diff --git a/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/src/manifest.json b/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/src/manifest.json
index 6038168d3c..0253e97dff 100644
--- a/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/src/manifest.json
+++ b/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/src/manifest.json
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@
 	"author": "<%= pluginAuthor %>",
 	"homepage_url": "<%= pluginHomepageUrl %>",
 	"repository_url": "<%= pluginRepositoryUrl %>",
-	"keywords": []
+	"keywords": [],
+	"categories": []
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/webpack.config.js b/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/webpack.config.js
index 78d2f7002f..1c2d7e7bf1 100644
--- a/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/webpack.config.js
+++ b/packages/generator-joplin/generators/app/templates/webpack.config.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const userConfig = Object.assign({}, {
 
 const manifestPath = `${srcDir}/manifest.json`;
 const packageJsonPath = `${rootDir}/package.json`;
+const allPossibleCategories = ['appearance', 'developer tools', 'productivity', 'themes', 'integrations', 'viewer', 'search', 'tags', 'editor', 'files', 'personal knowledge management'];
 const manifest = readManifest(manifestPath);
 const pluginArchiveFilePath = path.resolve(publishDir, `${manifest.id}.jpl`);
 const pluginInfoFilePath = path.resolve(publishDir, `${manifest.id}.json`);
@@ -67,10 +68,19 @@ function currentGitInfo() {
 	}
 }
 
+function validateCategories(categories) {
+	if (!categories) return null;
+	if ((categories.length !== new Set(categories).size)) throw new Error('Repeated categories are not allowed');
+	categories.forEach(category => {
+		if (!allPossibleCategories.includes(category)) throw new Error(`${category} is not a valid category. Please make sure that the category name is lowercase. Valid Categories are: \n${allPossibleCategories}\n`);
+	});
+}
+
 function readManifest(manifestPath) {
 	const content = fs.readFileSync(manifestPath, 'utf8');
 	const output = JSON.parse(content);
 	if (!output.id) throw new Error(`Manifest plugin ID is not set in ${manifestPath}`);
+	validateCategories(output.categories);
 	return output;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/manifestFromObject.ts b/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/manifestFromObject.ts
index 7b4f142f0e..9cddea3e81 100644
--- a/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/manifestFromObject.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/manifestFromObject.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export default function manifestFromObject(o: any): PluginManifest {
 		homepage_url: getString('homepage_url', false),
 		repository_url: getString('repository_url', false),
 		keywords: getStrings('keywords', false),
+		categories: getStrings('categories', false),
 		permissions: permissions,
 
 		_recommended: getBoolean('_recommended', false, false),
diff --git a/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/types.ts b/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/types.ts
index 42b6cd9b9a..edcb3d036b 100644
--- a/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/types.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/services/plugins/utils/types.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export interface PluginManifest {
 	homepage_url?: string;
 	repository_url?: string;
 	keywords?: string[];
+	categories?: string[];
 	permissions?: PluginPermission[];
 
 	// Private keys
diff --git a/readme/api/references/plugin_manifest.md b/readme/api/references/plugin_manifest.md
index 4e8d2881f1..bff114af06 100644
--- a/readme/api/references/plugin_manifest.md
+++ b/readme/api/references/plugin_manifest.md
@@ -13,6 +13,23 @@ Name | Type | Required? | Description
 `keywords` | string[] | No | Keywords associated with the plugins. They are used in search in particular.
 `homepage_url` | string | No | Homepage URL of the plugin. It can also be, for example, a link to a GitHub repository.
 `repository_url` | string | No | Repository URL where the plugin source code is hosted.
+`categories` | string[] | No  | [Categories](#categories) that describes the functionality of the plugin. |
+
+## Categories
+
+| Category | Description |
+| --- | --- |
+| appearance | dealing with appearance of some element/s of the app. For example line numbers, layout, etc. |
+| developer tools |  built for the developers. |
+| editor |  enhancing note editor. |
+| files |  dealing with files. For example import, export, backup, etc. |
+| integrations | integrating third party services or apps. |
+| personal knowledge management | managing and organizing notes. |
+| productivity | making Joplin more productive to use. |
+| search |  enhancing search inside the app. |
+| tags |  dealing with note tags. |
+| themes |  changing theme of the app. |
+| viewer | enhancing the rendering of a note. |
 
 ## Manifest example