Key Takeaways
- Easy Table of Contents is the most installed table of contents plugin for WordPress at 600,000+ active installs, and version 2.0.89 shipped on 16 October 2026 with Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi and WPBakery support.
- LuckyWP Table of Contents still holds a 4.9 star rating from 884 reviews, but its last update was April 2025 and WordPress.org now flags it as untested with the latest three major releases.
- Table of Contents Plus is maintained again: version 202609.1 landed in September 2026 for its 200,000+ installs, so the old warning about an abandoned plugin no longer applies.
- The Master Addons Table of Contents widget builds a nested list from any H1 to H6 headings inside the Elementor editor, with a collapsible box, a scroll-to-top arrow and smooth scrolling to each heading.
- Shortcodes differ per plugin: Easy Table of Contents uses [ez-toc], LuckyWP uses [lwptoc], Table of Contents Plus uses [toc], Joli uses [joli-toc], and SimpleTOC, Heroic and Ultimate Blocks are block-only.
The best table of contents plugin for WordPress in 2026 is still Easy Table of Contents for most sites, with 600,000+ installs and an update this month, while Elementor users get the same result from the Master Addons Table of Contents widget without leaving the editor. Every plugin here reads your headings and builds clickable jump links, so the differences come down to where you edit, whether you need a shortcode, and how actively the plugin is maintained.
This guide re-tests 8 table of contents plugins against the WordPress.org data from 26 October 2026: install counts, ratings, last update and tested-up-to version. It adds a feature table covering blocks, shortcodes, auto-insert, collapsible and sticky options, a shortcode reference for the plugins that have one, and a decision table at the end. The Elementor pick comes first, then the block editor and classic options.
Table of Contents
What Is a Table of Contents Plugin for WordPress?
A table of contents plugin for WordPress scans the headings in a post or page and builds a clickable list of jump links, usually placed near the top of the content. Readers click an entry and the page scrolls straight to that section, so a long guide becomes something they can navigate instead of scroll through. The list rebuilds itself whenever you add, rename or reorder a heading, and most plugins let you choose which heading levels to include, where the list appears and how it looks.
Plugins differ mainly in where they live. Some auto-insert the list before your first heading, some give you a shortcode or a Gutenberg block, and on Elementor sites the same job is handled by a builder-native widget such as the Elementor table of contents widget in Master Addons, which you place visually inside the editor instead of configuring at the content level.
Why Add a Table of Contents to WordPress?
A table of contents makes a long post easier to use and easier to rank. Readers jump straight to the section they came for, they stay on the page longer as a result, and Google can surface your anchor links as jump-to links directly in the search result.
- Better navigation. Readers jump to the exact section they need instead of scrolling through 2,000 words.
- Longer dwell time. When people find answers quickly, they stay and read more.
- Jump links in Google. Anchor links from a TOC can show up as jump-to links under your result, giving you more room in the SERP.
- Automatic and low-effort. The plugin builds the list from your headings, so you write normally and the TOC updates itself.
If you write long-form content on an Elementor site, structure and speed work together. Our guide on best SEO practices for Elementor covers the on-page side, and how to speed up Elementor websites keeps those long posts loading fast.
Quick Comparison: Best WordPress Table of Contents Plugins
Install counts, ratings and update dates below come from the WordPress.org plugin directory on 26 October 2026. Two of the eight changed status since our last check: Table of Contents Plus is being updated again, and LuckyWP has gone eighteen months without a release. Building a grid like this one in Elementor? The Comparison Table widget in Master Addons Pro gives each product a column and each feature a row.
| Plugin | Active Installs | Rating | Last Update | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Addons for Elementor | 30,000+ | 4.5 ★ (212) | Sep 2026, v3.2.3 | Elementor widget | Elementor pages and templates |
| Easy Table of Contents | 600,000+ | 4.4 ★ (221) | Oct 2026, v2.0.89 | Auto-insert / shortcode / widget | The all-round default |
| LuckyWP Table of Contents | 90,000+ | 4.9 ★ (884) | Apr 2025, v2.1.14 | Block / shortcode / auto-insert | Styling control, if you accept the stale release |
| Ultimate Blocks | 50,000+ | 4.9 ★ (729) | Sep 2026, v3.6.1 | Gutenberg block | Block editor plus 24 more blocks |
| SimpleTOC | 10,000+ | 4.9 ★ (77) | Oct 2026, v7.4.1 | Gutenberg block | Fastest, no-script TOC |
| Joli Table of Contents | 7,000+ | 4.9 ★ (43) | Oct 2026, v3.0.4 | Block / shortcode / auto-insert | Floating TOC (Pro) |
| Heroic Table of Contents | 5,000+ | 4.7 ★ (10) | Sep 2026, v1.3.2 | Gutenberg block | Polished block, newer pick |
| Table of Contents Plus | 200,000+ | 4.5 ★ (187) | Sep 2026, v202609.1 | Auto-insert / shortcode / widget | Classic editor sites |
Writing posts in Elementor? The Master Addons Table of Contents widget reads the headings on the page and builds the linked list inside the editor, with collapsible, scroll-to-top and smooth scroll options in one panel.
Feature Comparison: Blocks, Shortcodes, Sticky and Collapsible
The five features people ask about most are a Gutenberg block, a shortcode, auto-insert, a collapsible list and a sticky or floating version. No plugin here has all five in its base version, so this table is the quickest way to rule options out.
| Plugin | Gutenberg Block | Shortcode | Auto-insert | Collapsible | Sticky / Floating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Addons | No (Elementor widget) | No | Via a Theme Builder single template | Yes, can load closed | With one line of Custom CSS (position: sticky) |
| Easy Table of Contents | Pro | [ez-toc] | Yes, by post type | Yes | Sidebar widget can be affixed; fixed TOC is Pro |
| LuckyWP Table of Contents | Yes | [lwptoc] | Yes, five positions | Yes | No |
| Ultimate Blocks | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| SimpleTOC | Yes | No | No | Yes, native details tag | No |
| Joli Table of Contents | Yes | [joli-toc] | Yes | Yes | Pro |
| Heroic Table of Contents | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Table of Contents Plus | No | [toc] | Yes, before first heading | Yes, show/hide | Sidebar widget |
1. Master Addons for Elementor
If you build with Elementor, Master Addons for Elementor is the natural first pick, because its Table of Contents widget lives inside the Elementor editor. You drag the widget onto the page, it detects your headings and builds them into a nested list. No shortcodes and no separate settings screen.
That editor-native approach is the whole point. Every other plugin here works at the WordPress content level, which is fine until you are building a custom Elementor layout and want the TOC to sit exactly where you say, styled to match, previewed live on the same canvas. Master Addons runs on 30,000+ sites, was rebuilt in version 3 to load assets only where they are used, and bundles 80+ widgets, so you are not installing a separate plugin just to list your headings.
Best features
- Heading Tags control: H2, H3 and H4 are selected by default, and any level from H1 to H6 can be added or removed
- Collapsible box with a Keep Collapsed Initially option, handy in sidebars and on mobile
- Scroll to Top arrow, and smooth scrolling that stops just above each heading
- Skip a single heading by adding the jltma-toc-hide-heading class to it
- Style tab for the container, title, separator and list items, with live preview
- Works with the Theme Builder, so you add it to a single-post template once and every post gets a TOC
Every setting is documented in the Table of Contents widget settings guide. Browse the full widgets and extensions list or check pricing, and the plugin itself is on the WordPress.org plugin page.
2. Easy Table of Contents
Easy Table of Contents is the most installed dedicated TOC plugin, at 600,000+ active installs, and version 2.0.89 shipped on 16 October 2026. It is the safe all-rounder: the plugin page lists the Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Divi, Elementor, WPBakery Page Builder and Visual Composer as supported editors.
Best features
- Auto-generates from H1 to H6 headings across any post type
- Nested hierarchy with numeric counters
- Auto-insert by post type, or place it with the [ez-toc] shortcode; the Gutenberg block is a Pro feature
- Smooth scroll and a collapsible expand/collapse view
- A sidebar widget that can be affixed so it stays visible while scrolling; the fixed TOC on the content itself is Pro
If you want one plugin that works everywhere without much setup, this is the default choice. Get it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
3. LuckyWP Table of Contents
LuckyWP is the best-rated dedicated TOC plugin here, holding a 4.9 rating across 884 reviews. Its edge is design control: you style the whole list without touching CSS. The caveat is real, though. The last release, 2.1.14, dates from April 2025, it is tested up to WordPress 6.7, and WordPress.org now shows the warning that it has not been tested with the latest three major releases and may no longer be maintained. It still works on current sites, but weigh that before starting a new build on it.
Best features
- Auto-insert in five positions: before or after the first heading, after the first block, top or bottom of the content
- Gutenberg block and the [lwptoc] shortcode
- Styling for colors, borders and fonts with no CSS, plus float left, center or right
- Smooth scroll and scroll-to-top
- Per-post overrides to include or exclude specific headings
When the TOC has to match your brand exactly, LuckyWP is still the one to try. Install it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
4. Ultimate Blocks
Ultimate Blocks is a suite of 25+ Gutenberg blocks, and one of them is a solid Table of Contents block. Version 3.6.1 shipped in September 2026 and the plugin holds a 4.9 rating from 729 reviews. If you live in the block editor and want a TOC plus review boxes, tabs and more in a single install, it is good value.
Best features
- Dedicated Table of Contents block that auto-detects headings
- Collapsible toggle TOC
- Smooth scroll
- Choose which heading levels to include
- Sticky option, all native to the block editor
Just know it is a block suite, so you get a lot more than a table of contents. Download it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
5. SimpleTOC
SimpleTOC is the pick for performance purists. It is a pure Gutenberg block that outputs minimal, valid HTML with no JavaScript or CSS by default, so it adds almost nothing to your page weight. Version 7.4.1 landed in October 2026 and it requires WordPress 6.2 or newer.
Best features
- Zero-config Gutenberg block, no shortcode
- No JS or CSS loaded by default; accordion, smooth scroll and box style add assets only when you turn them on
- Collapsible view built on the browser’s native details and summary tags
- Full-site-editing (FSE) compatible
If speed and clean markup matter more to you than heavy styling options, SimpleTOC is hard to beat. Get it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
6. Joli Table of Contents
Joli stands out for its floating TOC. Instead of sitting at the top of the post, it can follow the reader down the page and highlight the section they are currently in, which is a nice touch on long guides. One correction from earlier versions of this post: the Floating TOC Widget and the Sticky Sidebar TOC are Pro features. The base plugin gives you the in-content list, the block, the shortcode and auto-insert. Version 3.0.4 shipped in October 2026.
Best features
- Auto-generate from your headings, with a Gutenberg block and the [joli-toc] shortcode
- Floating TOC that follows scroll and shows the active section (Pro)
- Sticky sidebar TOC (Pro)
- Smooth scroll with a clean, modern default style
For content where you want the TOC visible the whole way down and are willing to pay for it, Joli is the specialist. Install it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
7. Heroic Table of Contents
Heroic Table of Contents is a polished Gutenberg block from HeroThemes, the knowledge-base people. It is newer and has only 10 ratings so far, but the block is clean and easy to style from the editor sidebar, and version 1.3.2 shipped in September 2026. It requires WordPress 6.7 or newer.
Best features
- Native Gutenberg block that auto-pulls headings
- Collapsible view
- Visual styling controls (colors, list style, numbering)
- Smooth scroll
- Built by a documentation-focused vendor
If you want a modern, well-designed block and do not mind a smaller track record, it is worth a look. Download it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
8. Table of Contents Plus
Table of Contents Plus is the classic option that plenty of older sites still run, at 200,000+ installs. It auto-inserts a TOC before your first heading, uses simple shortcodes, and stays out of the way. The good news for 2026: after a long quiet spell it is being updated again. Version 202609.1 shipped on 17 September 2026 and is tested up to the current WordPress release, so the “abandoned plugin” warning that used to sit in this section is gone.
Best features
- Auto-insert TOC before the first heading
- Hierarchical nesting with auto-numbering
- [toc], [no_toc] and [sitemap] shortcodes, plus sitemap variants for pages, categories and posts
- Smooth-scroll anchors and a show/hide toggle
- Sidebar widget that follows the post being viewed
It has no Gutenberg block, so block editor users will prefer one of the options above. For a Classic Editor site it remains the simplest install. Get it from the WordPress.org plugin page.
How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress
The steps are quick with any of these plugins:
- Install and activate your chosen table of contents plugin.
- Open its settings and choose where the TOC appears: auto-insert before the first heading, a shortcode, or a block or widget.
- Pick which heading levels to include. H2 and H3 is the usual sweet spot.
- Turn on smooth scroll, and a collapsible or sticky view if the plugin offers one.
- Preview a long post and confirm the jump links land on the right sections.
On Elementor, the flow is shorter: search the widgets panel for Table of Contents, drag the Master Addons widget above your first section or into a sidebar, and it fills itself from the page’s headings. Drop it into a single-post template once and every post gets a TOC. The Master Addons Table of Contents page covers setup and compares it with the Table of Contents widget in Elementor Pro.
Table of Contents Shortcodes: Easy TOC, LuckyWP, TOC+ and Joli
Four of the eight plugins give you a shortcode, which is the way to place a TOC in a Classic Editor post, a theme template or a widget area where a block is not available. The other four are block-only (SimpleTOC, Heroic, Ultimate Blocks) or an Elementor widget (Master Addons).
| Plugin | Shortcode | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Table of Contents | [ez-toc] | Accepts attributes such as header_label, toggle_view, initial_view, heading_levels, exclude and post_types |
| LuckyWP Table of Contents | [lwptoc] | No attributes documented; the tag name can be changed with the lwptoc_shortcode_tag filter |
| Table of Contents Plus | [toc] | Also [no_toc] to suppress the auto-insert on one post, and [sitemap], [sitemap_pages], [sitemap_categories], [sitemap_posts] |
| Joli Table of Contents | [joli-toc] | Hyphen, not underscore |
Two practical notes. With Easy Table of Contents, a shortcode such as [ez-toc heading_levels=”2,3″] limits one post to H2 and H3 without changing the global setting. With Table of Contents Plus, [no_toc] is the quick fix when auto-insert adds a list to a short page that does not need one.
How to Choose the Right TOC Plugin
Match the plugin to how you build and to how much you care about maintenance dates.
| If you… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Build pages with Elementor | Master Addons for Elementor |
| Want the safe, works-everywhere default | Easy Table of Contents |
| Want the most styling control and accept an 18-month-old release | LuckyWP Table of Contents |
| Want the lightest, fastest option | SimpleTOC |
| Want a floating TOC and will pay for it | Joli Table of Contents Pro |
| Already use a block suite | Ultimate Blocks |
| Run a Classic Editor site | Table of Contents Plus |
Whichever you pick, a TOC is one piece of a well-structured post. For the bigger picture on building fast, organized Elementor sites, see the 100 best Elementor addons and our roundup of lightweight WordPress themes for Elementor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best table of contents plugin for WordPress?
Easy Table of Contents is the safest all-round pick, with 600,000+ installs, an October 2026 update and support for the Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi and WPBakery. If you build with Elementor, Master Addons adds a Table of Contents widget inside the editor, and LuckyWP wins on styling control if you accept its April 2025 release date.
How do I add a table of contents in WordPress?
Install a TOC plugin, then choose how it appears: auto-insert before the first heading, a shortcode, or a block. The plugin reads your H2 and H3 headings and builds clickable jump links automatically, so you write with proper headings and it does the rest.
What is the LuckyWP table of contents shortcode?
The LuckyWP shortcode is [lwptoc]. Paste it where the list should appear in a post, page or widget. The plugin page documents no attributes; appearance is set in the plugin settings, and the tag name can be changed with the lwptoc_shortcode_tag filter. Easy Table of Contents uses [ez-toc] and Table of Contents Plus uses [toc].
Is Table of Contents Plus still maintained in 2026?
Yes. Table of Contents Plus released version 202609.1 on 17 September 2026 and is tested up to the current WordPress release. Older roundups still describe it as abandoned, which was true for a stretch after 2024 but no longer is.
Easy Table of Contents or LuckyWP: which should I pick?
Pick Easy Table of Contents if you want the plugin that is updated most often and works with every editor; pick LuckyWP if you need its styling controls or Gutenberg block without paying. LuckyWP has the higher rating (4.9 from 884 reviews) but has not had a release since April 2025.
Does a table of contents help SEO?
Indirectly, yes. A TOC improves navigation and dwell time, and its anchor links can appear as jump-to links in Google results, giving you more visibility. It does not directly boost rankings, but the structure and user-experience gains support them.
Can I add a table of contents without a plugin?
You can build one manually with HTML anchor links, but it breaks whenever you edit headings. A plugin generates and updates the TOC from your headings, which is why almost every content site uses one instead of hand-coding.
How do I add a table of contents in Elementor?
Use the Master Addons Table of Contents widget. Drag it into your page or single-post template in the Elementor editor, choose the heading tags to include, and it builds a nested list with smooth-scroll jump links, a collapsible option and a scroll-to-top arrow. Elementor Pro also ships its own Table of Contents widget.
Should I use a table of contents plugin or an Elementor widget?
If the page is built in Elementor, a widget fits better: you place it where you want and style it with the rest of the design, and the Master Addons Table of Contents widget does that without Elementor Pro. If you write posts in the block editor or the Classic Editor, a plugin such as Easy Table of Contents inserts the list into every post automatically.
Final Thoughts
The best table of contents plugin for WordPress depends on how you publish. Easy Table of Contents is the works-anywhere default with 600,000+ installs and a release this month, Table of Contents Plus is back in active development for Classic Editor sites, SimpleTOC keeps things featherweight, and LuckyWP still has the best styling if you can live with an April 2025 build. If your site runs on Elementor, Master Addons is the smoothest fit, since its TOC widget lives inside the editor and reads your headings on its own.
To keep your Elementor content structured and fast, explore the full Master Addons widgets and extensions or start from ready-made Elementor template kits.
Related Reading
