diff --git a/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/PluginCategoryManager.cs b/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/PluginCategoryManager.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ff8a583c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/PluginCategoryManager.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+using CheapLoc;
+using Dalamud.Plugin.Internal.Types;
+
+namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Manage category filters for PluginInstallerWindow.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal class PluginCategoryManager
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// First categoryId for tag based categories.
+        /// </summary>
+        public const int FirstTagBasedCategoryId = 100;
+
+        private readonly CategoryInfo[] categoryList =
+        {
+            new(0, "special.all", () => Locs.Category_All),
+            new(10, "special.devInstalled", () => Locs.Category_DevInstalled),
+            new(11, "special.devIconTester", () => Locs.Category_IconTester),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 0, "other", () => Locs.Category_Other),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 1, "jobs", () => Locs.Category_Jobs),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 2, "ui", () => Locs.Category_UI),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 3, "minigame", () => Locs.Category_MiniGames),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 4, "inventory", () => Locs.Category_Inventory),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 5, "sound", () => Locs.Category_Sound),
+            new(FirstTagBasedCategoryId + 6, "social", () => Locs.Category_Social),
+
+            // order doesn't matter, all tag driven categories should have Id >= FirstTagBasedCategoryId
+        };
+
+        private GroupInfo[] groupList =
+        {
+            new(GroupKind.DevTools, () => Locs.Group_DevTools, 10, 11),
+            new(GroupKind.Installed, () => Locs.Group_Installed, 0),
+            new(GroupKind.Available, () => Locs.Group_Available, 0),
+
+            // order important, used for drawing, keep in sync with defaults for currentGroupIdx
+        };
+
+        private int currentGroupIdx = 2;
+        private int currentCategoryIdx = 0;
+        private bool isContentDirty;
+
+        private Dictionary<PluginManifest, int[]> mapPluginCategories = new();
+        private List<int> highlightedCategoryIds = new();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Type of category group.
+        /// </summary>
+        public enum GroupKind
+        {
+            /// <summary>
+            /// UI group: dev mode only.
+            /// </summary>
+            DevTools,
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// UI group: installed plugins.
+            /// </summary>
+            Installed,
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// UI group: plugins that can be installed.
+            /// </summary>
+            Available,
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the list of all known categories.
+        /// </summary>
+        public CategoryInfo[] CategoryList => this.categoryList;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the list of all known UI groups.
+        /// </summary>
+        public GroupInfo[] GroupList => this.groupList;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets current group.
+        /// </summary>
+        public int CurrentGroupIdx
+        {
+            get => this.currentGroupIdx;
+            set
+            {
+                if (this.currentGroupIdx != value)
+                {
+                    this.currentGroupIdx = value;
+                    this.currentCategoryIdx = 0;
+                    this.isContentDirty = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets current category.
+        /// </summary>
+        public int CurrentCategoryIdx
+        {
+            get => this.currentCategoryIdx;
+            set
+            {
+                if (this.currentCategoryIdx != value)
+                {
+                    this.currentCategoryIdx = value;
+                    this.isContentDirty = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether category content needs to be rebuild with BuildCategoryContent() function.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool IsContentDirty => this.isContentDirty;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether <see cref="CurrentCategoryIdx"/> and <see cref="CurrentGroupIdx"/> are valid.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool IsSelectionValid =>
+            (this.currentGroupIdx >= 0) &&
+            (this.currentGroupIdx < this.groupList.Length) &&
+            (this.currentCategoryIdx >= 0) &&
+            (this.currentCategoryIdx < this.categoryList.Length);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Rebuild available categories based on currently available plugins.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="availablePlugins">list of all available plugin manifests to install.</param>
+        public void BuildCategories(IEnumerable<PluginManifest> availablePlugins)
+        {
+            // rebuild map plugin name -> categoryIds
+            this.mapPluginCategories.Clear();
+
+            var categoryList = new List<int>();
+            var allCategoryIndices = new List<int>();
+
+            foreach (var plugin in availablePlugins)
+            {
+                categoryList.Clear();
+
+                var pluginCategoryTags = this.GetCategoryTagsForManifest(plugin);
+                if (pluginCategoryTags != null)
+                {
+                    foreach (var tag in pluginCategoryTags)
+                    {
+                        // only tags from whitelist can be accepted
+                        int matchIdx = Array.FindIndex(this.CategoryList, x => x.Tag.Equals(tag, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase));
+                        if (matchIdx >= 0)
+                        {
+                            int categoryId = this.CategoryList[matchIdx].CategoryId;
+                            if (categoryId >= FirstTagBasedCategoryId)
+                            {
+                                categoryList.Add(categoryId);
+
+                                if (!allCategoryIndices.Contains(matchIdx))
+                                {
+                                    allCategoryIndices.Add(matchIdx);
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // always add, even if empty
+                this.mapPluginCategories.Add(plugin, categoryList.ToArray());
+            }
+
+            // sort all categories by their loc name
+            allCategoryIndices.Sort((idxX, idxY) => this.CategoryList[idxX].Name.CompareTo(this.CategoryList[idxY].Name));
+
+            // rebuild all categories in group, leaving first entry = All intact and always on top
+            var groupAvail = Array.Find(this.groupList, x => x.GroupKind == GroupKind.Available);
+            if (groupAvail.Categories.Count > 1)
+            {
+                groupAvail.Categories.RemoveRange(1, groupAvail.Categories.Count - 1);
+            }
+
+            foreach (var categoryIdx in allCategoryIndices)
+            {
+                groupAvail.Categories.Add(this.CategoryList[categoryIdx].CategoryId);
+            }
+
+            this.isContentDirty = true;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Filters list of available plugins based on currently selected category.
+        /// Resets <see cref="isContentDirty"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="plugins">List of available plugins to install.</param>
+        /// <returns>Filtered list of plugins.</returns>
+        public List<PluginManifest> GetCurrentCategoryContent(IEnumerable<PluginManifest> plugins)
+        {
+            var result = new List<PluginManifest>();
+
+            if (this.IsSelectionValid)
+            {
+                var groupInfo = this.groupList[this.currentGroupIdx];
+
+                bool includeAll = (this.currentCategoryIdx == 0) || (groupInfo.GroupKind != GroupKind.Available);
+                if (includeAll)
+                {
+                    result.AddRange(plugins);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    var selectedCategoryInfo = Array.Find(this.categoryList, x => x.CategoryId == groupInfo.Categories[this.currentCategoryIdx]);
+
+                    foreach (var plugin in plugins)
+                    {
+                        if (this.mapPluginCategories.TryGetValue(plugin, out var pluginCategoryIds))
+                        {
+                            int matchIdx = Array.IndexOf(pluginCategoryIds, selectedCategoryInfo.CategoryId);
+                            if (matchIdx >= 0)
+                            {
+                                result.Add(plugin);
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            this.isContentDirty = false;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Sets category highlight based on list of plugins. Used for searching.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="plugins">List of plugins whose categories should be highlighted.</param>
+        public void SetCategoryHighlightsForPlugins(IEnumerable<PluginManifest> plugins)
+        {
+            this.highlightedCategoryIds.Clear();
+
+            if (plugins != null)
+            {
+                foreach (var entry in plugins)
+                {
+                    if (this.mapPluginCategories.TryGetValue(entry, out var pluginCategories))
+                    {
+                        foreach (var categoryId in pluginCategories)
+                        {
+                            if (!this.highlightedCategoryIds.Contains(categoryId))
+                            {
+                                this.highlightedCategoryIds.Add(categoryId);
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks if category should be highlighted.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="categoryId">CategoryId to check.</param>
+        /// <returns>true if highlight is needed.</returns>
+        public bool IsCategoryHighlighted(int categoryId) => this.highlightedCategoryIds.Contains(categoryId);
+
+        private IEnumerable<string> GetCategoryTagsForManifest(PluginManifest pluginManifest)
+        {
+            if (pluginManifest.CategoryTags != null)
+            {
+                return pluginManifest.CategoryTags;
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Plugin installer category info.
+        /// </summary>
+        public struct CategoryInfo
+        {
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Unique Id number of category, tag match based should be greater of equal <see cref="FirstTagBasedCategoryId"/>.
+            /// </summary>
+            public int CategoryId;
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Tag from plugin manifest to match.
+            /// </summary>
+            public string Tag;
+
+            private Func<string> nameFunc;
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="CategoryInfo"/> struct.
+            /// </summary>
+            /// <param name="categoryId">Unique id of category.</param>
+            /// <param name="tag">Tag to match.</param>
+            /// <param name="nameFunc">Function returning localized name of category.</param>
+            public CategoryInfo(int categoryId, string tag, Func<string> nameFunc)
+            {
+                this.CategoryId = categoryId;
+                this.Tag = tag;
+                this.nameFunc = nameFunc;
+            }
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Gets the name of category.
+            /// </summary>
+            public string Name => this.nameFunc();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Plugin installer UI group, a container for categories.
+        /// </summary>
+        public struct GroupInfo
+        {
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Type of group.
+            /// </summary>
+            public GroupKind GroupKind;
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// List of categories in container.
+            /// </summary>
+            public List<int> Categories;
+
+            private Func<string> nameFunc;
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="GroupInfo"/> struct.
+            /// </summary>
+            /// <param name="groupKind">Type of group.</param>
+            /// <param name="nameFunc">Function returning localized name of category.</param>
+            /// <param name="categories">List of category Ids to hardcode.</param>
+            public GroupInfo(GroupKind groupKind, Func<string> nameFunc, params int[] categories)
+            {
+                this.GroupKind = groupKind;
+                this.nameFunc = nameFunc;
+
+                this.Categories = new();
+                this.Categories.AddRange(categories);
+            }
+
+            /// <summary>
+            /// Gets the name of UI group.
+            /// </summary>
+            public string Name => this.nameFunc();
+        }
+
+        private static class Locs
+        {
+            #region UI groups
+
+            public static string Group_DevTools => Loc.Localize("InstallerDevTools", "Dev Tools");
+
+            public static string Group_Installed => Loc.Localize("InstallerInstalledPlugins", "Installed Plugins");
+
+            public static string Group_Available => Loc.Localize("InstallerAvailablePlugins", "Available Plugins");
+
+            #endregion
+
+            #region Categories
+
+            public static string Category_All => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryAll", "All");
+
+            public static string Category_DevInstalled => Loc.Localize("InstallerInstalledDevPlugins", "Installed Dev Plugins");
+
+            public static string Category_IconTester => "Image/Icon Tester";
+
+            public static string Category_Other => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryOther", "Other");
+
+            public static string Category_Jobs => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryJobs", "Jobs");
+
+            public static string Category_UI => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryUI", "UI");
+
+            public static string Category_MiniGames => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryMiniGames", "Mini games");
+
+            public static string Category_Inventory => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategoryInventory", "Inventory");
+
+            public static string Category_Sound => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategorySound", "Sound");
+
+            public static string Category_Social => Loc.Localize("InstallerCategorySocial", "Social");
+
+            #endregion
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/Windows/PluginInstallerWindow.cs b/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/Windows/PluginInstallerWindow.cs
index cd4380e20..ba95fe623 100644
--- a/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/Windows/PluginInstallerWindow.cs
+++ b/Dalamud/Interface/Internal/Windows/PluginInstallerWindow.cs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
         private readonly TextureWrap updateIcon;
 
         private readonly HttpClient httpClient = new();
+        private readonly PluginCategoryManager categoryManager = new();
 
         #region Image Tester State
 
@@ -194,7 +195,8 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
         public override void Draw()
         {
             this.DrawHeader();
-            this.DrawPluginTabBar();
+            // this.DrawPluginTabBar();
+            this.DrawPluginCategories();
             this.DrawFooter();
             this.DrawErrorModal();
             this.DrawFeedbackModal();
@@ -242,7 +244,10 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
 
             ImGui.SetCursorPosX(windowSize.X - sortSelectWidth - style.ItemSpacing.X - searchInputWidth);
             ImGui.SetNextItemWidth(searchInputWidth);
-            ImGui.InputTextWithHint("###XlPluginInstaller_Search", Locs.Header_SearchPlaceholder, ref this.searchText, 100);
+            if (ImGui.InputTextWithHint("###XlPluginInstaller_Search", Locs.Header_SearchPlaceholder, ref this.searchText, 100))
+            {
+                this.UpdateCategoriesOnSearchChange();
+            }
 
             ImGui.SameLine();
             ImGui.SetCursorPosX(windowSize.X - sortSelectWidth);
@@ -603,6 +608,168 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
             }
         }
 
+        private void DrawPluginCategories()
+        {
+            float useContentHeight = -40;   // button height + spacing
+            float useMenuWidth = 180;       // works fine as static value, table can be resized by user
+
+            float useContentWidth = ImGui.GetContentRegionAvail().X;
+
+            if (ImGui.BeginChild("InstallerCategories", new Vector2(useContentWidth, useContentHeight * ImGuiHelpers.GlobalScale)))
+            {
+                ImGui.PushStyleVar(ImGuiStyleVar.CellPadding, ImGuiHelpers.ScaledVector2(5, 0));
+                if (ImGui.BeginTable("##InstallerCategoriesCont", 2, ImGuiTableFlags.SizingFixedFit | ImGuiTableFlags.Resizable | ImGuiTableFlags.BordersInnerV))
+                {
+                    ImGui.TableSetupColumn("##InstallerCategoriesSelector", ImGuiTableColumnFlags.WidthFixed, useMenuWidth * ImGuiHelpers.GlobalScale);
+                    ImGui.TableSetupColumn("##InstallerCategoriesBody", ImGuiTableColumnFlags.WidthStretch);
+                    ImGui.TableNextRow();
+
+                    ImGui.TableNextColumn();
+                    this.DrawPluginCategorySelectors();
+
+                    ImGui.TableNextColumn();
+                    if (ImGui.BeginChild($"ScrollingPlugins", new Vector2(useContentWidth, 0), false, ImGuiWindowFlags.HorizontalScrollbar | ImGuiWindowFlags.NoBackground))
+                    {
+                        this.DrawPluginCategoryContent();
+                        ImGui.EndChild();
+                    }
+
+                    ImGui.EndTable();
+                }
+
+                ImGui.PopStyleVar();
+                ImGui.EndChild();
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void DrawPluginCategorySelectors()
+        {
+            var colorSearchHighlight = Vector4.One;
+            unsafe
+            {
+                var colorPtr = ImGui.GetStyleColorVec4(ImGuiCol.NavHighlight);
+                if (colorPtr != null)
+                {
+                    colorSearchHighlight = *colorPtr;
+                }
+            }
+
+            for (int groupIdx = 0; groupIdx < this.categoryManager.GroupList.Length; groupIdx++)
+            {
+                var groupInfo = this.categoryManager.GroupList[groupIdx];
+                var canShowGroup = (groupInfo.GroupKind != PluginCategoryManager.GroupKind.DevTools) || this.hasDevPlugins;
+                if (!canShowGroup)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                ImGui.SetNextItemOpen(groupIdx == this.categoryManager.CurrentGroupIdx);
+                if (ImGui.CollapsingHeader(groupInfo.Name))
+                {
+                    if (this.categoryManager.CurrentGroupIdx != groupIdx)
+                    {
+                        this.categoryManager.CurrentGroupIdx = groupIdx;
+                    }
+
+                    ImGui.Indent();
+                    var categoryItemSize = new Vector2(ImGui.GetContentRegionAvail().X - (5 * ImGuiHelpers.GlobalScale), ImGui.GetTextLineHeight());
+                    for (int categoryIdx = 0; categoryIdx < groupInfo.Categories.Count; categoryIdx++)
+                    {
+                        var categoryInfo = Array.Find(this.categoryManager.CategoryList, x => x.CategoryId == groupInfo.Categories[categoryIdx]);
+
+                        bool hasSearchHighlight = this.categoryManager.IsCategoryHighlighted(categoryInfo.CategoryId);
+                        if (hasSearchHighlight)
+                        {
+                            ImGui.PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol.Text, colorSearchHighlight);
+                        }
+
+                        if (ImGui.Selectable(categoryInfo.Name, this.categoryManager.CurrentCategoryIdx == categoryIdx, ImGuiSelectableFlags.None, categoryItemSize))
+                        {
+                            this.categoryManager.CurrentCategoryIdx = categoryIdx;
+                        }
+
+                        if (hasSearchHighlight)
+                        {
+                            ImGui.PopStyleColor();
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    ImGui.Unindent();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void DrawPluginCategoryContent()
+        {
+            var ready = this.DrawPluginListLoading();
+            if (!this.categoryManager.IsSelectionValid || !ready)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            var groupInfo = this.categoryManager.GroupList[this.categoryManager.CurrentGroupIdx];
+            if (groupInfo.GroupKind == PluginCategoryManager.GroupKind.DevTools)
+            {
+                // this one is never sorted and remains in hardcoded order from group ctor
+                switch (this.categoryManager.CurrentCategoryIdx)
+                {
+                    case 0:
+                        this.DrawInstalledDevPluginList();
+                        break;
+
+                    case 1:
+                        this.DrawImageTester();
+                        break;
+
+                    default:
+                        // umm, there's nothing else, keep handled set and just skip drawing...
+                        break;
+                }
+            }
+            else if (groupInfo.GroupKind == PluginCategoryManager.GroupKind.Installed)
+            {
+                this.DrawInstalledPluginList();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                var pluginList = this.pluginListAvailable;
+                if (pluginList.Count > 0)
+                {
+                    // reset opened list of collapsibles when switching between categories
+                    if (this.categoryManager.IsContentDirty)
+                    {
+                        this.openPluginCollapsibles.Clear();
+                    }
+
+                    var filteredManifests = pluginList.Where(rm => !this.IsManifestFiltered(rm));
+                    var categoryManifestsList = this.categoryManager.GetCurrentCategoryContent(filteredManifests);
+
+                    if (categoryManifestsList.Count > 0)
+                    {
+                        var i = 0;
+                        foreach (var manifest in categoryManifestsList)
+                        {
+                            var rmManifest = manifest as RemotePluginManifest;
+                            if (rmManifest != null)
+                            {
+                                ImGui.PushID($"{rmManifest.InternalName}{rmManifest.AssemblyVersion}");
+                                this.DrawAvailablePlugin(rmManifest, i++);
+                                ImGui.PopID();
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        ImGui.Text(Locs.TabBody_SearchNoMatching);
+                    }
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    ImGui.Text(Locs.TabBody_SearchNoCompatible);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         private void DrawImageTester()
         {
             var sectionSize = ImGuiHelpers.GlobalScale * 66;
@@ -1763,6 +1930,8 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
                 .ToList();
             this.pluginListUpdatable = pluginManager.UpdatablePlugins.ToList();
             this.ResortPlugins();
+
+            this.UpdateCategoriesOnPluginsChange();
         }
 
         private void OnInstalledPluginsChanged()
@@ -1773,6 +1942,8 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
             this.pluginListUpdatable = pluginManager.UpdatablePlugins.ToList();
             this.hasDevPlugins = this.pluginListInstalled.Any(plugin => plugin.IsDev);
             this.ResortPlugins();
+
+            this.UpdateCategoriesOnPluginsChange();
         }
 
         private void ResortPlugins()
@@ -2111,6 +2282,25 @@ namespace Dalamud.Interface.Internal.Windows
             return output;
         }
 
+        private void UpdateCategoriesOnSearchChange()
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(this.searchText))
+            {
+                this.categoryManager.SetCategoryHighlightsForPlugins(null);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                var pluginsMatchingSearch = this.pluginListAvailable.Where(rm => !this.IsManifestFiltered(rm));
+                this.categoryManager.SetCategoryHighlightsForPlugins(pluginsMatchingSearch);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void UpdateCategoriesOnPluginsChange()
+        {
+            this.categoryManager.BuildCategories(this.pluginListAvailable);
+            this.UpdateCategoriesOnSearchChange();
+        }
+
         [SuppressMessage("StyleCop.CSharp.OrderingRules", "SA1201:Elements should appear in the correct order", Justification = "Disregard here")]
         private static class Locs
         {
diff --git a/Dalamud/Plugin/Internal/Types/PluginManifest.cs b/Dalamud/Plugin/Internal/Types/PluginManifest.cs
index 0076ddfc7..ddacb66de 100644
--- a/Dalamud/Plugin/Internal/Types/PluginManifest.cs
+++ b/Dalamud/Plugin/Internal/Types/PluginManifest.cs
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ namespace Dalamud.Plugin.Internal.Types
         [JsonProperty]
         public List<string>? Tags { get; init; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a list of category tags defined on the plugin.
+        /// </summary>
+        [JsonProperty]
+        public List<string>? CategoryTags { get; init; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets a value indicating whether or not the plugin is hidden in the plugin installer.
         /// This value comes from the plugin master and is in addition to the list of hidden names kept by Dalamud.