diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d7e785cc7..fb0f0d0b5 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -14652,6 +14652,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-retry-allowed/-/is-retry-allowed-1.1.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-EaBgVotnM5REAz0BJaYaINVk+zQ="
     },
+    "is-shallow-equal": {
+      "version": "1.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-shallow-equal/-/is-shallow-equal-1.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-lq5RvK+85Hs5J3p4oA4256M1FEffzmI533ikeDHvJd42nouRRx5wBzt36JuviiGe5dIPyHON/d0/Up+PBo6XkQ=="
+    },
     "is-ssh": {
       "version": "1.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-ssh/-/is-ssh-1.3.1.tgz",
@@ -18771,6 +18776,11 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "memoize-one": {
+      "version": "5.0.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/memoize-one/-/memoize-one-5.0.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-P0z5IeAH6qHHGkJIXWw0xC2HNEgkx/9uWWBQw64FJj3/ol14VYdfVGWWr0fXfjhhv3TKVIqUq65os6O4GUNksA=="
+    },
     "memorystream": {
       "version": "0.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/memorystream/-/memorystream-0.3.1.tgz",
diff --git a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/package.json b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/package.json
index aa3522529..3118bbadf 100644
--- a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/package.json
+++ b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/package.json
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@
     "@uppy/utils": "1.1.0",
     "classnames": "^2.2.6",
     "cuid": "^2.1.1",
+    "is-shallow-equal": "^1.0.1",
     "lodash.debounce": "^4.0.8",
     "lodash.throttle": "^4.1.1",
+    "memoize-one": "^5.0.4",
     "preact": "8.2.9",
     "preact-css-transition-group": "^1.3.0",
     "prettier-bytes": "^1.0.4",
diff --git a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileItem/index.js b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileItem/index.js
index 71d984f40..05456337a 100644
--- a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileItem/index.js
+++ b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileItem/index.js
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 const { h } = require('preact')
 const classNames = require('classnames')
-
+const pure = require('../../utils/pure')
 const FilePreviewAndLink = require('./FilePreviewAndLink')
 const FileProgress = require('./FileProgress')
 const FileInfo = require('./FileInfo')
 const Buttons = require('./Buttons')
 
-module.exports = function FileItem (props) {
+module.exports = pure(function FileItem (props) {
   const file = props.file
 
   const isProcessing = file.progress.preprocess || file.progress.postprocess
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ module.exports = function FileItem (props) {
       </div>
     </li>
   )
-}
+})
diff --git a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileList.js b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileList.js
index 85324b2f0..ac16ed6f7 100644
--- a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileList.js
+++ b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/components/FileList.js
@@ -9,6 +9,32 @@ module.exports = (props) => {
     { 'uppy-Dashboard-files--noFiles': noFiles }
   )
 
+  const fileProps = {
+    // FIXME This is confusing, it's actually the Dashboard's plugin ID
+    id: props.id,
+    error: props.error,
+    // TODO move this to context
+    i18n: props.i18n,
+    log: props.log,
+    info: props.info,
+    // features
+    acquirers: props.acquirers,
+    resumableUploads: props.resumableUploads,
+    individualCancellation: props.individualCancellation,
+    // visual options
+    hideRetryButton: props.hideRetryButton,
+    hidePauseResumeCancelButtons: props.hidePauseResumeCancelButtons,
+    showLinkToFileUploadResult: props.showLinkToFileUploadResult,
+    isWide: props.isWide,
+    metaFields: props.metaFields,
+    // callbacks
+    retryUpload: props.retryUpload,
+    pauseUpload: props.pauseUpload,
+    cancelUpload: props.cancelUpload,
+    toggleFileCard: props.toggleFileCard,
+    removeFile: props.removeFile
+  }
+
   return (
     <ul
       class={dashboardFilesClass}
@@ -16,7 +42,7 @@ module.exports = (props) => {
       tabindex="-1">
       {Object.keys(props.files).map((fileID) => (
         <FileItem
-          {...props}
+          {...fileProps}
           file={props.files[fileID]}
         />
       ))}
diff --git a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/index.js b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/index.js
index c896438fe..a89b4286f 100644
--- a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const cuid = require('cuid')
 const ResizeObserver = require('resize-observer-polyfill').default || require('resize-observer-polyfill')
 const { defaultPickerIcon } = require('./components/icons')
 const createSuperFocus = require('./utils/createSuperFocus')
+const memoize = require('memoize-one').default || require('memoize-one')
 
 const TAB_KEY = 9
 const ESC_KEY = 27
@@ -659,6 +660,52 @@ module.exports = class Dashboard extends Plugin {
     this.superFocusOnEachUpdate()
   }
 
+  startUpload = (ev) => {
+    this.uppy.upload().catch((err) => {
+      // Log error.
+      this.uppy.log(err.stack || err.message || err)
+    })
+  }
+
+  cancelUpload = (fileID) => {
+    this.uppy.removeFile(fileID)
+  }
+
+  saveFileCard = (meta, fileID) => {
+    this.uppy.setFileMeta(fileID, meta)
+    this.toggleFileCard()
+  }
+
+  _attachRenderFunctionToTarget = (target) => {
+    const plugin = this.uppy.getPlugin(target.id)
+    return {
+      ...target,
+      icon: plugin.icon || this.opts.defaultPickerIcon,
+      render: plugin.render
+    }
+  }
+
+  _isTargetSupported = (target) => {
+    const plugin = this.uppy.getPlugin(target.id)
+    // If the plugin does not provide a `supported` check, assume the plugin works everywhere.
+    if (typeof plugin.isSupported !== 'function') {
+      return true
+    }
+    return plugin.isSupported()
+  }
+
+  _getAcquirers = memoize((targets) => {
+    return targets
+      .filter(target => target.type === 'acquirer' && this._isTargetSupported(target))
+      .map(this._attachRenderFunctionToTarget)
+  })
+
+  _getProgressIndicators = memoize((targets) => {
+    return targets
+      .filter(target => target.type === 'progressindicator')
+      .map(this._attachRenderFunctionToTarget)
+  })
+
   render (state) {
     const pluginState = this.getPluginState()
     const { files, capabilities, allowNewUpload } = state
@@ -710,46 +757,8 @@ module.exports = class Dashboard extends Plugin {
     const isAllPaused = inProgressFiles.length !== 0 &&
       pausedFiles.length === inProgressFiles.length
 
-    const attachRenderFunctionToTarget = (target) => {
-      const plugin = this.uppy.getPlugin(target.id)
-      return Object.assign({}, target, {
-        icon: plugin.icon || this.opts.defaultPickerIcon,
-        render: plugin.render
-      })
-    }
-
-    const isSupported = (target) => {
-      const plugin = this.uppy.getPlugin(target.id)
-      // If the plugin does not provide a `supported` check, assume the plugin works everywhere.
-      if (typeof plugin.isSupported !== 'function') {
-        return true
-      }
-      return plugin.isSupported()
-    }
-
-    const acquirers = pluginState.targets
-      .filter(target => target.type === 'acquirer' && isSupported(target))
-      .map(attachRenderFunctionToTarget)
-
-    const progressindicators = pluginState.targets
-      .filter(target => target.type === 'progressindicator')
-      .map(attachRenderFunctionToTarget)
-
-    const startUpload = (ev) => {
-      this.uppy.upload().catch((err) => {
-        // Log error.
-        this.uppy.log(err.stack || err.message || err)
-      })
-    }
-
-    const cancelUpload = (fileID) => {
-      this.uppy.removeFile(fileID)
-    }
-
-    const saveFileCard = (meta, fileID) => {
-      this.uppy.setFileMeta(fileID, meta)
-      this.toggleFileCard()
-    }
+    const acquirers = this._getAcquirers(pluginState.targets)
+    const progressindicators = this._getProgressIndicators(pluginState.targets)
 
     return DashboardUI({
       state,
@@ -794,16 +803,16 @@ module.exports = class Dashboard extends Plugin {
       metaFields: pluginState.metaFields,
       resumableUploads: capabilities.resumableUploads || false,
       individualCancellation: capabilities.individualCancellation,
-      startUpload,
+      startUpload: this.startUpload,
       pauseUpload: this.uppy.pauseResume,
       retryUpload: this.uppy.retryUpload,
-      cancelUpload,
+      cancelUpload: this.cancelUpload,
       cancelAll: this.uppy.cancelAll,
       fileCardFor: pluginState.fileCardFor,
       toggleFileCard: this.toggleFileCard,
       toggleAddFilesPanel: this.toggleAddFilesPanel,
       showAddFilesPanel: pluginState.showAddFilesPanel,
-      saveFileCard,
+      saveFileCard: this.saveFileCard,
       width: this.opts.width,
       height: this.opts.height,
       showLinkToFileUploadResult: this.opts.showLinkToFileUploadResult,
diff --git a/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/utils/pure.js b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/utils/pure.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..577f507f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/@uppy/dashboard/src/utils/pure.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+const shallowEqual = require('is-shallow-equal')
+const { h, Component } = require('preact')
+
+/**
+ * Higher order component that doesn't rerender an element if its props didn't change.
+ */
+module.exports = function pure (Inner) {
+  return class Pure extends Component {
+    shouldComponentUpdate (nextProps) {
+      return !shallowEqual(this.props, nextProps)
+    }
+
+    render () {
+      // we have to clone this or Preact mutates it:
+      // https://github.com/preactjs/preact/issues/836
+      // TODO can be removed if we upgrade to Preact X
+      const props = { ...this.props }
+      return <Inner {...props} />
+    }
+  }
+}