# Best Vue File Upload Libraries Compared

**The short answer:** for a Vue 3 uploader that sends files straight to your own
S3-compatible bucket, with cloud drives and resumable uploads, use upup or
Uppy. If your app already uses PrimeVue, its FileUpload component is the
lightest addition. vue-upload-component suits custom UIs, and FilePond gives
you one polished component that posts to your server.

This roundup compares five Vue file upload libraries on the features that
usually decide the choice, then explains how to pick.

## Comparison table

| Library              | Drag and drop | Cloud drives                         | Resumable                      | Direct-to-S3                         | Image editing                                            | License | Bundle approach                                         |
| -------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| upup                 | Yes           | Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box | Yes (tus or S3 multipart)      | Yes (presigned URLs)                 | No (the editor is React/Preact only)                     | MIT     | Headless core + native Vue UI; heavy features on demand |
| vue-upload-component | Yes           | No                                   | Chunked uploads                | Not built in                         | No                                                       | MIT     | One component; you build the UI around it               |
| PrimeVue FileUpload  | Yes           | No                                   | No                             | Not built in (custom upload handler) | No                                                       | MIT     | Part of the PrimeVue component suite                    |
| FilePond             | Yes           | No                                   | Chunked uploads to your server | Not built in                         | Crop/resize plugins; full editor is Pintura (commercial) | MIT     | Vanilla JS core + Vue adapter + plugins                 |
| Uppy                 | Yes           | Many, via Companion                  | Yes (tus or S3 multipart)      | Yes (AWS S3 plugin)                  | Yes (Image Editor plugin)                                | MIT     | Modular plugins; install only what you use              |

## The libraries

### upup

upup's `@useupup/vue` is a native Vue 3 port of its uploader, not a wrapper
around another framework, built on the same headless core as every other upup
package. It uploads directly to S3-compatible storage with presigned URLs,
either from your own signing endpoint or through `@useupup/server`, and lets
users pick files from the device, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, a
camera, a screen capture or a link. The built-in image editor is available in
the React and Preact packages only, not in Vue. See the
[Vue file uploader](/vue/) page for a three-step setup.

### vue-upload-component

vue-upload-component is a long-standing Vue component that handles file
selection, drag and drop, directories, and chunked uploads to your endpoint.
It renders almost nothing itself, so you design the file list and progress UI.
Check that you install the major version that matches Vue 3.

### PrimeVue FileUpload

FileUpload is one component in the PrimeVue suite. It offers a basic button
mode and an advanced mode with a drop zone, file list and progress bar, and it
posts to a URL you give it or hands the files to your own upload function.
It's the natural choice if PrimeVue is already your component library.

### FilePond

FilePond is a single animated upload component with a Vue adapter. It posts
files to your own server endpoint, supports chunked uploads, and extends
through plugins for previews, validation and image transforms. See
[upup vs FilePond](/docs/comparisons/upup-vs-filepond/).

### Uppy

Uppy is a modular uploader with Vue components. Plugins cover the Dashboard UI,
sources (webcam, screen capture, remote drives through Companion, a server you
host) and destinations such as tus and S3. See
[upup vs Uppy](/docs/comparisons/upup-vs-uppy/).

## How to choose

- **You want a finished uploader on your own bucket:** upup or Uppy.
- **Your users pick files from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or Box:** upup
  or Uppy. Uppy routes remote files through Companion; upup does it in the
  browser (client mode) or in `@useupup/server` (server mode).
- **You already use PrimeVue:** start with PrimeVue FileUpload and switch only
  if you need S3, cloud drives or resumable uploads.
- **You want full control over the markup:** vue-upload-component or upup's
  headless core.
- **You need image editing in Vue:** Uppy's Image Editor plugin, or FilePond's
  plugins. upup's editor is not available in Vue.
- **You upload very large files:** use resumable uploads, with upup or Uppy.

## Minimal upup example

Install the package:

```sh
npm i @useupup/vue
```

Render the uploader and point it at an endpoint that returns a presigned URL:

```vue
<script setup lang="ts">
import { UpupUploader } from '@useupup/vue'
import '@useupup/vue/styles'
</script>

<template>
    <UpupUploader provider="aws" upload-endpoint="/api/upload-token" />
</template>
```

upup requires Vue 3.4 or later. The [Vue quickstart](/docs/quickstarts/vue/)
covers the endpoint, and [Code Examples](/docs/code-examples/) has a
ready-to-copy presign handler.

## FAQ

### What is the best file upload library for Vue 3?

For a complete uploader against your own storage, upup or Uppy. Inside a
PrimeVue app, PrimeVue FileUpload. For a custom UI with chunked uploads,
vue-upload-component.

### Which Vue upload libraries upload directly to S3?

upup, with presigned URLs from your endpoint or `@useupup/server`, and Uppy,
with its AWS S3 plugin. With the others you write the S3 signing and upload
code yourself.

### Does upup's Vue package include the image editor?

No. The image editor ships in `@useupup/react` and `@useupup/preact` only.
Everything else, including cloud drives, camera, screen capture and resumable
uploads, works the same in Vue.

### Which Vue upload libraries support resumable uploads?

upup and Uppy support tus and S3 multipart. vue-upload-component and FilePond
support chunked uploads to your own server.

### Are these libraries free?

Yes. All five are MIT-licensed. FilePond's full image editor, Pintura, is a
separate commercial product.

## Related comparisons

- [upup vs Uppy](/docs/comparisons/upup-vs-uppy/)
- [upup vs FilePond](/docs/comparisons/upup-vs-filepond/)
- [Best React file upload libraries](/docs/comparisons/best-react-file-upload-libraries/)
- [Best Angular file upload libraries](/docs/comparisons/best-angular-file-upload-libraries/)