Best Angular File Upload Libraries Compared

The short answer: for an Angular 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 PrimeNG or DevExtreme, that suite's upload component is the smallest step. ngx-file-drop only handles the drop zone, ng2-file-upload adds an upload queue behind your own markup, and FilePond gives you one polished component that posts to your server.

Try it first: the live Angular demo uploads a real file from your browser, and the Angular quickstart gets it running in your app.

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

Comparison table

The libraries

upup

upup's @useupup/angular is a native Angular port of its uploader: a standalone component with a single config input, 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 Angular. See the Angular file uploader page for a three-step setup.

ngx-file-drop

ngx-file-drop is a drop-zone component that accepts dropped files and folders and hands them to your code. It does not upload anything, so you add the HTTP requests, progress and storage yourself. It is a good fit when you only need the drop target.

ng2-file-upload

ng2-file-upload, from Valor Software, pairs an upload queue with two directives. Its FileUploader class holds the queue, per-file progress and filters such as a maximum size or allowed MIME types, and sends each file with XMLHttpRequest to a URL you set. The ng2FileSelect and ng2FileDrop directives connect it to a file input and a drop area; the file list, progress bars and buttons are your own markup. It can send the raw file instead of a multipart form (disableMultipart), which is what an S3 presigned PUT expects, but it does not sign URLs, split files into chunks or resume uploads. Since 3.0.0, each major version declares a single Angular major as its peer dependency (9.x for Angular 20; 10.x, on npm's next tag, for Angular 21), so match the version to your Angular release.

PrimeNG FileUpload

FileUpload is one component in the PrimeNG 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 handler. PrimeNG 21 and earlier are MIT-licensed. Version 22 moved to PrimeTek's PrimeUI License, which is free for individuals and eligible small organizations, paid otherwise, and requires a license key. It's the natural choice if PrimeNG is already your component library.

DevExtreme FileUploader

FileUploader (dx-file-uploader) is one component in DevExpress's DevExtreme suite. It shows its own drop area, or you can point dropZone at another element. Its instantly and useButtons upload modes send files with Ajax requests to uploadUrl, and useForm submits them with an HTML form. Setting chunkSize splits files into chunks that your server merges (DevExpress documents ASP.NET and PHP handlers), and the uploadFile and uploadChunk functions replace the built-in requests with your own code. S3, cloud drives and resuming an interrupted upload are not built in; DevExpress publishes example projects that implement S3 and Azure Blob uploads with uploadChunk. DevExtreme is commercial: the devextreme-angular wrapper package is MIT, but the devextreme package it requires needs a paid per-developer license, with a 30-day trial for evaluation. It's the natural choice if DevExtreme is already your component library. See upup vs DevExtreme FileUploader for a side-by-side and a migration snippet.

FilePond

FilePond is a single animated upload component with an Angular 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.

Uppy

Uppy is a modular uploader with Angular 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.

Older packages with similar names

Two packages that come up in searches are not compared above. The angular-file-uploader package on npm has had no release since 7.1.1 in November 2021, and that version declares Angular 10 as its peer dependency. ng-file-upload, whose module is named ngFileUpload, is a directive for AngularJS 1.x, not for current Angular. Its last release, 12.2.13, was in November 2016, and AngularJS support has officially ended.

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 PrimeNG or DevExtreme: start with that suite's upload component and switch only if you need S3, cloud drives or resumable uploads.
• You only need a drop target: ngx-file-drop, then write the upload code.
• You want an upload queue but your own markup: ng2-file-upload.
• You need image editing in Angular: Uppy's Image Editor plugin, or FilePond's plugins. upup's editor is not available in Angular.
• You upload very large files: use resumable uploads, with upup or Uppy.
• You need permissive licenses throughout: upup, ngx-file-drop, ng2-file-upload, FilePond and Uppy are MIT. DevExtreme needs a paid license, and PrimeNG 22 and later are under the PrimeUI License.

Minimal upup example

Install the package:

npm i @useupup/angular

Add the standalone component and point it at an endpoint that returns a presigned URL:

import { Component } from '@angular/core'
import { UpupUploaderComponent } from '@useupup/angular'

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    standalone: true,
    imports: [UpupUploaderComponent],
    template: `<upup-uploader
        [config]="{ provider: 'aws', uploadEndpoint: '/api/upload-token' }"
    />`,
})
export class AppComponent {}

Load the stylesheet once globally: add @useupup/angular/styles to the styles array in angular.json, or @import '@useupup/angular/styles'; in your global styles.css. The Angular quickstart covers the endpoint, and Code Examples has a ready-to-copy presign handler.

FAQ

What is the best file upload library for Angular?

For a complete uploader against your own storage, upup or Uppy. Inside a PrimeNG or DevExtreme app, that suite's upload component. For just a drop zone, ngx-file-drop, and for an upload queue behind your own markup, ng2-file-upload.

Which Angular 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 Angular 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 Angular.

Is upup's Angular component standalone?

Yes. UpupUploaderComponent is a standalone component with the selector upup-uploader. Add it to a standalone component's imports, or to an NgModule's imports.

Are these libraries free?

Most are. upup, ngx-file-drop, ng2-file-upload, FilePond and Uppy are MIT-licensed. PrimeNG is MIT through version 21; version 22 moved to the PrimeUI License, which is free for individuals and eligible small organizations and paid otherwise. DevExtreme needs a paid per-developer DevExpress license. FilePond's full image editor, Pintura, is a separate commercial product.

Related comparisons

• upup vs Uppy
• upup vs FilePond
• upup vs DevExtreme FileUploader
• Best React file upload libraries
• Best Vue file upload libraries