There is no single best WordPress table-of-contents (TOC) plugin. Choose Heroic Table of Contents for a dedicated block with collapsible and style controls, Kadence when a sticky sidebar and scroll spy are priorities, Easy Table of Contents for broad editor and page-builder compatibility with automatic parsing, LuckyWP for block, shortcode, and classic-editor insertion, or Table of Contents Plus when set-it-once automatic insertion is the main requirement. Rank Math is a sensible choice if you already use its editor and want its own TOC block.
How to choose a WordPress TOC tool
Start with where the TOC must appear and how your content is edited. A block placed in each article gives precise control, while automatic insertion is faster for a large archive. A sticky sidebar is useful for long desktop pages but depends on your theme or template’s sidebar behavior. Also check whether your content is rendered through WordPress’s the_content() filter, because several tools use that output to detect posts and custom post types.
- Insertion: automatic placement, a Gutenberg/native block, a shortcode, or a classic-editor control.
- Layout: inside the article, outside the post content, in a sticky sidebar, or in a modal.
- Heading controls: selectable heading levels, exclusions, relabeling, list styles, and collapsible behavior.
- Template support: ordinary posts, pages, custom post types, and builder-generated templates.
- Editor stack: Gutenberg, Classic Editor, Divi, Elementor, WPBakery, Visual Composer, Beaver Builder, Oxygen, or another builder.
The comparisons below describe documented features, not a speed, usability, accessibility, or search-ranking test. Plugin-directory installation totals are popularity indicators only; they do not measure quality.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best fit | How you insert it | Placement and controls documented | Template or compatibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heroic Table of Contents | Dedicated block workflow with visual controls | WordPress block | Automatic heading detection, four built-in styles, heading selection, hide or relabel controls, collapsible contents, list-style choices, and multiple blocks | Template mode for post, page, and custom post type templates |
| Kadence Table of Contents block | Sticky navigation and current-heading highlighting | Kadence block | Heading-level selection, optional smooth scrolling, sticky-sidebar placement, and scroll spy | Can be placed outside post content, including a sticky area or modal; Kadence Blocks Pro is part of Ultimate and Lifetime plans |
| Easy Table of Contents | Automatic parsing across editors and builders | Automatic generation in supported content | Heading parsing and support for <!--nextpage--> |
Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Divi, Elementor, WPBakery, and Visual Composer compatibility; custom post types when output through the_content() |
| LuckyWP Table of Contents | Readers who want several insertion methods | Classic Editor, Gutenberg block, or [lwptoc] shortcode |
Method choice rather than one mandated placement | Documented compatibility with Elementor, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, WPML, Rank Math, WP Rocket, and Toolset; verify against your current stack |
| Table of Contents Plus | Set-it-once automatic insertion | Automatic insertion for qualifying content | Automatic placement; exact controls depend on configuration | Custom post types when content is emitted through the_content(); examples include guides, tutorials, recipes, wikis, reference pages, support pages, and research articles |
| Rank Math TOC block | Sites already using Rank Math’s editor tools | Rank Math block | TOC block documented; Rank Math readability checks recognize several TOC implementations | Recognition includes implementations such as LuckyWP; confirm the behavior you need in your editor |
Best dedicated block: Heroic Table of Contents
Heroic Table of Contents is a strong fit when authors work primarily in the WordPress block editor and want the TOC to be a designed component rather than an automatically injected element. It detects headings, lets you choose which heading levels appear, and provides four pre-made styles. You can hide or relabel entries, select list styles, and make the contents collapsible.
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Multiple TOC blocks are supported, which is useful when a long page needs navigation in more than one location. Its template mode extends placement to post, page, and custom post type templates. It is distributed as a downloadable WordPress plugin, not a physical product.
Choose it when
- Your editorial workflow is Gutenberg-first.
- You want collapsible contents and visible style choices without assembling them separately.
- You need more than one TOC or want template-level placement.
Check first
The available evidence establishes features, not comparative rendering speed, usability, or search performance. Test the block with your theme’s heading styles and mobile layout before deploying it site-wide.
#1 Best Overall
Best for a sticky sidebar: Kadence Table of Contents block
Kadence’s TOC block can include selected heading levels, optionally smooth-scroll to anchors, and highlight the heading currently in view with scroll spy. Kadence documents placing the block in a sticky sidebar and outside the post content, including a sticky area or modal.
This is the most relevant option in this list when the navigation should remain visible while a reader moves through a long article. The result still depends on your theme’s sidebar width, sticky positioning, z-index, and responsive rules. Kadence documentation identifies Kadence Blocks Pro as part of its Ultimate and Lifetime plans; current plan prices were not established here.
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- Desktop readers need persistent navigation beside the article.
- Highlighting the active section is more important than automatic injection.
- Your site already uses Kadence Blocks and its layout system.
Check first
On narrow screens, a sticky sidebar may become an inline block or require theme-specific CSS. Confirm that smooth scrolling does not hide headings beneath a fixed header.
Best documented editor and builder breadth: Easy Table of Contents
Easy Table of Contents automatically generates a TOC by parsing headings. Its listing documents support for the Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Divi, Elementor, WPBakery, and Visual Composer, making it a practical candidate for sites with mixed authoring methods. It also documents support for the <!--nextpage--> tag and Rank Math.
Custom post types are supported when their content is output through the_content(). That qualification matters: a custom template that prints fields directly, bypassing the standard content filter, may not provide the headings the plugin expects.
Rank #2
Version note
The WordPress.org listing surfaced version 2.0.88 dated 16 September 2026. Directory versions and compatibility declarations can change, so check the listing and your WordPress version immediately before installation. WordPress.org showed 600,000+ active installations on 30 September 2026; that moving count is not a quality or performance rating.
Recommended Free Tools
Best for block, shortcode, or classic-editor choice: LuckyWP
LuckyWP Table of Contents offers three insertion paths: a Classic Editor control, a Gutenberg block, and the [lwptoc] shortcode. That makes it suitable for teams migrating from older posts, publishing new block content, or placing a TOC in a template or reusable content area where a shortcode is more convenient.
The plugin documents tested compatibility with Elementor, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, WPML, Rank Math, WP Rocket, and Toolset. “Tested” does not guarantee that every combination of theme, add-on, and WordPress release will behave identically; reproduce your production stack on a staging site.
Installation-count context
WordPress.org showed 100,000+ active installations on 30 September 2026. This is a dynamic directory figure, not evidence that LuckyWP is faster or easier than the alternatives.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Best for automatic insertion: Table of Contents Plus
Table of Contents Plus is aimed at a set-it-up-once workflow: configure the conditions, and qualifying content receives a TOC automatically. The listing specifically cites long-form guides, tutorials, recipes, wikis, reference pages, product and support pages, and research articles as use cases.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIts custom-post-type behavior also depends on content being emitted through the_content(). If your theme or plugin builds the page from custom fields without that filter, automatic insertion may not see the headings. For those templates, a block or shortcode-based tool can provide more explicit placement.
When Rank Math’s TOC block makes sense
Rank Math documents its own Table of Contents block and says its readability guidance recognizes several TOC implementations, including LuckyWP. This is a convenience choice for sites already editing content with Rank Math. It is not evidence that Rank Math’s block is faster or more complete than dedicated TOC plugins.
Quick Recap
Use the block when keeping headings, SEO checks, and content editing in one plugin matters. If you need a sticky sidebar, scroll spy, or multiple specialized placement rules, compare the dedicated options above instead of assuming the Rank Math block supplies those behaviors.
Adding a TOC to a WordPress post
Block-based workflow
- Open the post or page in the editor supported by your chosen tool.
- Insert the plugin’s TOC block where navigation should appear.
- Select the heading levels to include and configure exclusions, labels, list style, smooth scrolling, or collapse behavior where the block provides those controls.
- Preview desktop and mobile layouts, then verify every entry jumps to the intended heading.
Automatic workflow
- Configure the minimum content or heading conditions in the plugin settings.
- Set the post types and insertion location, if those options are available.
- Confirm that the template outputs article content through
the_content()when using custom post types. - Check representative posts, pages, and builder layouts before enabling the rule for the whole site.
Shortcode workflow
- Insert the plugin’s shortcode, such as LuckyWP’s
[lwptoc], in the post, template, or reusable area. - Save and preview the page at each responsive breakpoint.
- After changing heading text or levels, recheck the generated anchors and links.
Compatibility and troubleshooting checklist
- No headings appear: inspect the rendered HTML and confirm the content passes through
the_content(); headings printed from unrelated custom fields may not be parsed. - Builder layout differs from the editor: preview the published Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, Oxygen, or Visual Composer output, not only the editor canvas.
- Sticky navigation overlaps content: adjust sticky offsets, header height, z-index, and mobile breakpoints in the theme or block settings.
- Links stop at the wrong vertical position: account for a fixed header and test smooth-scroll behavior.
- Entries are too broad or too deep: limit included heading levels and exclude decorative or utility headings.
- Compatibility is uncertain: stage the update with the exact WordPress version, theme, builder, caching plugin, multilingual plugin, and SEO plugin used in production.
Which plugin should you choose?
Pick Heroic Table of Contents for a dedicated, configurable block; Kadence for sticky-sidebar navigation and scroll spy; Easy Table of Contents for automatic heading parsing across a broad documented editor and builder set; LuckyWP when you need block, shortcode, and Classic Editor options; Table of Contents Plus for automatic insertion; and Rank Math when its block fits an existing Rank Math workflow. These are feature-based fits, not tested rankings.
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