diff --git a/autotests/kconfigskeletontest.cpp b/autotests/kconfigskeletontest.cpp
--- a/autotests/kconfigskeletontest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/kconfigskeletontest.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
     QCOMPARE(mMyColor, DEFAULT_SETTING2);
     QCOMPARE(mMyFont, DEFAULT_SETTING3);
     QCOMPARE(mMyString, DEFAULT_SETTING4);
+
+    QVERIFY(s->isDefaults());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isSaveNeeded());
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonTest::cleanup()
@@ -70,15 +73,27 @@
     mMyFont = WRITE_SETTING3;
     mMyString = WRITE_SETTING4;
 
+    QVERIFY(s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     s->save();
 
+    QVERIFY(!s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     mMyBool = false;
     mMyColor = QColor();
     mMyString.clear();
     mMyFont = QFont();
 
+    QVERIFY(s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     s->read();
 
+    QVERIFY(!s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     QCOMPARE(mMyBool, WRITE_SETTING1);
     QCOMPARE(mMyColor, WRITE_SETTING2);
     QCOMPARE(mMyFont, WRITE_SETTING3);
@@ -112,16 +127,28 @@
     mMyFont = WRITE_SETTING3;
     mMyString = WRITE_SETTING4;
 
+    QVERIFY(s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     s->save();
 
+    QVERIFY(!s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(!s->isDefaults());
+
     s->setDefaults();
 
+    QVERIFY(s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(s->isDefaults());
+
     QCOMPARE(mMyBool, DEFAULT_SETTING1);
     QCOMPARE(mMyColor, DEFAULT_SETTING2);
     QCOMPARE(mMyFont, DEFAULT_SETTING3);
     QCOMPARE(mMyString, DEFAULT_SETTING4);
 
     s->save();
+
+    QVERIFY(!s->isSaveNeeded());
+    QVERIFY(s->isDefaults());
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonTest::testKConfigDirty()
diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
@@ -210,6 +210,21 @@
      */
     bool isImmutable() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates if the item is set to its default value.
+     *
+     * @since 5.64
+     */
+    bool isDefault() const;
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates if the item has a different value than the
+     * previously loaded value.
+     *
+     * @since 5.64
+     */
+    bool isSaveNeeded() const;
+
 protected:
     /**
      * sets mIsImmutable to true if mKey in config is immutable
@@ -221,6 +236,11 @@
     QString mKey; ///< The config key for this item
     QString mName; ///< The name of this item
 
+    // HACK: Necessary to avoid introducing new virtuals in KConfigSkeletonItem
+    // KF6: Use proper pure virtuals in KConfigSkeletonItem
+    void setIsDefaultImpl(const std::function<bool()> &impl);
+    void setIsSaveNeededImpl(const std::function<bool()> &impl);
+
 private:
     KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate *const d;
 };
@@ -240,6 +260,8 @@
         : KConfigSkeletonItem(_group, _key), mReference(reference),
           mDefault(defaultValue), mLoadedValue(defaultValue)
     {
+        setIsDefaultImpl([this] { return mReference == mDefault; });
+        setIsSaveNeededImpl([this] { return mReference != mLoadedValue; });
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1077,6 +1099,21 @@
      */
     void read();
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates if all the registered items are set to their default value.
+     *
+     * @since 5.64
+     */
+    bool isDefaults() const;
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates if any registered item has a different value than the
+     * previously loaded value.
+     *
+     * @since 5.64
+     */
+    bool isSaveNeeded() const;
+
     /**
      * Set the config file group for subsequent addItem() calls. It is valid
      * until setCurrentGroup() is called with a new argument. Call this before
diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
@@ -135,11 +135,31 @@
     return d->mIsImmutable;
 }
 
+bool KConfigSkeletonItem::isDefault() const
+{
+    return d->mIsDefaultImpl();
+}
+
+bool KConfigSkeletonItem::isSaveNeeded() const
+{
+    return d->mIsSaveNeededImpl();
+}
+
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::readImmutability(const KConfigGroup &group)
 {
     d->mIsImmutable = group.isEntryImmutable(mKey);
 }
 
+void KConfigSkeletonItem::setIsDefaultImpl(const std::function<bool ()> &impl)
+{
+    d->mIsDefaultImpl = impl;
+}
+
+void KConfigSkeletonItem::setIsSaveNeededImpl(const std::function<bool ()> &impl)
+{
+    d->mIsSaveNeededImpl = impl;
+}
+
 KCoreConfigSkeleton::ItemString::ItemString(const QString &_group, const QString &_key,
         QString &reference,
         const QString &defaultValue,
@@ -1091,6 +1111,28 @@
     usrRead();
 }
 
+bool KCoreConfigSkeleton::isDefaults() const
+{
+    KConfigSkeletonItem::List::ConstIterator it;
+    for (it = d->mItems.constBegin(); it != d->mItems.constEnd(); ++it) {
+        if (!(*it)->isDefault()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool KCoreConfigSkeleton::isSaveNeeded() const
+{
+    KConfigSkeletonItem::List::ConstIterator it;
+    for (it = d->mItems.constBegin(); it != d->mItems.constEnd(); ++it) {
+        if ((*it)->isSaveNeeded()) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 bool KCoreConfigSkeleton::save()
 {
     //qDebug();
@@ -1394,6 +1436,9 @@
     Q_ASSERT(mTargetFunction);
     Q_ASSERT(mItem);
     Q_ASSERT(mObject);
+
+    setIsDefaultImpl([this] { return mItem->isDefault(); });
+    setIsSaveNeededImpl([this] { return mItem->isSaveNeeded(); });
 }
 
 KConfigCompilerSignallingItem::~KConfigCompilerSignallingItem()
diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@
     QString mLabel; ///< The label for this item
     QString mToolTip; ///< The ToolTip text for this item
     QString mWhatsThis; ///< The What's This text for this item
+
+    // HACK: Necessary to avoid introducing new virtuals in KConfigSkeletonItem
+    std::function<bool()> mIsDefaultImpl;
+    std::function<bool()> mIsSaveNeededImpl;
 };
 
 #endif