diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 976fbbd..2dc5bd7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 .pyenv
 .vscode
 config.yaml
+custom_plugins/*
 meshtastic.sqlite
 __pycache__/
 ./plugins/__pycache__/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/example_plugins/hello_world.py b/example_plugins/hello_world.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b64b028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example_plugins/hello_world.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from plugins.base_plugin import BasePlugin
+
+
+class Plugin(BasePlugin):
+    plugin_name = "helloworld"
+
+    async def handle_meshtastic_message(
+        self, packet, formatted_message, longname, meshnet_name
+    ):
+        self.logger.debug("Hello world, Meshtastic")
+
+    async def handle_room_message(self, room, event, full_message):
+        self.logger.debug("Hello world, Matrix")
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 6c56efc..099d51d 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from matrix_utils import (
     on_room_message,
     logger as matrix_logger,
 )
-
+from plugin_loader import load_plugins
 from config import relay_config
 from log_utils import get_logger
 from meshtastic_utils import (
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ async def main():
     # Initialize the SQLite database
     initialize_database()
 
+    # Load plugins early
+    load_plugins()
+
     matrix_client = await connect_matrix()
 
     matrix_logger.info("Connecting ...")
diff --git a/plugin_loader.py b/plugin_loader.py
index fb6d0cb..4f8c5ee 100644
--- a/plugin_loader.py
+++ b/plugin_loader.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import sys
 import importlib
 from pathlib import Path
+from log_utils import get_logger
+
+logger = get_logger(name="Plugins")
 
 plugins = []
 
@@ -11,15 +14,20 @@ def load_plugins():
         return plugins
 
     plugins = []
-    plugin_folder = Path("plugins")
-    sys.path.insert(0, str(plugin_folder.resolve()))
+    plugin_dirs = [Path("plugins"), Path("custom_plugins")]
 
-    for plugin_file in plugin_folder.glob("*.py"):
-        plugin_name = plugin_file.stem
-        if plugin_name == "__init__":
-            continue
-        plugin_module = importlib.import_module(plugin_name)
-        if hasattr(plugin_module, "Plugin"):
-            plugins.append(plugin_module.Plugin())
+    for plugin_folder in plugin_dirs:
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(plugin_folder.resolve()))
+
+        for plugin_file in plugin_folder.glob("*.py"):
+            plugin_name = plugin_file.stem
+            if plugin_name == "__init__":
+                continue
+            plugin_module = importlib.import_module(plugin_name)
+            if hasattr(plugin_module, "Plugin"):
+                plugin = plugin_module.Plugin()
+                if plugin.config["active"]:
+                    logger.debug(f"Loaded plugin {plugin_folder/plugin_name}")
+                    plugins.append(plugin)
 
     return plugins
diff --git a/plugins/base_plugin.py b/plugins/base_plugin.py
index f888e4e..1eaadba 100644
--- a/plugins/base_plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/base_plugin.py
@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from log_utils import get_logger
+from config import relay_config
 
 
 class BasePlugin(ABC):
+    plugin_name = None
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.logger = get_logger(f"Plugin:{self.plugin_name}")
+        self.config = {"active": False}
+        if "plugins" in relay_config and self.plugin_name in relay_config["plugins"]:
+            self.config = relay_config["plugins"][self.plugin_name]
+
     @abstractmethod
     async def handle_meshtastic_message(
         packet, formatted_message, longname, meshnet_name
diff --git a/plugins/health_plugin.py b/plugins/health_plugin.py
index dd322f5..6094fca 100644
--- a/plugins/health_plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/health_plugin.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ from meshtastic_utils import connect_meshtastic
 
 
 class Plugin(BasePlugin):
+    plugin_name = "health"
+
     async def handle_meshtastic_message(
         self, packet, formatted_message, longname, meshnet_name
     ):
diff --git a/plugins/map_plugin.py b/plugins/map_plugin.py
index 5a6c47d..6061a60 100644
--- a/plugins/map_plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/map_plugin.py
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ async def send_image(client: AsyncClient, room_id: str, image: Image.Image):
 
 
 class Plugin(BasePlugin):
+    plugin_name = "map"
+
     async def handle_meshtastic_message(
         self, packet, formatted_message, longname, meshnet_name
     ):