diff --git a/docs/cli/ls-remote.md b/docs/cli/ls-remote.md
index 70cf6b7291..41744275cc 100644
--- a/docs/cli/ls-remote.md
+++ b/docs/cli/ls-remote.md
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ Disable checking the mise-versions host
 ### `--prerelease`
 
 Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report
-an upstream prerelease flag (currently github + aqua). Equivalent to
-setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the `prereleases` setting for the
-duration of this command.
+upstream prerelease metadata or opt in to regex-based prerelease
+detection. Equivalent to setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the
+`prereleases` setting for the duration of this command.
 
 ### `--strict-metadata`
 
diff --git a/man/man1/mise.1 b/man/man1/mise.1
index b9dbb0d845..9f0f2df8f3 100644
--- a/man/man1/mise.1
+++ b/man/man1/mise.1
@@ -1517,9 +1517,9 @@ Disable checking the mise\-versions host
 .TP
 \fB\-\-prerelease\fR
 Include pre\-release versions in the output for backends that report
-an upstream prerelease flag (currently github + aqua). Equivalent to
-setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the `prereleases` setting for the
-duration of this command.
+upstream prerelease metadata or opt in to regex\-based prerelease
+detection. Equivalent to setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the
+`prereleases` setting for the duration of this command.
 .TP
 \fB\-\-strict\-metadata\fR
 Fail if release metadata fetches fail
diff --git a/mise.usage.kdl b/mise.usage.kdl
index e442794557..573ed8dcbe 100644
--- a/mise.usage.kdl
+++ b/mise.usage.kdl
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ cmd ls-remote help="List runtime versions available for install." {
     flag --all help="Show all installed plugins and versions"
     flag "-J --json" help="Output in JSON format (includes version metadata like created_at timestamps when available)"
     flag --no-versions-host help="Disable checking the mise-versions host"
-    flag --prerelease help="Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report\nan upstream prerelease flag (currently github + aqua). Equivalent to\nsetting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the `prereleases` setting for the\nduration of this command."
+    flag --prerelease help="Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report\nupstream prerelease metadata or opt in to regex-based prerelease\ndetection. Equivalent to setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the\n`prereleases` setting for the duration of this command."
     flag --strict-metadata help="Fail if release metadata fetches fail" {
         long_help "Fail if release metadata fetches fail\n\nRequires --json and --no-versions-host.\n\nThis prevents metadata consumers from accepting empty fallback results\nwhen a backend's metadata-producing upstream request fails."
     }
diff --git a/src/backend/asdf.rs b/src/backend/asdf.rs
index 29a0b9b7ae..a2c2b1d15f 100644
--- a/src/backend/asdf.rs
+++ b/src/backend/asdf.rs
@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ impl Backend for AsdfBackend {
         Some(PluginType::Asdf)
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     /// ASDF plugins handle their own downloads through plugin scripts.
     /// Lockfile URLs are not applicable since installation is delegated to plugin scripts.
     fn supports_lockfile_url(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/backend/cargo.rs b/src/backend/cargo.rs
index 54063be403..6d73a2509d 100644
--- a/src/backend/cargo.rs
+++ b/src/backend/cargo.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ impl Backend for CargoBackend {
         false
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, _config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         if self.git_url().is_some() {
             // TODO: maybe fetch tags/branches from git?
diff --git a/src/backend/conda.rs b/src/backend/conda.rs
index b2797d043e..c5977b055d 100644
--- a/src/backend/conda.rs
+++ b/src/backend/conda.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-use crate::backend::VersionInfo;
 use crate::backend::backend_type::BackendType;
 use crate::backend::platform_target::PlatformTarget;
+use crate::backend::{
+    VersionInfo, filter_cached_prereleases, include_prereleases, mark_prerelease,
+};
 use crate::cli::args::BackendArg;
 use crate::config::Config;
 use crate::config::Settings;
@@ -662,7 +664,18 @@ impl Backend for CondaBackend {
         &self,
         config: &Arc<Config>,
     ) -> Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
-        self._list_remote_versions(config).await
+        let opts = config
+            .get_tool_opts(&self.ba)
+            .await?
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| self.ba.opts());
+        let want_prereleases = include_prereleases(&opts);
+        let versions = self
+            ._list_remote_versions(config)
+            .await?
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(mark_prerelease)
+            .collect();
+        Ok(filter_cached_prereleases(versions, want_prereleases))
     }
 
     async fn install_version_(
diff --git a/src/backend/dotnet.rs b/src/backend/dotnet.rs
index 7a342c107d..2ee62a374c 100644
--- a/src/backend/dotnet.rs
+++ b/src/backend/dotnet.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ impl Backend for DotnetBackend {
         Ok(vec!["dotnet"])
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, _config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         let feed_url = self.get_search_url().await?;
 
diff --git a/src/backend/gem.rs b/src/backend/gem.rs
index 4701c3f98c..e94e208d20 100644
--- a/src/backend/gem.rs
+++ b/src/backend/gem.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ impl Backend for GemBackend {
         Ok(vec!["ruby"])
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         // Get the gem source URL using the mise-managed Ruby environment
         let source_url = self.get_gem_source(config).await;
diff --git a/src/backend/go.rs b/src/backend/go.rs
index fe96305c75..42703a841c 100644
--- a/src/backend/go.rs
+++ b/src/backend/go.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ impl Backend for GoBackend {
         false
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         // Check if go is available
         self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
diff --git a/src/backend/http.rs b/src/backend/http.rs
index 25f96c69ee..7b3bf1fa79 100644
--- a/src/backend/http.rs
+++ b/src/backend/http.rs
@@ -607,6 +607,10 @@ impl Backend for HttpBackend {
         &self.ba
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn install_operation_count(&self, tv: &ToolVersion, _ctx: &InstallContext) -> usize {
         let opts = tv.request.options();
         super::http_install_operation_count(
diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index b002e22158..e1386a3612 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ pub struct VersionInfo {
     /// Checksum of the release asset, used to detect changes in rolling releases
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none", default)]
     pub checksum: Option<String>,
-    /// Whether the upstream flagged this as a pre-release. Backends that have a
-    /// reliable signal (e.g. GitHub releases' `prerelease: true`) populate this
-    /// so the shared remote-versions cache can store the superset and apply the
-    /// `prerelease` tool option as a read-time filter.
+    /// Whether this is a pre-release. Backends with a reliable upstream signal
+    /// (e.g. GitHub releases' `prerelease: true`) populate this directly.
+    /// Metadata-free listing backends can opt in to stamping this from mise's
+    /// legacy pre-release pattern before caching.
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "is_false")]
     pub prerelease: bool,
 }
@@ -479,10 +479,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_filter_cached_prereleases_leaves_unflagged_backends_alone() {
-        // Backends that don't populate `VersionInfo.prerelease` (e.g. node,
-        // ruby, aqua's `github_tag` source) keep the legacy regex-based filter
-        // in `fuzzy_match_versions` for pre-release-shaped strings. The
-        // cache-layer filter must not strip those entries on its own.
+        // The cache-layer filter only trusts the metadata bit. Regex-shaped
+        // versions are stamped before they enter the cache.
         let cached = vec![
             VersionInfo {
                 version: "1.0.0".into(),
@@ -498,6 +496,28 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(versions, vec!["1.0.0", "1.1.0-rc1"]);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_mark_prerelease_flags_regex_matches() {
+        let stable = mark_prerelease(VersionInfo {
+            version: "1.0.0".into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        assert!(!stable.prerelease);
+
+        let rc = mark_prerelease(VersionInfo {
+            version: "1.1.0-rc1".into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        assert!(rc.prerelease);
+
+        let already_flagged = mark_prerelease(VersionInfo {
+            version: "2.0.0".into(),
+            prerelease: true,
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        assert!(already_flagged.prerelease);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_include_prereleases_accepts_bool_and_string_values() {
         use crate::toolset::ToolVersionOptions;
@@ -623,6 +643,12 @@ pub trait Backend: Debug + Send + Sync {
     fn get_dependencies(&self) -> Result<Vec<&str>> {
         Ok(vec![])
     }
+
+    /// Whether this backend's version source lacks an upstream prerelease flag
+    /// and should mark regex-shaped versions as prereleases before caching.
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
     /// dependencies which wait for install but do not warn, like cargo-binstall
     fn get_optional_dependencies(&self) -> Result<Vec<&str>> {
         Ok(vec![])
@@ -816,6 +842,10 @@ pub trait Backend: Debug + Send + Sync {
                     ._list_remote_versions(config)
                     .await?
                     .into_iter()
+                    .map(|v| match self.mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern() {
+                        true => mark_prerelease(v),
+                        false => v,
+                    })
                     .filter(|v| match v.version.parse::<ToolVersionType>() {
                         Ok(ToolVersionType::Version(_)) => true,
                         _ => {
@@ -2328,11 +2358,10 @@ fn find_match_in_list(list: &[String], query: &str) -> Option<String> {
 }
 
 /// Apply the read-time `prerelease` filter to the cached remote-versions
-/// superset. Backends that honor `prerelease` (github, aqua) cache the full
-/// list and stamp `VersionInfo.prerelease` per entry; this helper drops
-/// pre-release entries when the current tool opts don't opt in. Backends that
-/// don't populate the flag are unaffected because their entries default to
-/// `prerelease = false`.
+/// superset. Backends cache the full list and stamp `VersionInfo.prerelease`
+/// either from upstream metadata or, for metadata-free listing backends, mise's
+/// legacy pre-release pattern. This helper drops pre-release entries when the
+/// current tool opts don't opt in.
 pub(crate) fn filter_cached_prereleases(
     versions: Vec<VersionInfo>,
     want_prereleases: bool,
@@ -2344,6 +2373,13 @@ pub(crate) fn filter_cached_prereleases(
     }
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn mark_prerelease(mut version: VersionInfo) -> VersionInfo {
+    if !version.prerelease && VERSION_REGEX.is_match(&version.version) {
+        version.prerelease = true;
+    }
+    version
+}
+
 /// Whether pre-release versions should be included for the current tool.
 ///
 /// Returns true if either the global `prereleases` setting (`MISE_PRERELEASES=1`,
diff --git a/src/backend/npm.rs b/src/backend/npm.rs
index d2690b3ba5..737f40c1ee 100644
--- a/src/backend/npm.rs
+++ b/src/backend/npm.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ impl Backend for NPMBackend {
         &self.ba
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     fn get_dependencies(&self) -> eyre::Result<Vec<&str>> {
         // npm CLI is always needed for version queries (npm view), plus the configured
         // package manager for installation. We avoid listing all package managers to
diff --git a/src/backend/pipx.rs b/src/backend/pipx.rs
index fb33790a5a..6a8f3c660b 100644
--- a/src/backend/pipx.rs
+++ b/src/backend/pipx.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ impl Backend for PIPXBackend {
         Ok(vec!["uv"])
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     /// Pipx installs packages from PyPI or Git using version specs (e.g., black==24.3.0).
     /// It doesn't support installing from direct URLs, so lockfile URLs are not applicable.
     fn supports_lockfile_url(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/backend/s3.rs b/src/backend/s3.rs
index b50e1a4dc1..333d8b4ee2 100644
--- a/src/backend/s3.rs
+++ b/src/backend/s3.rs
@@ -418,6 +418,10 @@ impl Backend for S3Backend {
         &self.ba
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn install_operation_count(&self, tv: &ToolVersion, _ctx: &InstallContext) -> usize {
         let opts = tv.request.options();
         super::http_install_operation_count(
diff --git a/src/backend/spm.rs b/src/backend/spm.rs
index d4bc4f64c6..80816f4b95 100644
--- a/src/backend/spm.rs
+++ b/src/backend/spm.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ impl Backend for SPMBackend {
         Ok(vec!["swift"])
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, _config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         let provider = GitProvider::from_ba(&self.ba);
         let repo = SwiftPackageRepo::new(&self.tool_name(), &provider)?;
diff --git a/src/backend/ubi.rs b/src/backend/ubi.rs
index c3695e1d1c..eef77748e0 100644
--- a/src/backend/ubi.rs
+++ b/src/backend/ubi.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ impl Backend for UbiBackend {
         &self.ba
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, _config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<VersionInfo>> {
         deprecated_at!(
             "2026.4.0",
diff --git a/src/backend/vfox.rs b/src/backend/vfox.rs
index 249cffe0c9..e97c7b95e1 100644
--- a/src/backend/vfox.rs
+++ b/src/backend/vfox.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ impl Backend for VfoxBackend {
         Ok(deps.iter().map(|s| s.as_str()).collect())
     }
 
+    fn mark_prereleases_from_version_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+
     fn supports_lockfile_url(&self) -> bool {
         // TODO: expose a plugin hook (e.g. BackendLockInfo) so custom Lua backends
         // can surface a download URL + checksum, and flip this back on for them.
diff --git a/src/cli/ls_remote.rs b/src/cli/ls_remote.rs
index 05e2018e61..82dd9f43a7 100644
--- a/src/cli/ls_remote.rs
+++ b/src/cli/ls_remote.rs
@@ -17,9 +17,8 @@ struct VersionOutputAll {
     version: String,
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     created_at: Option<String>,
-    /// Upstream pre-release flag, sourced from the versions host or the
-    /// backend (currently github + aqua report this). Always emitted so
-    /// JSON consumers can rely on its presence.
+    /// Pre-release flag, sourced from upstream metadata or backend opt-in
+    /// detection. Always emitted so JSON consumers can rely on its presence.
     prerelease: bool,
 }
 
@@ -52,9 +51,9 @@ pub struct LsRemote {
     pub no_versions_host: bool,
 
     /// Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report
-    /// an upstream prerelease flag (currently github + aqua). Equivalent to
-    /// setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the `prereleases` setting for the
-    /// duration of this command.
+    /// upstream prerelease metadata or opt in to regex-based prerelease
+    /// detection. Equivalent to setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the
+    /// `prereleases` setting for the duration of this command.
     #[clap(long, verbatim_doc_comment)]
     pub prerelease: bool,
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/core/java.rs b/src/plugins/core/java.rs
index d918d2dba0..7c8965eacf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/core/java.rs
+++ b/src/plugins/core/java.rs
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@ impl Backend for JavaPlugin {
             .map(|(v, m)| VersionInfo {
                 version: v.clone(),
                 created_at: m.created_at.clone(),
+                prerelease: VERSION_REGEX.is_match(v),
                 ..Default::default()
             })
             .unique_by(|v| v.version.clone())
diff --git a/src/versions_host.rs b/src/versions_host.rs
index 0f81ba685b..96bc81f5fe 100644
--- a/src/versions_host.rs
+++ b/src/versions_host.rs
@@ -55,12 +55,11 @@ struct VersionEntry {
     created_at: toml::value::Datetime,
     #[serde(default)]
     release_url: Option<String>,
-    /// Upstream pre-release flag, when the producing source can distinguish
-    /// it (currently github + aqua releases). Defaults to false so old
-    /// host data — and entries from sources that don't track prereleases —
-    /// stay correct without any schema upgrade. Old mise clients that don't
-    /// know about this field ignore it (toml-rs accepts unknown fields by
-    /// default), so populating it in mise-versions is forward-compatible.
+    /// Pre-release flag, when the producing source can distinguish it. Defaults
+    /// to false so old host data — and entries from sources that don't track
+    /// prereleases — stay correct without any schema upgrade. Old mise clients
+    /// that don't know about this field ignore it (toml-rs accepts unknown
+    /// fields by default), so populating it in mise-versions is forward-compatible.
     #[serde(default)]
     prerelease: bool,
 }
diff --git a/xtasks/fig/src/mise.ts b/xtasks/fig/src/mise.ts
index 5d024a0b8c..ec1d5e3709 100644
--- a/xtasks/fig/src/mise.ts
+++ b/xtasks/fig/src/mise.ts
@@ -1757,7 +1757,7 @@ const completionSpec: Fig.Spec = {
         {
           name: "--prerelease",
           description:
-            "Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report\nan upstream prerelease flag (currently github + aqua). Equivalent to\nsetting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the `prereleases` setting for the\nduration of this command.",
+            "Include pre-release versions in the output for backends that report\nupstream prerelease metadata or opt in to regex-based prerelease\ndetection. Equivalent to setting `MISE_PRERELEASES=1` or the\n`prereleases` setting for the duration of this command.",
           isRepeatable: false,
         },
         {