jQuery Smooth Scroll
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is jQuery Smooth Scroll?
jQuery Smooth Scroll is a focused utility plugin that adds smooth anchor link scrolling and a back-to-top button to any WordPress site. Developed by Anand Kumar, this plugin has been available for 14 years and currently serves 10K+ active installs. It holds a 4.5/5 rating from 47 reviews, with 81% of users giving it five stars. The plugin is based on Cudazi’s earlier “Scroll to Top” work, and it remains a lightweight solution for sites needing basic smooth scroll behavior without extra dashboard clutter.
Version 1.5.1 was last updated on Jan 21, 2026, ensuring compatibility with WordPress 6.9.4 and PHP 7.0+. Its longevity suggests consistent maintenance, though the developer notes possible conflicts with sliders or tabbed content. Users looking for a simple way to add smooth scroll in WordPress often start here, given its minimal setup and proven track record.
Key Features of jQuery Smooth Scroll
- Smooth Scroll for All Anchor Links — Every internal anchor link on your site scrolls smoothly instead of jumping abruptly.
- Back-to-Top Button — A clickable button appears in the lower-right corner of long pages after you scroll down.
- Automatic Visibility Control — The button hides automatically when you reach the top of the page, keeping the interface clean.
- RTL Support — Right-to-left language layouts work correctly, making the plugin usable for multilingual sites.
- No WordPress Dashboard Menu — There are no settings pages or menu items; you activate it and it works immediately.
- Compressed CSS and JS Files — All front-end assets are minified to help maintain a high Google Page Speed score.
- Customizable Easing Effects — You can change the scroll easing effect using jQuery UI, allowing different motion feels.
- Easy Customization via Code — You can edit the upperLimit value in the JavaScript file to adjust when the button appears, or replace the arrow.png icon with a custom image.
Who Should Use jQuery Smooth Scroll?
This plugin suits beginners and intermediate site owners who want a reliable back to top plugin without configuration overhead. Its zero-dashboard design means you can install it and forget it. Sites with long articles, documentation pages, or product lists benefit most, as the button reduces manual scrolling. With 10K+ active installs, it clearly appeals to users who prioritize speed and simplicity over feature-heavy alternatives.
Developers evaluating the best back to top plugin WordPress options will appreciate the compressed assets and customization hooks. The FAQ shows users can adjust the button’s appearance point and icon, which covers most common needs. However, if your theme or plugins use complex tabs or sliders, test for compatibility first—the developer acknowledges these scenarios may require manual exclusion of certain anchor links.
Installation & Setup
Upload the plugin via Plugins > Add New or FTP into /wp-content/plugins/, then activate it. No configuration screens exist, making it beginner-friendly. After activation, visit a long page and start scrolling to see the button appear automatically. The entire process takes under two minutes.
Support & Community
The plugin has 81% five-star ratings and only 4% one-star reviews, suggesting most users get it working without issues. Support is available via the WordPress.org forum and a GitHub repository where users can report compatibility problems or contribute code. The developer maintains an open thread record of threads in the last two months, though this sample is too small to draw firm conclusions about response times. The FAQ directly addresses common questions, such as the absence of a dashboard menu and how to customize the icon or scroll trigger point, which likely reduces the need for direct support.
Pros & Cons
- 81% of its 47 ratings are 5-star, indicating strong user satisfaction with its core functionality.
- It compresses all CSS and JS files to help sites score higher on Google Page Speed, a specific performance benefit.
- The plugin adds no unnecessary menu items in the WordPress dashboard, keeping the admin interface clean.
- It supports RTL layouts and allows customization of easing effects via jQuery UI, offering flexibility for different site designs.
- It explicitly warns about potential incompatibility with other plugins, and users must manually report problems on GitHub without guaranteed support.
- The description notes that the plugin may not work well with pages that have a limited number of tabs or anchor links, as those may need to be excluded manually.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 4.0+
- Requires PHP
- 7.0+
- Tested up to WP
- 6.9.5
- First Released
- 2012 (14+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 0 threads
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, jQuery Smooth Scroll is completely free and available on WordPress.org. The current version is 1.5.1, and it has been actively available since its first release in 2012.
jQuery Smooth Scroll has over 10K+ active installs, with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 47 ratings. This makes it a trusted choice for adding smooth scrolling and a back-to-top button.
jQuery Smooth Scroll requires WordPress 4.0 or higher, and it has been tested up to WordPress 6.9.4. Most users on modern WordPress installations can install and activate it without issues.
Yes, the plugin was last updated on Jan 21, 2026, and it is actively maintained by Anand Kumar. You can contribute or report issues on the GitHub repository to help with future updates.
jQuery Smooth Scroll requires PHP 7.0 or higher, which covers the vast majority of hosting environments. This ensures compatibility with modern WordPress and PHP standards.
Support is handled via the WordPress.org forum, where there have been threads in the last 2 months, with resolved ( resolution rate). For complex issues, you can also report on the GitHub repository.
Yes, beginners can use it easily since there is no menu link in the WordPress Dashboard — just install and activate. For advanced customization, you can edit the compressed JS and CSS files, but reader-friendly versions are also included.
The plugin adds smooth scrolling for all anchor links and a scroll-to-top button in the lower-right corner of long pages. It supports RTL, includes compressed files for better Page Speed scores, and allows you to change easing effects using jQuery UI.