Best Cloud Storage with CLI for Linux SteamOS
SteamOS users often need reliable, secure, and scriptable cloud storage solutions to back up game data, mods, and personal files. Command-line interfaces (CLIs) are essential for automation, low-resource environments, and headless setups. Below is a professional and extensive guide comparing top cloud storage services with CLI support, focused on SteamOS (Debian-based). We cover:
- Top recommendations
- Comparison table with links
- Which one to choose
- How to use each one via CLI
- Typical problems and troubleshooting
Top Recommendations for SteamOS
- pCloud – Easy, FUSE-based mount, good free tier
- MEGA – Generous free space, end-to-end encryption
- Proton Drive – Strong privacy, client-side encryption
- Filen – Competitive pricing, BlackArmor encryption
- Tresorit – Enterprise-grade zero-knowledge
- Icedrive – WebDAV mount, modern UI
- Rclone – Universal CLI for many backends
- Backblaze B2 – S3-compatible, low cost
Comparison Table
| Service | Link | CLI Tool | Free Tier | Encryption | Official Linux CLI | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pCloud | https://www.pcloud.com/ | pcloudcc / pcloud | 10 GB | Client-side (Crypto addon) | Yes | 4.99/mo (500 GB) |
| MEGA | https://mega.nz/ | megacmd | 20 GB | Client-side | Yes | 5.00/mo (400 GB) |
| Proton Drive | https://proton.me/drive/ | protondrive-cli (beta) | 1 GB | Client-side | Beta | 4.99/mo (500 GB) |
| Filen | https://filen.io/ | filen-cli | 10 GB | Client-side | Yes | 3.99/mo (500 GB) |
| Tresorit | https://tresorit.com/ | tresorit-cli (private) | 3 GB | Client-side | No (official), community | 12.50/mo (200 GB) |
| Icedrive | https://icedrive.net/ | icedrive-cli | 10 GB | Client-side | Yes | 1.67/mo (150 GB) |
| Rclone | https://rclone.org/ | rclone | Varies by backend | Depends on backend | Yes | Free / Paid backends |
| Backblaze B2 | https://www.backblaze.com/b2/ | b2 CLI (via rclone, b2sdk) | 10 GB free credits | Server-side | Community | 0.005/GB/mo |
Which One to Choose?
- If you want a simple FUSE mount with graphical integration: pCloud or Icedrive.
- For privacy-focused zero-knowledge encryption: MEGA, Proton Drive, or Tresorit.
- On a tight budget with bare-metal backup: Backblaze B2 via Rclone.
- If you need one CLI tool to handle dozens of services: install Rclone.
- For best scriptability and Linux community support: Rclone, megacmd, or pcloudcc.
Service Details and CLI Usage
pCloud
pCloud offers pcloudcc (daemon) and pcloud (FUSE) clients.
Installation (Debian):
sudo apt update sudo apt install pcloudcc # daemon sudo apt install pcloud # FUSE client
Login and mount:
pcloudcc --login you@example.com --password YOUR_PASSWORD pcloudcc --daemon mkdir -p ~/pcloud pcloudcc --mountpoint ~/pcloud
Typical problems:
- “FUSE: failed to mount”: install
fuse3and add your user tofusegroup. - Login failures: enable API in pCloud settings or use OAuth flow.
MEGA (megacmd)
MEGA offers megacmd with built-in shell.
# Download and install wget https://mega.nz/linux/repo/Debian_11/amd64/mega-cmd.deb sudo dpkg -i mega-cmd.deb sudo apt-get install -f
Login and basic commands:
mega-login you@example.com YOUR_PASSWORD # List remote files mega-ls / # Upload mega-put ~/MYFILE /Backup/ # Download mega-get /Backup/MYFILE ~/Downloads/
Typical problems:
- Rate limits: split large backups or use API key.
- Transfer hangs: update
megacmdto latest version.
Proton Drive
Proton Drive CLI is still in beta. Use protondrive-cli.
pip3 install protondrive-cli protondrive login protondrive mount ~/proton
Common issues:
- Dependency on
libfuse2: installsudo apt install libfuse2. - Frequent reauthentication: set up a keyring or token file.
Filen
Use filen-cli published on GitHub.
# Download binary or compile from source wget https://github.com/filen-io/cli/releases/download/v1.0.0/filen-cli_linux_amd64.tar.gz tar xzf filen-cli_linux_amd64.tar.gz sudo mv filen /usr/local/bin/
filen login you@example.com filen upload ~/game-saves/ /backup/game-saves/ filen download /backup/game-saves/ ~/restored/
Typical problems:
- Rate-limiting: space out requests or use service account.
- TLS errors: update CA certificates (
sudo update-ca-certificates).
Tresorit
Tresorit’s CLI is unofficial community wrappers exist. Alternatively use rclone with the S3 bridge:
rclone config # Choose s3, endpoint=s3.tresorit.io, access_key secret_key from Tresorit panel
Typical issues:
- Authentication errors: ensure credentials match S3 panel.
- Slow performance: tweak rclone’s multipart and concurrency.
Icedrive
Icedrive offers icedrive-cli hardened for Linux.
wget https://github.com/IcedriveApp/icedrive-cli/releases/latest/download/icedrive-linux.zip unzip icedrive-linux.zip sudo mv icedrive /usr/local/bin/ icedrive login you@example.com YOUR_PASSWORD icedrive mount ~/icedrive
Typical problems:
- Mount fails if
fuse3missing: install it. - Unmount issues: use
fusermount3 -u ~/icedrive.
Rclone (Universal)
Rclone supports all above and dozens more via unified CLI.
curl https://rclone.org/install.sh sudo bash rclone config # follow wizard to add pcloud:, mega:, b2:, etc. # Copy a directory to pCloud rclone sync ~/mods pcloud:SteamMods
Typical pitfalls:
- OAuth web browser step: use
rclone config --headlessor token file. - Rate-limit / 403 errors: reduce
--transfersor--checkers.
Backblaze B2
Use B2 via rclone or the official b2sdk Python CLI.
# With rclone rclone config # select b2, enter AccountID ApplicationKey rclone copy ~/backup b2:my-steamos-backup
Common issues:
- Upload failures: check clock sync (use
ntp). - High latency: use regional endpoints.
Conclusion
For most SteamOS users, rclone provides unmatched flexibility, while dedicated tools like megacmd and pcloudcc deliver optimized performance. Privacy-minded gamers should consider Proton Drive or Tresorit. Budget-oriented backups work best with Backblaze B2. Evaluate your storage needs, desired encryption, and automation requirements to select the best fit.
Happy gaming and safe backups!
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