diff --git a/spacy/cli/_util.py b/spacy/cli/_util.py
index b527ac2a0..77cf36852 100644
--- a/spacy/cli/_util.py
+++ b/spacy/cli/_util.py
@@ -260,10 +260,22 @@ def upload_file(src: Path, dest: Union[str, "Pathy"]) -> None:
     src (Path): The source path.
     url (str): The destination URL to upload to.
     """
-    dest = ensure_pathy(dest)
-    with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
-        with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
-            output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    import smart_open
+    # This logic is pretty hacky. We'd like pathy to do this probably?
+    if ":/" not in str(dest):
+        # Local path
+        with Path(dest).open(mode="wb") as output_file:
+            with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    elif str(dest).startswith("http") or str(dest).startswith("https"):
+        with smart_open.open(str(dest), mode="wb") as output_file:
+            with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    else:
+        dest = ensure_pathy(dest)
+        with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
+            with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
 
 
 def download_file(src: Union[str, "Pathy"], dest: Path, *, force: bool = False) -> None:
@@ -274,12 +286,23 @@ def download_file(src: Union[str, "Pathy"], dest: Path, *, force: bool = False)
     force (bool): Whether to force download even if file exists.
         If False, the download will be skipped.
     """
+    import smart_open
+    # This logic is pretty hacky. We'd like pathy to do this probably?
     if dest.exists() and not force:
         return None
-    src = ensure_pathy(src)
-    with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
-        with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
-            output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    if src.startswith("http"):
+        with smart_open.open(src, mode="rb") as input_file:
+            with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    elif ":/" not in src:
+        with open(src, mode="rb") as input_file:
+            with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
+    else:
+        src = ensure_pathy(src)
+        with src.open(mode="rb") as input_file:
+            with dest.open(mode="wb") as output_file:
+                output_file.write(input_file.read())
 
 
 def ensure_pathy(path):