Best cloud storage services with CLI for DragonFly BSD: (Guide)

Introduction

DragonFly BSD and many Linux distributions favor lightweight, scriptable tools for daily workflows. When it comes to cloud storage, having a robust Command-Line Interface (CLI) is critical for automation, remote servers and headless setups. This article reviews the best cloud storage providers that offer first-class CLI support on Linux and DragonFly BSD, including pCloud, MEGA, Proton Drive, Filen, Tresorit, Icedrive, and a few additional options. You’ll find recommendations, a detailed comparison table, guidance on which service to choose, CLI installation and usage examples, and typical troubleshooting tips.

Top Recommendations

pCloud – High reliability, lifetime plans, native CLI client.
MEGA – Generous free tier (20 GB), end-to-end encryption, MEGAcmd.
Proton Drive – Strong privacy stance, zero-knowledge encryption via rclone.
Filen – EU-based, zero-knowledge encryption through rclone/WebDAV.
Tresorit – Enterprise-grade security, official CLI tool.
Icedrive – Fast, user-friendly, uses Twofish encryption, rclone/WebDAV support.
Nextcloud – Self-hosted, full control, nextcloud-client CLI support.
Rclone – Universal gateway to dozens of providers invaluable companion for any service lacking native CLI.

Comparison Table

Service	Link	Free Tier	Native CLI	Encryption	Notes
pCloud	pcloud.com	10 GB	Yes (`pcloudcc`)	Client-side optional	Lifetime plans available
MEGA	mega.nz	20 GB	Yes (MEGAcmd)	End-to-end	Encrypted chat, collaboration
Proton Drive	proton.me/drive	1 GB	No (via rclone)	Zero-knowledge	Privacy-first
Filen	filen.io	10 GB	No (via rclone/WebDAV)	Zero-knowledge	EU-based
Tresorit	tresorit.com	3 GB	Yes (`tresorit-cli`)	End-to-end	Enterprise security
Icedrive	icedrive.net	10 GB	No (via rclone/WebDAV)	Twofish	Fast, modern UI
Nextcloud	nextcloud.com	Self-hosted	Yes (`nextcloud-client`)	Your choice	Full control
Rclone	rclone.org	N/A	Yes	Depends on remote	Universal CLI

Which One to Choose?

Consider the following factors:

Privacy Encryption: Proton Drive, Tresorit and Filen lead with zero-knowledge. MEGA also offers strong E2EE.
CLI Maturity: pCloud and MEGA have native tools. Others rely on rclone or WebDAV, which adds setup steps.
Storage Needs: MEGA’s free 20 GB or pCloud’s 10 GB may be enough for casual use. For unlimited or lifetime, evaluate paid tiers.
Self-hosting: Nextcloud is ideal if you require full autonomy and control.

Installation and CLI Usage

1. pCloud CLI (pcloudcc)

Official pCloud CLI “pcloudcc” runs on Linux and DragonFly BSD (if built from source). For many users, rclone’s pCloud backend is simpler.

Install pcloudcc on DragonFly BSD (example):

pkg install pcloudcc

Authenticate and mount:

pcloudcc -u user@example.com -p YOURPASSWORD
# to mount as FUSE:
pcloudcc -u user@example.com -p YOURPASSWORD -m ~/pcloud

2. MEGA (MEGAcmd)

MEGAcmd is the official CLI for MEGA:

# On Linux:
sudo apt install megacmd
# On DragonFly BSD (package):
pkg install megacmd

Usage:

mega-login user@example.com YOURPASSWORD
mega-ls /  # list root
mega-put localfile.txt /RemoteDir/
mega-get /RemoteDir/file.txt ~/Downloads/
mega-sync ~/LocalDir /RemoteSync

3. Proton Drive via rclone

Proton Drive has no official CLI, but rclone supports it.

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

# Configure Proton Drive:
rclone config
# Add new remote, choose protondrive backend, follow prompts.

# Example sync:
rclone sync ~/Pictures proton:Backup/Pictures

4. Filen with rclone/WebDAV

Use rclone’s WebDAV backend (Filen supports WebDAV/ rclone directly):

rclone config
# Choose WebDAV, protocol = webdav, url = https://api.filen.io, user  pass
rclone ls filen:
rclone mount filen: ~/filen-mount

5. Tresorit CLI

Tresorit offers an official CLI called tresorit-cli:

# Download and extract:
tar xzf tresorit-cli-linux.tar.gz
sudo mv tresorit-cli /usr/local/bin/

# Login  sync:
tresorit-cli login your@tresorit.com
tresorit-cli list
tresorit-cli download path/in/tresor ~/localdir
tresorit-cli upload ~/file.zip /path/in/tresor/

6. Icedrive with rclone/WebDAV

Icedrive supports WebDAV and thus works with rclone:

rclone config
# Choose WebDAV, URL = https://webdav.icedrive.net, user  token
rclone ls icedrive:
rclone sync ~/Backup icedrive:Backup

7. Nextcloud Client

If you self-host Nextcloud:

pkg install nextcloud-client  # or apt install nextcloud-client
nextcloudcmd --help
# Sync remote instance:
nextcloudcmd ~/localdir https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav/

Common Problems Troubleshooting

FUSE errors: Ensure fusefs module is loaded on DragonFly BSD (kldload fusefs) and correct permissions.
Authentication failures: Double-check credentials, update CLI tools, clear stale tokens (~/.config/rclone, ~/.pcloud).
Mount not persisting: Use nohup or system service units verify FUSE user_allow_other in /etc/fuse.conf on Linux.
Rate limits / timeouts: Adjust --timeout or --low-level-retries flags in rclone or native CLI.
Slow performance: Use multi-threading (rclone copy --transfers 4), upgrade to native CLI if available.

Conclusion

For DragonFly BSD and Linux environments, pCloud and MEGA stand out with mature, native CLI tools. When strong zero-knowledge encryption is required, Tresorit, Proton Drive (via rclone) and Filen are excellent. Icedrive offers a modern stack with Twofish encryption. If you prefer self-hosting, Nextcloud delivers total control. Finally, rclone remains the universal commander for any service, filling gaps where native tools are missing. Choose based on encryption needs, CLI maturity, budget, and desired workflow automation. Happy syncing!