logger';
 
 /**
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import logger from '../../tools/logger';
  * @param options Command line options passed from the react-native-cli directly.
  *                E.g. `{ version: '0.43.0', template: 'navigation' }`
  */
-function initCompat(projectDir, argsOrName) {
+async function initCompat(projectDir, argsOrName) {
   const args = Array.isArray(argsOrName)
     ? argsOrName // argsOrName was e.g. ['AwesomeApp', '--verbose']
     : [argsOrName].concat(process.argv.slice(4)); // argsOrName was e.g. 'AwesomeApp'
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function initCompat(projectDir, argsOrName) {
   const options = minimist(args);
 
   logger.info(`Setting up new React Native app in ${projectDir}`);
-  generateProject(projectDir, newProjectName, options);
+  await generateProject(projectDir, newProjectName, options);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ function initCompat(projectDir, argsOrName) {
  * @param Absolute path at which the project folder should be created.
  * @param options Command line arguments parsed by minimist.
  */
-function generateProject(destinationRoot, newProjectName, options) {
+async function generateProject(destinationRoot, newProjectName, options) {
   const pkgJson = require('react-native/package.json');
   const reactVersion = pkgJson.peerDependencies.react;
 
-  PackageManager.setProjectDir(destinationRoot);
-  createProjectFromTemplate(
+  await PackageManager.setProjectDir(destinationRoot);
+  await createProjectFromTemplate(
     destinationRoot,
     newProjectName,
     options.template,
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ function generateProject(destinationRoot, newProjectName, options) {
   );
 
   logger.info('Adding required dependencies');
-  PackageManager.install([`react@${reactVersion}`]);
+  await PackageManager.install([`react@${reactVersion}`]);
 
   logger.info('Adding required dev dependencies');
-  PackageManager.installDev([
+  await PackageManager.installDev([
     '@babel/core',
     '@babel/runtime',
     '@react-native-community/eslint-config',
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/template.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/template.js
index dd7180ece..ef5066c55 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/template.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/template.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // @flow
-import {execFileSync} from 'child_process';
+
+import execa from 'execa';
 import path from 'path';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import logger from '../../tools/logger';
 import copyFiles from '../../tools/copyFiles';
 
@@ -13,7 +14,10 @@ export type TemplateConfig = {
 
 export function installTemplatePackage(templateName: string, npm?: boolean) {
   logger.debug(`Installing template from ${templateName}`);
-  PackageManager.install([templateName], {preferYarn: !npm});
+  return PackageManager.install([templateName], {
+    preferYarn: !npm,
+    silent: true,
+  });
 }
 
 export function getTemplateConfig(templateName: string): TemplateConfig {
@@ -44,5 +48,5 @@ export function executePostInitScript(
 
   logger.debug(`Executing post init script located ${scriptPath}`);
 
-  execFileSync(scriptPath, {stdio: 'inherit'});
+  return execa(scriptPath, {stdio: 'inherit'});
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/install/install.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/install/install.js
index ffcb7f0df..f5c00ff15 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/install/install.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/install/install.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import type {ContextT} from '../../tools/types.flow';
 import logger from '../../tools/logger';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import link from '../link/link';
 import loadConfig from '../../tools/config';
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ async function install(args: Array<string>, ctx: ContextT) {
   const name = args[0];
 
   logger.info(`Installing "${name}"...`);
-  PackageManager.install([name]);
+  await PackageManager.install([name]);
 
   // Reload configuration to see newly installed dependency
   const newConfig = loadConfig();
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/install/uninstall.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/install/uninstall.js
index 654c594a8..d0b70ed8a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/install/uninstall.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/install/uninstall.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import type {ContextT} from '../../tools/types.flow';
 import logger from '../../tools/logger';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import link from '../link/unlink';
 
 async function uninstall(args: Array<string>, ctx: ContextT) {
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ async function uninstall(args: Array<string>, ctx: ContextT) {
   await link.func([name], ctx);
 
   logger.info(`Uninstalling "${name}"...`);
-  PackageManager.uninstall([name]);
+  await PackageManager.uninstall([name]);
 
   logger.success(`Successfully uninstalled and unlinked "${name}"`);
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/__tests__/upgrade.test.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/__tests__/upgrade.test.js
index 4e91f187d..812156fa6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/__tests__/upgrade.test.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/__tests__/upgrade.test.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jest.mock(
   () => ({name: 'TestApp', dependencies: {'react-native': '^0.57.8'}}),
   {virtual: true},
 );
-jest.mock('../../../tools/PackageManager', () => ({
+jest.mock('../../../tools/packageManager', () => ({
   install: args => {
     mockPushLog('$ yarn add', ...args);
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/upgrade.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/upgrade.js
index 148cfd99b..514041a12 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/upgrade.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/upgrade/upgrade.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import semver from 'semver';
 import execa from 'execa';
 import type {ContextT} from '../../tools/types.flow';
 import logger from '../../tools/logger';
-import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../../tools/packageManager';
 import {fetch} from '../../tools/fetch';
 import legacyUpgrade from './legacyUpgrade';
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ const installDeps = async (newVersion, projectDir) => {
     `react-native@${newVersion}`,
     ...Object.keys(peerDeps).map(module => `${module}@${peerDeps[module]}`),
   ];
-  PackageManager.install(deps, {
+  await PackageManager.install(deps, {
     silent: true,
   });
   await execa('git', ['add', 'package.json']);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/PackageManager-test.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/packageManager-test.js
similarity index 54%
rename from packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/PackageManager-test.js
rename to packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/packageManager-test.js
index 33c4ce210..647daea21 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/PackageManager-test.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/__tests__/packageManager-test.js
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 // @flow
-import ChildProcess from 'child_process';
-import * as PackageManager from '../PackageManager';
+jest.mock('execa', () => jest.fn());
+import execa from 'execa';
 import * as yarn from '../yarn';
+import logger from '../logger';
+import * as PackageManager from '../packageManager';
 
 const PACKAGES = ['react', 'react-native'];
 const EXEC_OPTS = {stdio: 'inherit'};
 const PROJECT_ROOT = '/some/dir';
 
-beforeEach(() => {
-  jest.spyOn(ChildProcess, 'execSync').mockImplementation(() => {});
-});
 afterEach(() => {
-  (ChildProcess.execSync: any).mockRestore();
+  jest.resetAllMocks();
 });
 
 describe('yarn', () => {
@@ -19,22 +18,22 @@ describe('yarn', () => {
     jest
       .spyOn(yarn, 'getYarnVersionIfAvailable')
       .mockImplementation(() => true);
+
+    jest.spyOn(logger, 'isVerbose').mockImplementation(() => false);
   });
 
   it('should install', () => {
     PackageManager.install(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: true});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'yarn add react react-native',
-      EXEC_OPTS,
-    );
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith('yarn', ['add', ...PACKAGES], EXEC_OPTS);
   });
 
   it('should installDev', () => {
     PackageManager.installDev(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: true});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'yarn add -D react react-native',
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'yarn',
+      ['add', '-D', ...PACKAGES],
       EXEC_OPTS,
     );
   });
@@ -42,8 +41,9 @@ describe('yarn', () => {
   it('should uninstall', () => {
     PackageManager.uninstall(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: true});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'yarn remove react react-native',
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'yarn',
+      ['remove', ...PACKAGES],
       EXEC_OPTS,
     );
   });
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ describe('npm', () => {
   it('should install', () => {
     PackageManager.install(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: false});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'npm install react react-native --save --save-exact',
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'npm',
+      ['install', ...PACKAGES, '--save', '--save-exact'],
       EXEC_OPTS,
     );
   });
@@ -62,8 +63,9 @@ describe('npm', () => {
   it('should installDev', () => {
     PackageManager.installDev(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: false});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'npm install react react-native --save-dev --save-exact',
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'npm',
+      ['install', ...PACKAGES, '--save-dev', '--save-exact'],
       EXEC_OPTS,
     );
   });
@@ -71,8 +73,9 @@ describe('npm', () => {
   it('should uninstall', () => {
     PackageManager.uninstall(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: false});
 
-    expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'npm uninstall react react-native --save',
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'npm',
+      ['uninstall', ...PACKAGES, '--save'],
       EXEC_OPTS,
     );
   });
@@ -82,8 +85,9 @@ it('should use npm if yarn is not available', () => {
   jest.spyOn(yarn, 'getYarnVersionIfAvailable').mockImplementation(() => false);
   PackageManager.install(PACKAGES, {preferYarn: true});
 
-  expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-    'npm install react react-native --save --save-exact',
+  expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    'npm',
+    ['install', ...PACKAGES, '--save', '--save-exact'],
     EXEC_OPTS,
   );
 });
@@ -94,8 +98,9 @@ it('should use npm if project is not using yarn', () => {
   PackageManager.setProjectDir(PROJECT_ROOT);
   PackageManager.install(PACKAGES);
 
-  expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-    'npm install react react-native --save --save-exact',
+  expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    'npm',
+    ['install', ...PACKAGES, '--save', '--save-exact'],
     EXEC_OPTS,
   );
   expect(yarn.isProjectUsingYarn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(PROJECT_ROOT);
@@ -108,9 +113,23 @@ it('should use yarn if project is using yarn', () => {
   PackageManager.setProjectDir(PROJECT_ROOT);
   PackageManager.install(PACKAGES);
 
-  expect(ChildProcess.execSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-    'yarn add react react-native',
-    EXEC_OPTS,
-  );
+  expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith('yarn', ['add', ...PACKAGES], EXEC_OPTS);
   expect(yarn.isProjectUsingYarn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(PROJECT_ROOT);
 });
+
+test.each([[false, 'pipe'], [true, 'inherit']])(
+  'when verbose is set to %s should use "%s" stdio',
+  (isVerbose: boolean, stdioType: string) => {
+    jest
+      .spyOn(yarn, 'getYarnVersionIfAvailable')
+      .mockImplementation(() => true);
+    jest.spyOn(yarn, 'isProjectUsingYarn').mockImplementation(() => true);
+    jest.spyOn(logger, 'isVerbose').mockImplementation(() => isVerbose);
+
+    PackageManager.install(PACKAGES, {silent: true});
+
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledWith('yarn', ['add', ...PACKAGES], {
+      stdio: stdioType,
+    });
+  },
+);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/generator/templates.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/generator/templates.js
index b771efa72..460cdead2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/generator/templates.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/generator/templates.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
 import copyProjectTemplateAndReplace from './copyProjectTemplateAndReplace';
 import logger from '../logger';
-import * as PackageManager from '../PackageManager';
+import * as PackageManager from '../packageManager';
 
 /**
  * @param destPath Create the new project at this path.
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import * as PackageManager from '../PackageManager';
  * @param yarnVersion Version of yarn available on the system, or null if
  *                    yarn is not available. For example '0.18.1'.
  */
-function createProjectFromTemplate(
+async function createProjectFromTemplate(
   destPath: string,
   newProjectName: string,
   template: string,
@@ -44,7 +44,12 @@ function createProjectFromTemplate(
   // This way we don't have to duplicate the native files in every template.
   // If we duplicated them we'd make RN larger and risk that people would
   // forget to maintain all the copies so they would go out of sync.
-  createFromRemoteTemplate(template, destPath, newProjectName, destinationRoot);
+  await createFromRemoteTemplate(
+    template,
+    destPath,
+    newProjectName,
+    destinationRoot,
+  );
 }
 
 /**
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ function createProjectFromTemplate(
  * - 'demo' -> Fetch the package react-native-template-demo from npm
  * - git://..., http://..., file://... or any other URL supported by npm
  */
-function createFromRemoteTemplate(
+async function createFromRemoteTemplate(
   template: string,
   destPath: string,
   newProjectName: string,
@@ -73,7 +78,7 @@ function createFromRemoteTemplate(
   // Check if the template exists
   logger.info(`Fetching template ${installPackage}...`);
   try {
-    PackageManager.install([installPackage]);
+    await PackageManager.install([installPackage]);
     const templatePath = path.resolve('node_modules', templateName);
     copyProjectTemplateAndReplace(templatePath, destPath, newProjectName, {
       // Every template contains a dummy package.json file included
@@ -86,12 +91,12 @@ function createFromRemoteTemplate(
         'devDependencies.json',
       ],
     });
-    installTemplateDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot);
-    installTemplateDevDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot);
+    await installTemplateDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot);
+    await installTemplateDevDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot);
   } finally {
     // Clean up the temp files
     try {
-      PackageManager.uninstall([templateName]);
+      await PackageManager.uninstall([templateName]);
     } catch (err) {
       // Not critical but we still want people to know and report
       // if this the clean up fails.
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ function createFromRemoteTemplate(
   }
 }
 
-function installTemplateDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
+async function installTemplateDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
   // dependencies.json is a special file that lists additional dependencies
   // that are required by this template
   const dependenciesJsonPath = path.resolve(templatePath, 'dependencies.json');
@@ -124,12 +129,12 @@ function installTemplateDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
   const dependenciesToInstall = Object.keys(dependencies).map(
     depName => `${depName}@${dependencies[depName]}`,
   );
-  PackageManager.install(dependenciesToInstall);
+  await PackageManager.install(dependenciesToInstall);
   logger.info("Linking native dependencies into the project's build files...");
   execSync('react-native link', {stdio: 'inherit'});
 }
 
-function installTemplateDevDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
+async function installTemplateDevDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
   // devDependencies.json is a special file that lists additional develop dependencies
   // that are required by this template
   const devDependenciesJsonPath = path.resolve(
@@ -154,7 +159,7 @@ function installTemplateDevDependencies(templatePath, destinationRoot) {
   const dependenciesToInstall = Object.keys(dependencies).map(
     depName => `${depName}@${dependencies[depName]}`,
   );
-  PackageManager.installDev(dependenciesToInstall);
+  await PackageManager.installDev(dependenciesToInstall);
 }
 
 export {createProjectFromTemplate};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/loader.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/loader.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..525cc5c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/loader.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// @flow
+import Ora from 'ora';
+import logger from './logger';
+
+class OraMock {
+  succeed() {}
+  fail() {}
+  start() {}
+}
+
+function getLoader(): typeof Ora {
+  return logger.isVerbose() ? OraMock : Ora;
+}
+
+export {getLoader};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/logger.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/logger.js
index 42e6e262f..8bb9cbddd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/logger.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/logger.js
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ const setVerbose = (level: boolean) => {
   verbose = level;
 };
 
+const isVerbose = () => verbose;
+
 export default {
   success,
   info,
@@ -48,4 +50,5 @@ export default {
   debug,
   log,
   setVerbose,
+  isVerbose,
 };
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/PackageManager.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/packageManager.js
similarity index 54%
rename from packages/cli/src/tools/PackageManager.js
rename to packages/cli/src/tools/packageManager.js
index fa4b999f1..941a218c7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/PackageManager.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/packageManager.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // @flow
-import {execSync} from 'child_process';
+import execa from 'execa';
+import logger from './logger';
 import {getYarnVersionIfAvailable, isProjectUsingYarn} from './yarn';
 
 type Options = {|
@@ -9,9 +10,14 @@ type Options = {|
 
 let projectDir;
 
-function executeCommand(command: string, options?: Options) {
-  return execSync(command, {
-    stdio: options && options.silent ? 'pipe' : 'inherit',
+function executeCommand(
+  command: string,
+  args: Array<string>,
+  options?: Options,
+) {
+  return execa(command, args, {
+    stdio:
+      options && options.silent && !logger.isVerbose() ? 'pipe' : 'inherit',
   });
 }
 
@@ -29,30 +35,32 @@ export function setProjectDir(dir: string) {
 
 export function install(packageNames: Array<string>, options?: Options) {
   return shouldUseYarn(options)
-    ? executeCommand(`yarn add ${packageNames.join(' ')}`, options)
+    ? executeCommand('yarn', ['add', ...packageNames], options)
     : executeCommand(
-        `npm install ${packageNames.join(' ')} --save --save-exact`,
+        'npm',
+        ['install', ...packageNames, '--save', '--save-exact'],
         options,
       );
 }
 
 export function installDev(packageNames: Array<string>, options?: Options) {
   return shouldUseYarn(options)
-    ? executeCommand(`yarn add -D ${packageNames.join(' ')}`, options)
+    ? executeCommand('yarn', ['add', '-D', ...packageNames], options)
     : executeCommand(
-        `npm install ${packageNames.join(' ')} --save-dev --save-exact`,
+        'npm',
+        ['install', ...packageNames, '--save-dev', '--save-exact'],
         options,
       );
 }
 
 export function uninstall(packageNames: Array<string>, options?: Options) {
   return shouldUseYarn(options)
-    ? executeCommand(`yarn remove ${packageNames.join(' ')}`, options)
-    : executeCommand(`npm uninstall ${packageNames.join(' ')} --save`, options);
+    ? executeCommand('yarn', ['remove', ...packageNames], options)
+    : executeCommand('npm', ['uninstall', ...packageNames, '--save'], options);
 }
 
 export function installAll(options?: Options) {
   return shouldUseYarn(options)
-    ? executeCommand('yarn install')
-    : executeCommand('npm install');
+    ? executeCommand('yarn', ['install'], options)
+    : executeCommand('npm', ['install'], options);
 }
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 745260fc3..61eb22770 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -2042,6 +2042,11 @@ ansi-regex@^4.0.0:
   version "4.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ansi-regex/-/ansi-regex-4.0.0.tgz#70de791edf021404c3fd615aa89118ae0432e5a9"
 
+ansi-regex@^4.1.0:
+  version "4.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ansi-regex/-/ansi-regex-4.1.0.tgz#8b9f8f08cf1acb843756a839ca8c7e3168c51997"
+  integrity sha512-1apePfXM1UOSqw0o9IiFAovVz9M5S1Dg+4TrDwfMewQ6p/rmMueb7tWZjQ1rx4Loy1ArBggoqGpfqqdI4rondg==
+
 ansi-styles@^2.2.1:
   version "2.2.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ansi-styles/-/ansi-styles-2.2.1.tgz#b432dd3358b634cf75e1e4664368240533c1ddbe"
@@ -2703,6 +2708,11 @@ cli-cursor@^2.1.0:
   dependencies:
     restore-cursor "^2.0.0"
 
+cli-spinners@^2.0.0:
+  version "2.0.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/cli-spinners/-/cli-spinners-2.0.0.tgz#4b078756fc17a8f72043fdc9f1f14bf4fa87e2df"
+  integrity sha512-yiEBmhaKPPeBj7wWm4GEdtPZK940p9pl3EANIrnJ3JnvWyrPjcFcsEq6qRUuQ7fzB0+Y82ld3p6B34xo95foWw==
+
 cli-width@^2.0.0:
   version "2.2.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/cli-width/-/cli-width-2.2.0.tgz#ff19ede8a9a5e579324147b0c11f0fbcbabed639"
@@ -5779,6 +5789,13 @@ lodash@^4.13.1, lodash@^4.17.10, lodash@^4.17.11, lodash@^4.17.4, lodash@^4.17.5
   version "4.17.11"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/lodash/-/lodash-4.17.11.tgz#b39ea6229ef607ecd89e2c8df12536891cac9b8d"
 
+log-symbols@^2.2.0:
+  version "2.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/log-symbols/-/log-symbols-2.2.0.tgz#5740e1c5d6f0dfda4ad9323b5332107ef6b4c40a"
+  integrity sha512-VeIAFslyIerEJLXHziedo2basKbMKtTw3vfn5IzG0XTjhAVEJyNHnL2p7vc+wBDSdQuUpNw3M2u6xb9QsAY5Eg==
+  dependencies:
+    chalk "^2.0.1"
+
 loose-envify@^1.0.0, loose-envify@^1.4.0:
   version "1.4.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/loose-envify/-/loose-envify-1.4.0.tgz#71ee51fa7be4caec1a63839f7e682d8132d30caf"
@@ -6719,6 +6736,18 @@ options@>=0.0.5:
   version "0.0.6"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/options/-/options-0.0.6.tgz#ec22d312806bb53e731773e7cdaefcf1c643128f"
 
+ora@^3.4.0:
+  version "3.4.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ora/-/ora-3.4.0.tgz#bf0752491059a3ef3ed4c85097531de9fdbcd318"
+  integrity sha512-eNwHudNbO1folBP3JsZ19v9azXWtQZjICdr3Q0TDPIaeBQ3mXLrh54wM+er0+hSp+dWKf+Z8KM58CYzEyIYxYg==
+  dependencies:
+    chalk "^2.4.2"
+    cli-cursor "^2.1.0"
+    cli-spinners "^2.0.0"
+    log-symbols "^2.2.0"
+    strip-ansi "^5.2.0"
+    wcwidth "^1.0.1"
+
 os-homedir@^1.0.0:
   version "1.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/os-homedir/-/os-homedir-1.0.2.tgz#ffbc4988336e0e833de0c168c7ef152121aa7fb3"
@@ -8163,6 +8192,13 @@ strip-ansi@^5.0.0:
   dependencies:
     ansi-regex "^4.0.0"
 
+strip-ansi@^5.2.0:
+  version "5.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/strip-ansi/-/strip-ansi-5.2.0.tgz#8c9a536feb6afc962bdfa5b104a5091c1ad9c0ae"
+  integrity sha512-DuRs1gKbBqsMKIZlrffwlug8MHkcnpjs5VPmL1PAh+mA30U0DTotfDZ0d2UUsXpPmPmMMJ6W773MaA3J+lbiWA==
+  dependencies:
+    ansi-regex "^4.1.0"
+
 strip-bom@^2.0.0:
   version "2.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/strip-bom/-/strip-bom-2.0.0.tgz#6219a85616520491f35788bdbf1447a99c7e6b0e"
@@ -8669,7 +8705,7 @@ watch@~0.18.0:
     exec-sh "^0.2.0"
     minimist "^1.2.0"
 
-wcwidth@^1.0.0:
+wcwidth@^1.0.0, wcwidth@^1.0.1:
   version "1.0.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/wcwidth/-/wcwidth-1.0.1.tgz#f0b0dcf915bc5ff1528afadb2c0e17b532da2fe8"
   integrity sha1-8LDc+RW8X/FSivrbLA4XtTLaL+g=