diff --git a/template/android/build.gradle b/template/android/build.gradle
index 698ffa8ccef077..d17178e6dd43a6 100644
--- a/template/android/build.gradle
+++ b/template/android/build.gradle
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@ buildscript {
         minSdkVersion = 16
         compileSdkVersion = 28
         targetSdkVersion = 28
+        gradlePluginVersion = "3.5.0"
+        reactnativeVersion = "+"
     }
     repositories {
         google()
         jcenter()
     }
     dependencies {
-        classpath("com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.5.0")
+        classpath("com.android.tools.build:gradle:$gradlePluginVersion")
 
         // NOTE: Do not place your application dependencies here; they belong
         // in the individual module build.gradle files