Best Vue File Upload Libraries Compared

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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 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.

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.

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:

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 covers the endpoint, and 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.