Introduction
Linux BigLinux users often seek reliable, secure, and scriptable cloud storage solutions with robust command-line interfaces (CLI). This article reviews the top cloud storage services offering CLI tools, provides a comparison table with direct links, guides on how to choose based on your needs, and step-by-step usage examples along with common issues and troubleshooting tips.
Top Cloud Storage Services with CLI Support
Comparison Table
| Service | Free Tier | End-to-End Encryption | Native Linux CLI | Price (100 GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pCloud | 10 GB | No (client-side available via pCloud Crypto) | Yes (pcloudcc) |
4.99/mo |
| MEGA | 20 GB | Yes | Yes (megacmd) |
5.00/mo |
| Proton Drive | 1 GB | Yes | Unofficial (proton-drive-cli) |
4.99/mo |
| Filen | 3 GB | Yes | Yes (filen-cli) |
€3.00/mo |
| Tresorit | 3 GB | Yes | Yes (t3r) |
12.50/mo |
| Icedrive | 10 GB | Yes | Yes (icedrive-cli) |
4.99/mo |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | No (transport TLS) | Yes (dropbox-cli) |
9.99/mo |
Which One to Choose?
- Budget-conscious users: pCloud, Icedrive
- Maximum free storage: MEGA
- Strong privacy amp open-source: Proton Drive, Filen, Tresorit
- Scriptable amp mature ecosystem: Dropbox
Consider storage needs, encryption requirements, pricing and whether you prefer official CLI tools or community projects.
How to Use Each Service with CLI
1. pCloud (pcloudcc)
Install and authenticate:
# Download binary wget https://linux.pcloud.com/pcloudcc-linux-x86_64.tar.gz tar -xzf pcloudcc-linux-x86_64.tar.gz sudo mv pcloudcc /usr/local/bin/ # Authenticate pcloudcc --login your-email@example.com # Enter password when prompted
Basic commands:
# List remote files pcloudcc --ls # Upload file pcloudcc --upload localfile.txt /remote/path/ # Download file pcloudcc --download /remote/path/remotefile.txt ./
Common issues: login failures (check 2FA), stale tokens (use --logout then --login).
2. MEGA (megacmd)
Install and configure:
sudo apt install megacmd # Start daemon mega-cmd-server # Login mega-login your-email@example.com # Input password
Usage examples:
# List mega-ls / # Upload mega-put localfile.txt /. # Download mega-get /remotefile.txt ./
Common issues: “Server unreachable” (ensure daemon running), proxy settings.
3. Proton Drive (proton-drive-cli)
Note: unofficial tool. Install via pip:
pip3 install proton-drive-cli # Login proton-drive login # Follow browser auth
# Upload proton-drive upload localfile.txt # List proton-drive list # Download proton-drive download remoteId localfile.txt
Common issues: token expiration (re-login), incomplete support for shared links.
4. Filen (filen-cli)
Install and set up:
# Download latest release wget https://github.com/filen-io/filen-cli/releases/download/v0.5.0/filen-cli-linux-x64.tar.gz tar -xzf filen-cli-linux-x64.tar.gz sudo mv filen /usr/local/bin/ # Authenticate filen login
# Upload filen put localfile.txt /root/ # List filen ls / # Download filen get /root/remote.txt ./
Common issues: API rate limits, check filen help.
5. Tresorit (t3r)
Install via package:
sudo apt install t3r # Login t3r login
# List t3r ls # Upload t3r put localfile.txt /Tresor/ # Download t3r get /Tresor/remotefile.txt ./
Common issues: check system time sync for auth tokens, firewall blocking port 443.
6. Icedrive (icedrive-cli)
Install with npm:
npm install -g icedrive-cli # Login icedrive login
# Upload icedrive upload localfile.txt /Drive/ # List icedrive ls /Drive/ # Download icedrive download /Drive/remotefile.txt ./
Common issues: missing dependencies (install libssl-dev), re-login after password change.
7. Dropbox (dropbox-cli)
Install official daemon:
# 64-bit Linux cd ~ wget -O - https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64 tar xzf - ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd # CLI tool sudo apt install python3-gpg pip3 install dropbox # Link account dropbox-cli link
# List dropbox-cli ls / # Upload dropbox-cli upload localfile.txt / # Download dropbox-cli download /remotefile.txt ./
Common issues: daemon hung (restart dropboxd), missing Python library errors.
Typical Problems amp Troubleshooting
- Authentication fails: verify credentials, 2FA settings, time sync.
- Network errors: check firewall/proxy, open port 443.
- Permission denied: ensure CLI binary is executable and in
PATH. - Rate limits: respect API quotas, add delay in scripts.
- Outdated CLI: update to latest release for bug fixes.
Conclusion
For Linux BigLinux users seeking CLI-driven workflows, each service offers unique advantages. MEGA and Icedrive stand out for generous free tiers, Proton Drive and Tresorit excel in privacy, while pCloud and Dropbox provide mature, scriptable CLIs. Test drive a couple to find the perfect match for your storage, security, and scripting needs.
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