Best cloud storage services with CLI for OpenBSD: (Comparison)

Introduction

Managing cloud storage directly from the command line can streamline workflows for both Linux and OpenBSD users. Whether you need to automate backups, synchronize folders, or mount remote drives, a solid CLI tool is essential. In this article, we analyze, compare, and demonstrate how to use the top cloud storage providers with CLI support, including:

• pCloud
• MEGA
• Proton Drive
• Filen
• Tresorit
• Icedrive
• Rclone (multi-service)
• Nextcloud
• Dropbox

We’ll recommend the best options for both Linux and OpenBSD, provide a detailed comparison table, explain which one to choose based on your criteria, show CLI usage examples, and address typical problems you may encounter.

Top Recommendations

• Linux: If you need a polished, native CLI and FUSE support, pCloud and MEGA are excellent. For multi-provider flexibility, Rclone is unbeatable.
• OpenBSD: Native support is sparse on OpenBSD. We recommend using Rclone for most services, or pCloudcc if you can compile it. Nextcloud via WebDAV and Syncthing are also great local-to-cloud options.

Comparison Table

Provider	Official CLI	FUSE Mount	Encryption	OpenBSD Support	Link
pCloud	pcloudcc	Yes	Client-side	Partial (compile)	pCloud
MEGA	megacmd	Yes	Server-side	No (use rclone)	MEGA
Proton Drive	proton-drive-cli	No (WebDAV)	Zero-knowledge	Via rclone	Proton Drive
Filen	fcloud	No	Server-side	Via rclone	Filen
Tresorit	No official	No	Zero-knowledge	Via rclone	Tresorit
Icedrive	icedrive-cli	Yes	Client-side	Via Linux binary	Icedrive
Nextcloud	nextcloud-client	Yes (WebDAV)	Self-hosted	Yes (ports)	Nextcloud
Dropbox	dropbox-cli	No	Server-side	No (use rclone)	Dropbox

Which One to Choose?

• If you prioritize native Linux support and FUSE mounting: choose pCloud or MEGA.
• If you need end-to-end encryption and privacy: use Proton Drive or Tresorit (via Rclone).
• If you want a universal client: Rclone covers 40 providers, including all listed ones.
• For self-hosted or LAN sync: Nextcloud or Syncthing (not covered in depth here) are best.
• On OpenBSD: default to Rclone or nextcloud-client from ports.

How to Use CLI for Each Service

1. pCloud

Install pcloudcc (Debian/Ubuntu example):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install pcloudcc

Authenticate and mount:

pcloudcc -u your_email@example.com -p your_password --mountpoint ~/pcloud 

Typical problems:

• Failed to mount: ensure FUSE is installed (sudo apt install fuse).
• “Operation not permitted”: add your user to fuse group.

2. MEGA (MEGAcmd)

Install megacmd (Fedora example):

sudo dnf install megacmd

Login, sync, and mount:

mega-login your_email@example.com your_password
mega-sync /local/folder /Root/remote_folder
mega-mount ~/mega

Typical problems:

• “Socket binding error”: kill lingering mega-cmd-server processes.
• Sync conflicts: use mega-sync --delete to mirror.

3. Proton Drive

Install via Python package:

pip3 install proton-drive-cli

Authenticate and list files:

proton-drive auth
proton-drive list

Typical problems:

• Authentication loop: ensure correct 2FA setup.
• Rate limits: wait or upgrade plan.

4. Filen

Install fcloud (Linux binary):

wget https://github.com/filen-io/fcloud/releases/download/v1.0/fcloud-linux-amd64
chmod  x fcloud-linux-amd64
sudo mv fcloud-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/fcloud

Login and upload:

fcloud login
fcloud upload /path/to/file.txt /remote/path/

Typical problems:

• “Permission denied”: ensure binary is executable.
• Sync errors: check API limits.

5. Tresorit (via Rclone)

Configure in rclone.conf:

rclone config
# Choose n for new remote
# Name: tresorit
# Storage: tresorit
# Follow prompts (email   password   token)

Sync example:

rclone sync ~/local_folder tresorit:RemoteFolder

Typical problems:

• Authentication failed: regenerate OAuth token.
• Slow transfers: tune --transfers and --checkers.

6. Icedrive

Install icedrive-cli:

sudo snap install icedrive-cli

Authenticate and mount:

icedrive-cli auth
icedrive-cli mount ~/icedrive

Typical problems:

• Snap mount issues: use classic confinement or install binary directly.
• FUSE errors: ensure fuse is present.

7. Rclone (Multi-Provider)

Install Rclone (all distros):

curl https://rclone.org/install.sh  sudo bash

Configure any provider:

rclone config
# Follow interactive prompts: choose provider

Example sync to pCloud:

rclone copy ~/local pcloud_remote:/Backup

Typical problems:

• “Config file permission denied”: ensure ~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf is readable.
• Mount requires FUSE: install fuse or fuse3.

Typical CLI Problems amp Solutions

• FUSE Mount Errors: Install correct FUSE version, add user to fuse group, check kernel module.
• Authentication Failures: Revoke and re-authorize tokens/keys verify 2FA settings.
• Sync Conflicts: Use “mirror”/“delete” flags to maintain one-way sync review logs for permission issues.
• Rate Limits: Batch smaller transfers, add delays, or upgrade your plan.
• Dependency Issues on OpenBSD: Prefer pure-Go tools (e.g., Rclone), or compile from source where possible.

Conclusion

Selecting the best cloud storage CLI depends on your platform, privacy requirements, and feature set. On Linux, pCloud and MEGA provide native, mounting-friendly solutions, while Rclone offers unparalleled flexibility. On OpenBSD, Rclone and self-hosted WebDAV (via Nextcloud) are the most reliable. By following the examples provided and addressing common issues, you can confidently integrate cloud storage into your command-line workflow.

Explore the links above, test the CLI that suits your needs, and streamline your backups and file synchronization across devices.