diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/install_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/install_command.go
index 994da69c0af..eb15d1a5f84 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/install_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/install_command.go
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func osAndArchString() string {
 	return osString + "-" + arch
 }
 
-func supportsCurrentArch(version *models.Version) bool {
+func supportsCurrentArch(version models.Version) bool {
 	if version.Arch == nil {
 		return true
 	}
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ func supportsCurrentArch(version *models.Version) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func latestSupportedVersion(plugin *models.Plugin) *models.Version {
+func latestSupportedVersion(plugin models.Plugin) *models.Version {
 	for _, v := range plugin.Versions {
 		ver := v
-		if supportsCurrentArch(&ver) {
+		if supportsCurrentArch(ver) {
 			return &ver
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listremote_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listremote_command.go
index 79b11c939b1..ba110b00026 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listremote_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listremote_command.go
@@ -15,11 +15,10 @@ func listRemoteCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 	}
 
 	for _, p := range plugin.Plugins {
-		plugin := p
-		if len(plugin.Versions) > 0 {
-			ver := latestSupportedVersion(&plugin)
+		if len(p.Versions) > 0 {
+			ver := latestSupportedVersion(p)
 			if ver != nil {
-				logger.Infof("id: %v version: %s\n", plugin.ID, ver.Version)
+				logger.Infof("id: %v version: %s\n", p.ID, ver.Version)
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listversions_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listversions_command.go
index 89ca4ffaa6f..ca6cd4edc5d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listversions_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/listversions_command.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func listVersionsCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 
 	pluginToList := c.Args().First()
 
-	plugin, err := services.GetPlugin(pluginToList, c.String("repo"))
+	plugin, err := services.GetPluginInfoFromRepo(pluginToList, c.String("repo"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/ls_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/ls_command.go
index 8eb06bb2925..76132fdb327 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/ls_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/ls_command.go
@@ -6,13 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/logger"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/utils"
 )
 
-var ls_getPlugins func(path string) []models.InstalledPlugin = services.GetLocalPlugins
-
 var (
 	errMissingPathFlag = errors.New("missing path flag")
 	errNotDirectory    = errors.New("plugin path is not a directory")
@@ -41,7 +38,7 @@ func lsCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	plugins := ls_getPlugins(pluginDir)
+	plugins := services.GetLocalPlugins(pluginDir)
 
 	if len(plugins) > 0 {
 		logger.Info("installed plugins:\n")
@@ -50,7 +47,8 @@ func lsCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 	}
 
 	for _, plugin := range plugins {
-		logger.Infof("%s %s %s\n", plugin.ID, color.YellowString("@"), plugin.Info.Version)
+		logger.Infof("%s %s %s\n", plugin.Primary.JSONData.ID,
+			color.YellowString("@"), plugin.Primary.JSONData.Info.Version)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command.go
index b13ddea45f7..74b3e65f038 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command.go
@@ -9,10 +9,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/utils"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 )
 
-func shouldUpgrade(installed string, remote *models.Plugin) bool {
-	installedVersion, err := version.NewVersion(installed)
+func shouldUpgrade(installed plugins.FoundPlugin, remote models.Plugin) bool {
+	installedVer := installed.JSONData.Info.Version
+	if installedVer == "" {
+		installedVer = "0.0.0"
+	}
+	installedVersion, err := version.NewVersion(installedVer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -35,30 +40,30 @@ func upgradeAllCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	pluginsToUpgrade := make([]models.InstalledPlugin, 0)
+	pluginsToUpgrade := make([]plugins.FoundPlugin, 0)
 
 	for _, localPlugin := range localPlugins {
 		for _, p := range remotePlugins.Plugins {
 			remotePlugin := p
-			if localPlugin.ID != remotePlugin.ID {
+			if localPlugin.Primary.JSONData.ID != remotePlugin.ID {
 				continue
 			}
-			if shouldUpgrade(localPlugin.Info.Version, &remotePlugin) {
-				pluginsToUpgrade = append(pluginsToUpgrade, localPlugin)
+			if shouldUpgrade(localPlugin.Primary, remotePlugin) {
+				pluginsToUpgrade = append(pluginsToUpgrade, localPlugin.Primary)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	for _, p := range pluginsToUpgrade {
-		logger.Infof("Updating %v \n", p.ID)
+		logger.Infof("Updating %v \n", p.JSONData.ID)
 
-		err = uninstallPlugin(ctx, p.ID, c)
+		err = uninstallPlugin(ctx, p.JSONData.ID, c)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		err = installPlugin(ctx, p.ID, "", c)
+		err = installPlugin(ctx, p.JSONData.ID, "", c)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command_test.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command_test.go
index c69f0a18a08..6749972f950 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_all_command_test.go
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/models"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 )
 
 func TestVersionComparison(t *testing.T) {
@@ -16,15 +17,23 @@ func TestVersionComparison(t *testing.T) {
 			{Version: "2.0.0"},
 		}
 
-		upgradeablePlugins := map[string]models.Plugin{
-			"0.0.0": {Versions: versions},
-			"1.0.0": {Versions: versions},
+		upgradeablePlugins := []struct {
+			have      plugins.FoundPlugin
+			requested models.Plugin
+		}{
+			{
+				have:      plugins.FoundPlugin{JSONData: plugins.JSONData{Info: plugins.Info{Version: "0.0.0"}}},
+				requested: models.Plugin{Versions: versions},
+			},
+			{
+				have:      plugins.FoundPlugin{JSONData: plugins.JSONData{Info: plugins.Info{Version: "1.0.0"}}},
+				requested: models.Plugin{Versions: versions},
+			},
 		}
 
-		for k, v := range upgradeablePlugins {
-			val := v
-			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("for %s should be true", k), func(t *testing.T) {
-				assert.True(t, shouldUpgrade(k, &val))
+		for _, v := range upgradeablePlugins {
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("for %s should be true", v.have.JSONData.Info.Version), func(t *testing.T) {
+				require.True(t, shouldUpgrade(v.have, v.requested))
 			})
 		}
 	})
@@ -35,15 +44,23 @@ func TestVersionComparison(t *testing.T) {
 			{Version: "2.0.0"},
 		}
 
-		shouldNotUpgrade := map[string]models.Plugin{
-			"2.0.0": {Versions: versions},
-			"6.0.0": {Versions: versions},
+		shouldNotUpgrade := []struct {
+			have      plugins.FoundPlugin
+			requested models.Plugin
+		}{
+			{
+				have:      plugins.FoundPlugin{JSONData: plugins.JSONData{Info: plugins.Info{Version: "2.0.0"}}},
+				requested: models.Plugin{Versions: versions},
+			},
+			{
+				have:      plugins.FoundPlugin{JSONData: plugins.JSONData{Info: plugins.Info{Version: "6.0.0"}}},
+				requested: models.Plugin{Versions: versions},
+			},
 		}
 
-		for k, v := range shouldNotUpgrade {
-			val := v
-			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("for %s should be false", k), func(t *testing.T) {
-				assert.False(t, shouldUpgrade(k, &val))
+		for _, v := range shouldNotUpgrade {
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("for %s should be false", v.have.JSONData.Info.Version), func(t *testing.T) {
+				require.False(t, shouldUpgrade(v.have, v.requested))
 			})
 		}
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_command.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_command.go
index cf7d47ec9d2..a122f55b2fc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_command.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/commands/upgrade_command.go
@@ -16,17 +16,17 @@ func upgradeCommand(c utils.CommandLine) error {
 	pluginsDir := c.PluginDirectory()
 	pluginID := c.Args().First()
 
-	localPlugin, err := services.ReadPlugin(pluginsDir, pluginID)
+	localPlugin, err := services.GetLocalPlugin(pluginsDir, pluginID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	plugin, err := services.GetPlugin(pluginID, c.PluginRepoURL())
+	plugin, err := services.GetPluginInfoFromRepo(pluginID, c.PluginRepoURL())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if shouldUpgrade(localPlugin.Info.Version, &plugin) {
+	if shouldUpgrade(localPlugin, plugin) {
 		if err = uninstallPlugin(ctx, pluginID, c); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove plugin '%s': %w", pluginID, err)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/api_client.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/api_client.go
index 99d3c9b7f93..70746718d70 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/api_client.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/api_client.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/models"
 )
 
-func GetPlugin(pluginId, repoUrl string) (models.Plugin, error) {
+func GetPluginInfoFromRepo(pluginId, repoUrl string) (models.Plugin, error) {
 	logger.Debugf("getting plugin metadata from: %v pluginId: %v \n", repoUrl, pluginId)
 	body, err := sendRequestGetBytes(HttpClient, repoUrl, "repo", pluginId)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/services.go b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/services.go
index 119e9f91199..6d042348d42 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/services.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/services/services.go
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 package services
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/logger"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cmd/grafana-cli/models"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/config"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/manager/sources"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -62,43 +66,25 @@ func makeHttpClient(skipTLSVerify bool, timeout time.Duration) http.Client {
 	}
 }
 
-func ReadPlugin(pluginDir, pluginName string) (models.InstalledPlugin, error) {
-	distPluginDataPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, pluginName, "dist", "plugin.json")
+func GetLocalPlugin(pluginDir, pluginID string) (plugins.FoundPlugin, error) {
+	pluginPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, pluginID)
 
-	data, err := IoHelper.ReadFile(distPluginDataPath)
+	ps := GetLocalPlugins(pluginPath)
+	if len(ps) == 0 {
+		return plugins.FoundPlugin{}, errors.New("could not find plugin " + pluginID + " in " + pluginDir)
+	}
+
+	return ps[0].Primary, nil
+}
+
+func GetLocalPlugins(pluginDir string) []*plugins.FoundBundle {
+	f := finder.NewLocalFinder(&config.Cfg{})
+
+	res, err := f.Find(context.Background(), sources.NewLocalSource(plugins.External, []string{pluginDir}))
 	if err != nil {
-		pluginDataPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, pluginName, "plugin.json")
-		data, err = IoHelper.ReadFile(pluginDataPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			return models.InstalledPlugin{}, errors.New("Could not find dist/plugin.json or plugin.json for " + pluginName + " in " + pluginDir)
-		}
+		logger.Error("Could not get local plugins", err)
+		return make([]*plugins.FoundBundle, 0)
 	}
 
-	res := models.InstalledPlugin{}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &res); err != nil {
-		return res, err
-	}
-
-	if res.Info.Version == "" {
-		res.Info.Version = "0.0.0"
-	}
-
-	if res.ID == "" {
-		return models.InstalledPlugin{}, errors.New("could not find plugin " + pluginName + " in " + pluginDir)
-	}
-
-	return res, nil
-}
-
-func GetLocalPlugins(pluginDir string) []models.InstalledPlugin {
-	result := make([]models.InstalledPlugin, 0)
-	files, _ := IoHelper.ReadDir(pluginDir)
-	for _, f := range files {
-		res, err := ReadPlugin(pluginDir, f.Name())
-		if err == nil {
-			result = append(result, res)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return result
+	return res
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
index a3217697a60..a192cf916cb 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 var walk = util.Walk
 
 var (
-	ErrInvalidPluginJSON         = errors.New("did not find valid type or id properties in plugin.json")
 	ErrInvalidPluginJSONFilePath = errors.New("invalid plugin.json filepath was provided")
 )
 
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ func (l *Local) readPluginJSON(pluginJSONPath string) (plugins.JSONData, error)
 		l.log.Warn("Skipping plugin loading as its plugin.json could not be read", "path", pluginJSONPath, "err", err)
 		return plugins.JSONData{}, err
 	}
-	plugin, err := ReadPluginJSON(reader)
+	plugin, err := plugins.ReadPluginJSON(reader)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.log.Warn("Skipping plugin loading as its plugin.json could not be read", "path", pluginJSONPath, "err", err)
 		return plugins.JSONData{}, err
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
index e6b4f031e46..1a37aa977b4 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/local_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/manager/fakes"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/featuremgmt"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/config"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
@@ -331,127 +330,6 @@ func TestFinder_getAbsPluginJSONPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestFinder_validatePluginJSON(t *testing.T) {
-	type args struct {
-		data plugins.JSONData
-	}
-	tests := []struct {
-		name string
-		args args
-		err  error
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "Valid case",
-			args: args{
-				data: plugins.JSONData{
-					ID:   "grafana-plugin-id",
-					Type: plugins.DataSource,
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "Invalid plugin ID",
-			args: args{
-				data: plugins.JSONData{
-					Type: plugins.Panel,
-				},
-			},
-			err: ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
-		},
-		{
-			name: "Invalid plugin type",
-			args: args{
-				data: plugins.JSONData{
-					ID:   "grafana-plugin-id",
-					Type: "test",
-				},
-			},
-			err: ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
-		},
-	}
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if err := validatePluginJSON(tt.args.data); !errors.Is(err, tt.err) {
-				t.Errorf("validatePluginJSON() = %v, want %v", err, tt.err)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestFinder_readPluginJSON(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name       string
-		pluginPath string
-		expected   plugins.JSONData
-		err        error
-	}{
-		{
-			name:       "Valid plugin",
-			pluginPath: "../../testdata/test-app/plugin.json",
-			expected: plugins.JSONData{
-				ID:   "test-app",
-				Type: "app",
-				Name: "Test App",
-				Info: plugins.Info{
-					Author: plugins.InfoLink{
-						Name: "Test Inc.",
-						URL:  "http://test.com",
-					},
-					Description: "Official Grafana Test App & Dashboard bundle",
-					Version:     "1.0.0",
-					Links: []plugins.InfoLink{
-						{Name: "Project site", URL: "http://project.com"},
-						{Name: "License & Terms", URL: "http://license.com"},
-					},
-					Logos: plugins.Logos{
-						Small: "img/logo_small.png",
-						Large: "img/logo_large.png",
-					},
-					Screenshots: []plugins.Screenshots{
-						{Path: "img/screenshot1.png", Name: "img1"},
-						{Path: "img/screenshot2.png", Name: "img2"},
-					},
-					Updated: "2015-02-10",
-				},
-				Dependencies: plugins.Dependencies{
-					GrafanaVersion: "3.x.x",
-					Plugins: []plugins.Dependency{
-						{Type: "datasource", ID: "graphite", Name: "Graphite", Version: "1.0.0"},
-						{Type: "panel", ID: "graph", Name: "Graph", Version: "1.0.0"},
-					},
-				},
-				Includes: []*plugins.Includes{
-					{Name: "Nginx Connections", Path: "dashboards/connections.json", Type: "dashboard", Role: org.RoleViewer},
-					{Name: "Nginx Memory", Path: "dashboards/memory.json", Type: "dashboard", Role: org.RoleViewer},
-					{Name: "Nginx Panel", Type: "panel", Role: org.RoleViewer},
-					{Name: "Nginx Datasource", Type: "datasource", Role: org.RoleViewer},
-				},
-				Backend: false,
-			},
-		},
-		{
-			name:       "Invalid plugin JSON",
-			pluginPath: "../../testdata/invalid-plugin-json/plugin.json",
-			err:        ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			reader, err := os.Open(tt.pluginPath)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			got, err := ReadPluginJSON(reader)
-			if tt.err != nil {
-				require.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.err)
-			}
-			if !cmp.Equal(got, tt.expected) {
-				t.Errorf("Unexpected pluginJSONData: %v", cmp.Diff(got, tt.expected))
-			}
-			require.NoError(t, reader.Close())
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 var fsComparer = cmp.Comparer(func(fs1 plugins.FS, fs2 plugins.FS) bool {
 	fs1Files, err := fs1.Files()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/util.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/util.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 9502a408be2..00000000000
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/loader/finder/util.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-package finder
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"io"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
-)
-
-func ReadPluginJSON(reader io.Reader) (plugins.JSONData, error) {
-	plugin := plugins.JSONData{}
-	if err := json.NewDecoder(reader).Decode(&plugin); err != nil {
-		return plugins.JSONData{}, err
-	}
-
-	if err := validatePluginJSON(plugin); err != nil {
-		return plugins.JSONData{}, err
-	}
-
-	if plugin.ID == "grafana-piechart-panel" {
-		plugin.Name = "Pie Chart (old)"
-	}
-
-	if len(plugin.Dependencies.Plugins) == 0 {
-		plugin.Dependencies.Plugins = []plugins.Dependency{}
-	}
-
-	if plugin.Dependencies.GrafanaVersion == "" {
-		plugin.Dependencies.GrafanaVersion = "*"
-	}
-
-	for _, include := range plugin.Includes {
-		if include.Role == "" {
-			include.Role = org.RoleViewer
-		}
-	}
-
-	return plugin, nil
-}
-
-func validatePluginJSON(data plugins.JSONData) error {
-	if data.ID == "" || !data.Type.IsValid() {
-		return ErrInvalidPluginJSON
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/plugins.go b/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
index fd27a43c15c..a102ff7e71a 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/plugins.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"path"
 	"runtime"
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ var (
 	ErrFileNotExist              = errors.New("file does not exist")
 	ErrPluginFileRead            = errors.New("file could not be read")
 	ErrUninstallInvalidPluginDir = errors.New("cannot recognize as plugin folder")
+	ErrInvalidPluginJSON         = errors.New("did not find valid type or id properties in plugin.json")
 )
 
 type Plugin struct {
@@ -139,6 +141,44 @@ type JSONData struct {
 	Executable string `json:"executable,omitempty"`
 }
 
+func ReadPluginJSON(reader io.Reader) (JSONData, error) {
+	plugin := JSONData{}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(reader).Decode(&plugin); err != nil {
+		return JSONData{}, err
+	}
+
+	if err := validatePluginJSON(plugin); err != nil {
+		return JSONData{}, err
+	}
+
+	if plugin.ID == "grafana-piechart-panel" {
+		plugin.Name = "Pie Chart (old)"
+	}
+
+	if len(plugin.Dependencies.Plugins) == 0 {
+		plugin.Dependencies.Plugins = []Dependency{}
+	}
+
+	if plugin.Dependencies.GrafanaVersion == "" {
+		plugin.Dependencies.GrafanaVersion = "*"
+	}
+
+	for _, include := range plugin.Includes {
+		if include.Role == "" {
+			include.Role = org.RoleViewer
+		}
+	}
+
+	return plugin, nil
+}
+
+func validatePluginJSON(data JSONData) error {
+	if data.ID == "" || !data.Type.IsValid() {
+		return ErrInvalidPluginJSON
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (d JSONData) DashboardIncludes() []*Includes {
 	result := []*Includes{}
 	for _, include := range d.Includes {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/plugins_test.go b/pkg/plugins/plugins_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e19e366f457
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/plugins/plugins_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+package plugins
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/org"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func Test_ReadPluginJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		pluginJSON func(t *testing.T) io.ReadCloser
+		expected   JSONData
+		err        error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "Valid plugin",
+			pluginJSON: func(t *testing.T) io.ReadCloser {
+				reader, err := os.Open("manager/testdata/test-app/plugin.json")
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				return reader
+			},
+			expected: JSONData{
+				ID:   "test-app",
+				Type: "app",
+				Name: "Test App",
+				Info: Info{
+					Author: InfoLink{
+						Name: "Test Inc.",
+						URL:  "http://test.com",
+					},
+					Description: "Official Grafana Test App & Dashboard bundle",
+					Version:     "1.0.0",
+					Links: []InfoLink{
+						{Name: "Project site", URL: "http://project.com"},
+						{Name: "License & Terms", URL: "http://license.com"},
+					},
+					Logos: Logos{
+						Small: "img/logo_small.png",
+						Large: "img/logo_large.png",
+					},
+					Screenshots: []Screenshots{
+						{Path: "img/screenshot1.png", Name: "img1"},
+						{Path: "img/screenshot2.png", Name: "img2"},
+					},
+					Updated: "2015-02-10",
+				},
+				Dependencies: Dependencies{
+					GrafanaVersion: "3.x.x",
+					Plugins: []Dependency{
+						{Type: "datasource", ID: "graphite", Name: "Graphite", Version: "1.0.0"},
+						{Type: "panel", ID: "graph", Name: "Graph", Version: "1.0.0"},
+					},
+				},
+				Includes: []*Includes{
+					{Name: "Nginx Connections", Path: "dashboards/connections.json", Type: "dashboard", Role: org.RoleViewer},
+					{Name: "Nginx Memory", Path: "dashboards/memory.json", Type: "dashboard", Role: org.RoleViewer},
+					{Name: "Nginx Panel", Type: "panel", Role: org.RoleViewer},
+					{Name: "Nginx Datasource", Type: "datasource", Role: org.RoleViewer},
+				},
+				Backend: false,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Invalid plugin JSON",
+			pluginJSON: func(t *testing.T) io.ReadCloser {
+				reader, err := os.Open("manager/testdata/invalid-plugin-json/plugin.json")
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				return reader
+			},
+			err: ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Default value overrides",
+			pluginJSON: func(t *testing.T) io.ReadCloser {
+				pJSON := `{
+					"id": "grafana-piechart-panel",
+					"name": "This will be overwritten",
+					"type": "panel",
+					"includes": [
+						{"type": "dashboard", "name": "Pie Charts", "path": "dashboards/demo.json"}
+					]
+				}`
+				return io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(pJSON))
+			},
+			expected: JSONData{
+				ID:   "grafana-piechart-panel",
+				Type: "panel",
+				Name: "Pie Chart (old)",
+				Dependencies: Dependencies{
+					GrafanaVersion: "*",
+					Plugins:        []Dependency{},
+				},
+				Includes: []*Includes{
+					{Name: "Pie Charts", Path: "dashboards/demo.json", Type: "dashboard", Role: org.RoleViewer},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			p := tt.pluginJSON(t)
+			got, err := ReadPluginJSON(p)
+			if tt.err != nil {
+				require.ErrorIs(t, err, tt.err)
+			}
+			if !cmp.Equal(got, tt.expected) {
+				t.Errorf("Unexpected pluginJSONData: %v", cmp.Diff(got, tt.expected))
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, p.Close())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_validatePluginJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	type args struct {
+		data JSONData
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		args args
+		err  error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "Valid case",
+			args: args{
+				data: JSONData{
+					ID:   "grafana-plugin-id",
+					Type: DataSource,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Invalid plugin ID",
+			args: args{
+				data: JSONData{
+					Type: Panel,
+				},
+			},
+			err: ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "Invalid plugin type",
+			args: args{
+				data: JSONData{
+					ID:   "grafana-plugin-id",
+					Type: "test",
+				},
+			},
+			err: ErrInvalidPluginJSON,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if err := validatePluginJSON(tt.args.data); !errors.Is(err, tt.err) {
+				t.Errorf("validatePluginJSON() = %v, want %v", err, tt.err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/storage/fs.go b/pkg/plugins/storage/fs.go
index f3468ab3f23..445ce07c3f9 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/storage/fs.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/storage/fs.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"archive/zip"
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/log"
 )
 
@@ -39,15 +39,15 @@ func (fs *FS) Extract(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, pluginArchive *zip.R
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", "failed to extract plugin archive", err)
 	}
 
-	res, err := toPluginDTO(pluginID, pluginDir)
+	pluginJSON, err := readPluginJSON(pluginID, pluginDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v: %w", "failed to convert to plugin DTO", err)
 	}
 
-	fs.log.Successf("Downloaded and extracted %s v%s zip successfully to %s", res.ID, res.Info.Version, pluginDir)
+	fs.log.Successf("Downloaded and extracted %s v%s zip successfully to %s", pluginJSON.ID, pluginJSON.Info.Version, pluginDir)
 
-	deps := make([]*Dependency, 0, len(res.Dependencies.Plugins))
-	for _, plugin := range res.Dependencies.Plugins {
+	deps := make([]*Dependency, 0, len(pluginJSON.Dependencies.Plugins))
+	for _, plugin := range pluginJSON.Dependencies.Plugins {
 		deps = append(deps, &Dependency{
 			ID:      plugin.ID,
 			Version: plugin.Version,
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ func (fs *FS) Extract(ctx context.Context, pluginID string, pluginArchive *zip.R
 	}
 
 	return &ExtractedPluginArchive{
-		ID:           res.ID,
-		Version:      res.Info.Version,
+		ID:           pluginJSON.ID,
+		Version:      pluginJSON.Info.Version,
 		Dependencies: deps,
 		Path:         pluginDir,
 	}, nil
@@ -220,34 +220,26 @@ func removeGitBuildFromName(filename, pluginID string) string {
 	return reGitBuild.ReplaceAllString(filename, pluginID+"/")
 }
 
-func toPluginDTO(pluginID, pluginDir string) (installedPlugin, error) {
-	distPluginDataPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, "dist", "plugin.json")
+func readPluginJSON(pluginID, pluginDir string) (plugins.JSONData, error) {
+	pluginPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, "plugin.json")
 
 	// It's safe to ignore gosec warning G304 since the file path suffix is hardcoded
 	// nolint:gosec
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(distPluginDataPath)
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(pluginPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		pluginDataPath := filepath.Join(pluginDir, "plugin.json")
+		pluginPath = filepath.Join(pluginDir, "dist", "plugin.json")
 		// It's safe to ignore gosec warning G304 since the file path suffix is hardcoded
 		// nolint:gosec
-		data, err = os.ReadFile(pluginDataPath)
+		data, err = os.ReadFile(pluginPath)
 		if err != nil {
-			return installedPlugin{}, fmt.Errorf("could not find dist/plugin.json or plugin.json for %s in %s", pluginID, pluginDir)
+			return plugins.JSONData{}, fmt.Errorf("could not find plugin.json or dist/plugin.json for %s in %s", pluginID, pluginDir)
 		}
 	}
 
-	res := installedPlugin{}
-	if err = json.Unmarshal(data, &res); err != nil {
-		return res, err
+	pJSON, err := plugins.ReadPluginJSON(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	if err != nil {
+		return plugins.JSONData{}, err
 	}
 
-	if res.ID == "" {
-		return installedPlugin{}, fmt.Errorf("could not find valid plugin %s in %s", pluginID, pluginDir)
-	}
-
-	if res.Info.Version == "" {
-		res.Info.Version = "0.0.0"
-	}
-
-	return res, nil
+	return pJSON, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/storage/models.go b/pkg/plugins/storage/models.go
index d758b18660f..6cc67e48ade 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/storage/models.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/storage/models.go
@@ -21,28 +21,3 @@ type Dependency struct {
 	ID      string
 	Version string
 }
-
-type installedPlugin struct {
-	ID           string       `json:"id"`
-	Name         string       `json:"name"`
-	Type         string       `json:"type"`
-	Info         pluginInfo   `json:"info"`
-	Dependencies dependencies `json:"dependencies"`
-}
-
-type dependencies struct {
-	GrafanaVersion string             `json:"grafanaVersion"`
-	Plugins        []pluginDependency `json:"plugins"`
-}
-
-type pluginDependency struct {
-	ID      string `json:"id"`
-	Type    string `json:"type"`
-	Name    string `json:"name"`
-	Version string `json:"version"`
-}
-
-type pluginInfo struct {
-	Version string `json:"version"`
-	Updated string `json:"updated"`
-}