diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd6be02..41fcca1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,10 +12,26 @@ chkit is an open-source CLI for ClickHouse. Review migration SQL before applying
 
 [Get started](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com/getting-started/) · [Build a data source](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com/api-sync/quickstart/) · [Documentation](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com)
 
-New to chkit? Scaffold the small [hello example](examples/hello) with `bun create chkit@latest my-app --example hello`, or clone that folder and follow its README. The heavier ClickBench load stays at [`examples/clickbench`](examples/clickbench).
-
 > **Beta:** the public API is still evolving. Keep the CLI, core, and plugins on matching versions.
 
+## Get started in 2 minutes
+
+Scaffold [hello](examples/hello), the default example: two MergeTree tables (`users` and `events`) and one migration. No dataset load.
+
+```sh
+bun create chkit@latest my-app --example hello
+cd my-app
+# claim a free ObsessionDB instance from the prompt, or set CLICKHOUSE_URL
+bun run migrate
+bunx chkit query "SELECT name FROM system.tables WHERE database = 'default' AND name IN ('users', 'events') ORDER BY name"
+```
+
+Bare `bun create chkit@latest` uses the same hello default. The npm, pnpm, and yarn equivalents are `npm create chkit@latest`, `pnpm create chkit@latest`, and `yarn create chkit`.
+
+You can also clone [`examples/hello`](examples/hello) and follow its README. The heavier ClickBench path is `bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench`, or [`examples/clickbench`](examples/clickbench).
+
+Continue in [Getting started](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com/getting-started/).
+
 ## Why chkit
 
 - **Define tables and views.** Keep ClickHouse tables, views, materialized views, and dictionaries in code. Import the schema from an existing database.
diff --git a/packages/create-chkit/README.md b/packages/create-chkit/README.md
index 259deca..014f591 100644
--- a/packages/create-chkit/README.md
+++ b/packages/create-chkit/README.md
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ pnpm create chkit@latest
 yarn create chkit
 ```
 
-Pick an example by name:
+Pick an example by name. `hello` is the default when `--example` is omitted:
 
 ```sh
-bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
+bun create chkit@latest my-app --example hello
 ```
 
 ## Options
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
 | Flag | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `[project-directory]` | Target directory. Prompted if omitted. |
-| `-e, --example <name>` | Example to scaffold. Bare name (`clickbench`) or full GitHub URL. Prompted with the list of bundled examples if omitted. |
+| `-e, --example <name>` | Example to scaffold. Bare name (`hello`, `clickbench`) or full GitHub URL. Prompted with the list of bundled examples if omitted. `hello` is the default. |
 | `-m, --package-manager <pm>` | `npm`, `pnpm`, `yarn`, or `bun`. Auto-detected from the invoking package manager. |
 | `--skip-install` | Skip installing dependencies after scaffolding. |
 | `-v, --version` | Print version. |
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
 
 | Name | Description |
 | --- | --- |
-| `clickbench` | Full ClickBench schema and dataset load against ObsessionDB / ClickHouse. |
+| `hello` | Default. Two small tables (`users`, `events`) and one migration. No dataset load. Claim a free ObsessionDB instance from the scaffold prompt, or set `CLICKHOUSE_URL`. |
+| `clickbench` | Full ClickBench schema and dataset load against ObsessionDB or ClickHouse. |
 
-See the [chkit documentation](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com) for the full list.
+See [Getting started](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com/getting-started/).