diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
index c12f486668..c603ddbb8c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ apparent the next time `nu` is next launched with that plugin registry file.
         let metadata = interface.get_metadata()?;
         let commands = interface.get_signature()?;
 
-        modify_plugin_file(engine_state, stack, call.head, custom_path, |contents| {
+        modify_plugin_file(engine_state, stack, call.head, &custom_path, |contents| {
             // Update the file with the received metadata and signatures
             let item = PluginRegistryItem::new(plugin.identity(), metadata, commands);
             contents.upsert_plugin(item);
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/list.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/list.rs
index 3fbf55b23c..367a532ef3 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/list.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/list.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-use itertools::Itertools;
+use itertools::{EitherOrBoth, Itertools};
 use nu_engine::command_prelude::*;
+use nu_protocol::{IntoValue, PluginRegistryItemData};
+
+use crate::util::read_plugin_file;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct PluginList;
@@ -17,7 +20,7 @@ impl Command for PluginList {
                     [
                         ("name".into(), Type::String),
                         ("version".into(), Type::String),
-                        ("is_running".into(), Type::Bool),
+                        ("status".into(), Type::String),
                         ("pid".into(), Type::Int),
                         ("filename".into(), Type::String),
                         ("shell".into(), Type::String),
@@ -26,11 +29,54 @@ impl Command for PluginList {
                     .into(),
                 ),
             )
+            .named(
+                "plugin-config",
+                SyntaxShape::Filepath,
+                "Use a plugin registry file other than the one set in `$nu.plugin-path`",
+                None,
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "engine",
+                "Show info for plugins that are loaded into the engine only.",
+                Some('e'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "registry",
+                "Show info for plugins from the registry file only.",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
             .category(Category::Plugin)
     }
 
     fn description(&self) -> &str {
-        "List installed plugins."
+        "List loaded and installed plugins."
+    }
+
+    fn extra_description(&self) -> &str {
+        r#"
+The `status` column will contain one of the following values:
+
+- `added`:    The plugin is present in the plugin registry file, but not in
+              the engine.
+- `loaded`:   The plugin is present both in the plugin registry file and in
+              the engine, but is not running.
+- `running`:  The plugin is currently running, and the `pid` column should
+              contain its process ID.
+- `modified`: The plugin state present in the plugin registry file is different
+              from the state in the engine.
+- `removed`:  The plugin is still loaded in the engine, but is not present in
+              the plugin registry file.
+- `invalid`:  The data in the plugin registry file couldn't be deserialized,
+              and the plugin most likely needs to be added again.
+
+`running` takes priority over any other status. Unless `--registry` is used
+or the plugin has not been loaded yet, the values of `version`, `filename`,
+`shell`, and `commands` reflect the values in the engine and not the ones in
+the plugin registry file.
+
+See also: `plugin use`
+"#
+        .trim()
     }
 
     fn search_terms(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
@@ -45,7 +91,7 @@ impl Command for PluginList {
                 result: Some(Value::test_list(vec![Value::test_record(record! {
                     "name" => Value::test_string("inc"),
                     "version" => Value::test_string(env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION")),
-                    "is_running" => Value::test_bool(true),
+                    "status" => Value::test_string("running"),
                     "pid" => Value::test_int(106480),
                     "filename" => if cfg!(windows) {
                         Value::test_string(r"C:\nu\plugins\nu_plugin_inc.exe")
@@ -67,58 +113,189 @@ impl Command for PluginList {
     fn run(
         &self,
         engine_state: &EngineState,
-        _stack: &mut Stack,
+        stack: &mut Stack,
         call: &Call,
         _input: PipelineData,
     ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
-        let head = call.head;
+        let custom_path = call.get_flag(engine_state, stack, "plugin-config")?;
+        let engine_mode = call.has_flag(engine_state, stack, "engine")?;
+        let registry_mode = call.has_flag(engine_state, stack, "registry")?;
 
-        // Group plugin decls by plugin identity
-        let decls = engine_state.plugin_decls().into_group_map_by(|decl| {
-            decl.plugin_identity()
-                .expect("plugin decl should have identity")
-        });
+        let plugins_info = match (engine_mode, registry_mode) {
+            // --engine and --registry together is equivalent to the default.
+            (false, false) | (true, true) => {
+                if engine_state.plugin_path.is_some() || custom_path.is_some() {
+                    let plugins_in_engine = get_plugins_in_engine(engine_state);
+                    let plugins_in_registry =
+                        get_plugins_in_registry(engine_state, stack, call.head, &custom_path)?;
+                    merge_plugin_info(plugins_in_engine, plugins_in_registry)
+                } else {
+                    // Don't produce error when running nu --no-config-file
+                    get_plugins_in_engine(engine_state)
+                }
+            }
+            (true, false) => get_plugins_in_engine(engine_state),
+            (false, true) => get_plugins_in_registry(engine_state, stack, call.head, &custom_path)?,
+        };
 
-        // Build plugins list
-        let list = engine_state.plugins().iter().map(|plugin| {
-            // Find commands that belong to the plugin
-            let commands = decls.get(plugin.identity())
-                .into_iter()
-                .flat_map(|decls| {
-                    decls.iter().map(|decl| Value::string(decl.name(), head))
-                })
-                .collect();
-
-            let pid = plugin
-                .pid()
-                .map(|p| Value::int(p as i64, head))
-                .unwrap_or(Value::nothing(head));
-
-            let shell = plugin
-                .identity()
-                .shell()
-                .map(|s| Value::string(s.to_string_lossy(), head))
-                .unwrap_or(Value::nothing(head));
-
-            let metadata = plugin.metadata();
-            let version = metadata
-                .and_then(|m| m.version)
-                .map(|s| Value::string(s, head))
-                .unwrap_or(Value::nothing(head));
-
-            let record = record! {
-                "name" => Value::string(plugin.identity().name(), head),
-                "version" => version,
-                "is_running" => Value::bool(plugin.is_running(), head),
-                "pid" => pid,
-                "filename" => Value::string(plugin.identity().filename().to_string_lossy(), head),
-                "shell" => shell,
-                "commands" => Value::list(commands, head),
-            };
-
-            Value::record(record, head)
-        }).collect();
-
-        Ok(Value::list(list, head).into_pipeline_data())
+        Ok(plugins_info.into_value(call.head).into_pipeline_data())
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, IntoValue, PartialOrd, Ord, PartialEq, Eq)]
+struct PluginInfo {
+    name: String,
+    version: Option<String>,
+    status: PluginStatus,
+    pid: Option<u32>,
+    filename: String,
+    shell: Option<String>,
+    commands: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, IntoValue, PartialOrd, Ord, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[nu_value(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+enum PluginStatus {
+    Added,
+    Loaded,
+    Running,
+    Modified,
+    Removed,
+    Invalid,
+}
+
+fn get_plugins_in_engine(engine_state: &EngineState) -> Vec<PluginInfo> {
+    // Group plugin decls by plugin identity
+    let decls = engine_state.plugin_decls().into_group_map_by(|decl| {
+        decl.plugin_identity()
+            .expect("plugin decl should have identity")
+    });
+
+    // Build plugins list
+    engine_state
+        .plugins()
+        .iter()
+        .map(|plugin| {
+            // Find commands that belong to the plugin
+            let commands = decls
+                .get(plugin.identity())
+                .into_iter()
+                .flat_map(|decls| decls.iter().map(|decl| decl.name().to_owned()))
+                .sorted()
+                .collect();
+
+            PluginInfo {
+                name: plugin.identity().name().into(),
+                version: plugin.metadata().and_then(|m| m.version),
+                status: if plugin.pid().is_some() {
+                    PluginStatus::Running
+                } else {
+                    PluginStatus::Loaded
+                },
+                pid: plugin.pid(),
+                filename: plugin.identity().filename().to_string_lossy().into_owned(),
+                shell: plugin
+                    .identity()
+                    .shell()
+                    .map(|path| path.to_string_lossy().into_owned()),
+                commands,
+            }
+        })
+        .sorted()
+        .collect()
+}
+
+fn get_plugins_in_registry(
+    engine_state: &EngineState,
+    stack: &mut Stack,
+    span: Span,
+    custom_path: &Option<Spanned<String>>,
+) -> Result<Vec<PluginInfo>, ShellError> {
+    let plugin_file_contents = read_plugin_file(engine_state, stack, span, custom_path)?;
+
+    let plugins_info = plugin_file_contents
+        .plugins
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|plugin| {
+            let mut info = PluginInfo {
+                name: plugin.name,
+                version: None,
+                status: PluginStatus::Added,
+                pid: None,
+                filename: plugin.filename.to_string_lossy().into_owned(),
+                shell: plugin.shell.map(|path| path.to_string_lossy().into_owned()),
+                commands: vec![],
+            };
+
+            if let PluginRegistryItemData::Valid { metadata, commands } = plugin.data {
+                info.version = metadata.version;
+                info.commands = commands
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|command| command.sig.name)
+                    .sorted()
+                    .collect();
+            } else {
+                info.status = PluginStatus::Invalid;
+            }
+            info
+        })
+        .sorted()
+        .collect();
+
+    Ok(plugins_info)
+}
+
+/// If no options are provided, the command loads from both the plugin list in the engine and what's
+/// in the registry file. We need to reconcile the two to set the proper states and make sure that
+/// new plugins that were added to the plugin registry file show up.
+fn merge_plugin_info(
+    from_engine: Vec<PluginInfo>,
+    from_registry: Vec<PluginInfo>,
+) -> Vec<PluginInfo> {
+    from_engine
+        .into_iter()
+        .merge_join_by(from_registry, |info_a, info_b| {
+            info_a.name.cmp(&info_b.name)
+        })
+        .map(|either_or_both| match either_or_both {
+            // Exists in the engine, but not in the registry file
+            EitherOrBoth::Left(info) => PluginInfo {
+                status: match info.status {
+                    PluginStatus::Running => info.status,
+                    // The plugin is not in the registry file, so it should be marked as `removed`
+                    _ => PluginStatus::Removed,
+                },
+                ..info
+            },
+            // Exists in the registry file, but not in the engine
+            EitherOrBoth::Right(info) => info,
+            // Exists in both
+            EitherOrBoth::Both(info_engine, info_registry) => PluginInfo {
+                status: match (info_engine.status, info_registry.status) {
+                    // Above all, `running` should be displayed if the plugin is running
+                    (PluginStatus::Running, _) => PluginStatus::Running,
+                    // `invalid` takes precedence over other states because the user probably wants
+                    // to fix it
+                    (_, PluginStatus::Invalid) => PluginStatus::Invalid,
+                    // Display `modified` if the state in the registry is different somehow
+                    _ if info_engine.is_modified(&info_registry) => PluginStatus::Modified,
+                    // Otherwise, `loaded` (it's not running)
+                    _ => PluginStatus::Loaded,
+                },
+                ..info_engine
+            },
+        })
+        .sorted()
+        .collect()
+}
+
+impl PluginInfo {
+    /// True if the plugin info shows some kind of change (other than status/pid) relative to the
+    /// other
+    fn is_modified(&self, other: &PluginInfo) -> bool {
+        self.name != other.name
+            || self.filename != other.filename
+            || self.shell != other.shell
+            || self.commands != other.commands
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/rm.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/rm.rs
index 33557836c0..a82b41524a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/rm.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/rm.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ fixed with `plugin add`.
 
         let filename = canonicalize_possible_filename_arg(engine_state, stack, &name.item);
 
-        modify_plugin_file(engine_state, stack, call.head, custom_path, |contents| {
+        modify_plugin_file(engine_state, stack, call.head, &custom_path, |contents| {
             if let Some(index) = contents
                 .plugins
                 .iter()
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/util.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/util.rs
index 6808a74a3c..80d1a766b4 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/util.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/util.rs
@@ -6,18 +6,17 @@ use std::{
     path::PathBuf,
 };
 
-pub(crate) fn modify_plugin_file(
+fn get_plugin_registry_file_path(
     engine_state: &EngineState,
     stack: &mut Stack,
     span: Span,
-    custom_path: Option<Spanned<String>>,
-    operate: impl FnOnce(&mut PluginRegistryFile) -> Result<(), ShellError>,
-) -> Result<(), ShellError> {
+    custom_path: &Option<Spanned<String>>,
+) -> Result<PathBuf, ShellError> {
     #[allow(deprecated)]
     let cwd = current_dir(engine_state, stack)?;
 
-    let plugin_registry_file_path = if let Some(ref custom_path) = custom_path {
-        nu_path::expand_path_with(&custom_path.item, cwd, true)
+    if let Some(ref custom_path) = custom_path {
+        Ok(nu_path::expand_path_with(&custom_path.item, cwd, true))
     } else {
         engine_state
             .plugin_path
@@ -28,8 +27,53 @@ pub(crate) fn modify_plugin_file(
                 span: Some(span),
                 help: Some("you may be running `nu` with --no-config-file".into()),
                 inner: vec![],
-            })?
-    };
+            })
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn read_plugin_file(
+    engine_state: &EngineState,
+    stack: &mut Stack,
+    span: Span,
+    custom_path: &Option<Spanned<String>>,
+) -> Result<PluginRegistryFile, ShellError> {
+    let plugin_registry_file_path =
+        get_plugin_registry_file_path(engine_state, stack, span, custom_path)?;
+
+    let file_span = custom_path.as_ref().map(|p| p.span).unwrap_or(span);
+
+    // Try to read the plugin file if it exists
+    if fs::metadata(&plugin_registry_file_path).is_ok_and(|m| m.len() > 0) {
+        PluginRegistryFile::read_from(
+            File::open(&plugin_registry_file_path).map_err(|err| ShellError::IOErrorSpanned {
+                msg: format!(
+                    "failed to read `{}`: {}",
+                    plugin_registry_file_path.display(),
+                    err
+                ),
+                span: file_span,
+            })?,
+            Some(file_span),
+        )
+    } else if let Some(path) = custom_path {
+        Err(ShellError::FileNotFound {
+            file: path.item.clone(),
+            span: path.span,
+        })
+    } else {
+        Ok(PluginRegistryFile::default())
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn modify_plugin_file(
+    engine_state: &EngineState,
+    stack: &mut Stack,
+    span: Span,
+    custom_path: &Option<Spanned<String>>,
+    operate: impl FnOnce(&mut PluginRegistryFile) -> Result<(), ShellError>,
+) -> Result<(), ShellError> {
+    let plugin_registry_file_path =
+        get_plugin_registry_file_path(engine_state, stack, span, custom_path)?;
 
     let file_span = custom_path.as_ref().map(|p| p.span).unwrap_or(span);
 
diff --git a/tests/plugin_persistence/mod.rs b/tests/plugin_persistence/mod.rs
index 6729c657c7..587e4d480f 100644
--- a/tests/plugin_persistence/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/plugin_persistence/mod.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ fn plugin_list_shows_installed_plugins() {
         plugins: [("nu_plugin_inc"), ("nu_plugin_custom_values")],
         r#"(plugin list).name | str join ','"#
     );
-    assert_eq!("inc,custom_values", out.out);
+    assert_eq!("custom_values,inc", out.out);
     assert!(out.status.success());
 }
 
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ fn plugin_keeps_running_after_calling_it() {
         plugin: ("nu_plugin_inc"),
         r#"
             plugin stop inc
-            (plugin list).0.is_running | print
+            (plugin list).0.status == running | print
             print ";"
             "2.0.0" | inc -m | ignore
-            (plugin list).0.is_running | print
+            (plugin list).0.status == running | print
         "#
     );
     assert_eq!(
         "false;true", out.out,
-        "plugin list didn't show is_running = true"
+        "plugin list didn't show status = running"
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
 }
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_to_stop_plugins_immediately() {
             $env.config.plugin_gc = { default: { stop_after: 0sec } }
             "2.3.0" | inc -M
             sleep 100ms
-            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running
+            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running
         "#
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_to_stop_plugins_immediately() {
             }
             "2.3.0" | inc -M
             sleep 100ms
-            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running
+            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running
         "#
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_to_stop_plugins_after_delay() {
             while $cond {
                 sleep 100ms
                 $cond = (
-                    (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running and
+                    (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running and
                     ((date now) - $start) < 5sec
                 )
             }
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_to_stop_plugins_after_delay() {
             while $cond {
                 sleep 100ms
                 $cond = (
-                    (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running and
+                    (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running and
                     ((date now) - $start) < 5sec
                 )
             }
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_as_disabled() {
         r#"
             $env.config.plugin_gc = { default: { enabled: false, stop_after: 0sec } }
             "2.3.0" | inc -M
-            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running
+            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running
         "#
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_configured_as_disabled() {
                 }
             }
             "2.3.0" | inc -M
-            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.is_running
+            (plugin list | where name == inc).0.status == running
         "#
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ fn plugin_gc_can_be_disabled_by_plugin() {
             $env.config.plugin_gc = { default: { stop_after: 0sec } }
             example one 1 foo | ignore # ensure we've run the plugin with the new config
             sleep 100ms
-            (plugin list | where name == example).0.is_running
+            (plugin list | where name == example).0.status == running
         "#
     );
     assert!(out.status.success());
diff --git a/tests/plugins/registry_file.rs b/tests/plugins/registry_file.rs
index 2cb1473b6f..a2ca8735f0 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/registry_file.rs
+++ b/tests/plugins/registry_file.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ fn plugin_add_then_restart_nu() {
                     --config $nu.config-path
                     --env-config $nu.env-path
                     --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
-                    --commands 'plugin list | get name | to json --raw'
+                    --commands 'plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw'
             )
         ", example_plugin_path().display())
     );
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ fn plugin_add_in_nu_plugin_dirs_const() {
                         --config $nu.config-path
                         --env-config $nu.env-path
                         --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
-                        --commands 'plugin list | get name | to json --raw'
+                        --commands 'plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw'
                 )
             "#,
             dirname.display(),
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ fn plugin_add_in_nu_plugin_dirs_env() {
                         --config $nu.config-path
                         --env-config $nu.env-path
                         --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
-                        --commands 'plugin list | get name | to json --raw'
+                        --commands 'plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw'
                 )
             "#,
             dirname.display(),
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ fn plugin_rm_then_restart_nu() {
                 "--plugin-config",
                 "test-plugin-file.msgpackz",
                 "--commands",
-                "plugin list | get name | to json --raw",
+                "plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw",
             ])
             .assert()
             .success()
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ fn warning_on_invalid_plugin_item() {
                 "--plugin-config",
                 "test-plugin-file.msgpackz",
                 "--commands",
-                "plugin list | get name | to json --raw",
+                "plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw",
             ])
             .output()
             .expect("failed to run nu");
@@ -412,6 +412,43 @@ fn plugin_use_error_not_found() {
     })
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn plugin_shows_up_in_default_plugin_list_after_add() {
+    let example_plugin_path = example_plugin_path();
+    let result = nu_with_plugins!(
+        cwd: ".",
+        plugins: [],
+        &format!(r#"
+            plugin add '{}'
+            plugin list | get status | to json --raw
+        "#, example_plugin_path.display())
+    );
+    assert!(result.status.success());
+    assert_eq!(r#"["added"]"#, result.out);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn plugin_shows_removed_after_removing() {
+    let example_plugin_path = example_plugin_path();
+    let result = nu_with_plugins!(
+        cwd: ".",
+        plugins: [],
+        &format!(r#"
+            plugin add '{}'
+            plugin list | get status | to json --raw
+            (
+                ^$nu.current-exe
+                    --config $nu.config-path
+                    --env-config $nu.env-path
+                    --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
+                    --commands 'plugin rm example; plugin list | get status | to json --raw'
+            )
+        "#, example_plugin_path.display())
+    );
+    assert!(result.status.success());
+    assert_eq!(r#"["removed"]"#, result.out);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn plugin_add_and_then_use() {
     let example_plugin_path = example_plugin_path();
@@ -425,7 +462,7 @@ fn plugin_add_and_then_use() {
                     --config $nu.config-path
                     --env-config $nu.env-path
                     --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
-                    --commands 'plugin use example; plugin list | get name | to json --raw'
+                    --commands 'plugin use example; plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw'
             )
         "#, example_plugin_path.display())
     );
@@ -446,7 +483,7 @@ fn plugin_add_and_then_use_by_filename() {
                     --config $nu.config-path
                     --env-config $nu.env-path
                     --plugin-config $nu.plugin-path
-                    --commands 'plugin use '{0}'; plugin list | get name | to json --raw'
+                    --commands 'plugin use '{0}'; plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw'
             )
         "#, example_plugin_path.display())
     );
@@ -471,7 +508,7 @@ fn plugin_add_then_use_with_custom_path() {
             cwd: dirs.test(),
             r#"
                 plugin use --plugin-config test-plugin-file.msgpackz example
-                plugin list | get name | to json --raw
+                plugin list --engine | get name | to json --raw
             "#
         );