Best cloud storage services with CLI for Xubuntu: (Guide)

Introduction

Managing cloud storage directly from the command line can greatly streamline workflows on lightweight distributions like Xubuntu. Whether you’re scripting backups, automating uploads, or simply prefer a terminal-driven approach, a solid CLI client is invaluable. This article reviews the top cloud storage services that offer native or third-party CLI tools on Linux Xubuntu, compares their features, suggests which to choose, and provides quickstart examples plus common troubleshooting tips.

Why CLI Matters on Xubuntu

• Lightweight environment: Avoid resource‐heavy GUIs on XFCE.
• Automation-friendly: Integrate with cron, scripts, CI pipelines.
• Headless operation: Perfect for servers or remote SSH sessions.
• Consistency: Same commands across distros and desktop environments.

Top Recommended Cloud Storage Solutions for Xubuntu

• pCloud – Generous free plan, pcloudcc CLI, client-side encryption.
• MEGA – 20 GB free tier, end-to-end encryption, megacmd.
• Proton Drive – Privacy-focused, zero-knowledge, proton-drive-cli.
• Filen – Encrypted cloud, open-source CLI (filen-cli).
• Tresorit – Enterprise security, end-to-end encryption, tresorit-cli.
• Icedrive – Modern UI, FUSE mount, icedrive-cli.
• Dropbox – Ubiquitous, 2 GB free, official dropbox CLI.

Comparison Table

Service	Free Tier	Encryption	CLI Client	FUSE Mount	Link
pCloud	10 GB (up to 20 GB via bonuses)	Client-side (optional Crypto)	pcloudcc	Yes	pCloud
MEGA	20 GB	End-to-end	megacmd	Yes	MEGA
Proton Drive	1 GB	End-to-end	proton-drive-cli	via FUSE	Proton Drive
Filen	10 GB	Client-side	filen-cli	No	Filen
Tresorit	3 GB	End-to-end	tresorit-cli	Yes	Tresorit
Icedrive	10 GB	Client-side	icedrive-cli	Yes	Icedrive
Dropbox	2 GB	In-transit, server-side	dropbox	No	Dropbox

Which Service Should You Choose?

Your ideal pick depends on priorities:

• Privacy amp Encryption: Proton Drive, Tresorit or Filen.
• Free Storage: MEGA (20 GB), pCloud (10–20 GB), Icedrive (10 GB).
• Simplicity amp Popularity: Dropbox for cross-platform ubiquity.
• Scripting amp Automation: All support CLI, but pCloud and MEGA’s commands are mature and well-documented.

How to Use Each with CLI

1. pCloud (pcloudcc)

1. Install:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install pcloudcc

2. Login:

pcloudcc -u your-email@example.com -p yourPassword

3. Upload a file:

pcloudcc --upload /local/path/file.txt /

4. Download a file:

pcloudcc --download /file.txt /local/path/

2. MEGA (megacmd)

1. Install:

sudo apt install snapd
sudo snap install megacmd

2. Login:

mega-login your-email@example.com yourPassword

3. Upload a folder:

mega-put /local/folder /Root

4. Sync local to cloud:

mega-sync /local/dir /Root/dir

3. Proton Drive (proton-drive-cli)

1. Install (Python):

sudo apt install python3-pip
pip3 install proton-drive-cli

2. Authenticate:

proton-drive login

3. Upload:

proton-drive upload local.txt /

4. List files:

proton-drive list /

4. Filen (filen-cli)

1. Install (Go binary):

wget https://github.com/filen-io/filen-cli/releases/latest/download/filen-cli-linux-amd64.tar.gz
tar -xzf filen-cli-linux-amd64.tar.gz
sudo mv filen /usr/local/bin/

2. Login:

filen login

3. Upload a file:

filen upload my.docx

5. Tresorit (tresorit-cli)

1. Download from their site, then install:

wget https://linux.tresorit.com/cli/tresorit-cli.deb
sudo apt install ./tresorit-cli.deb

2. Login:

tresorit login

3. Sync a folder:

tresorit sync --local /home/user/Docs --remote /Tresor/Docs

6. Icedrive (icedrive-cli)

1. Install via Homebrew or binary:

# Using Linuxbrew
brew install icedrive-cli

2. Login:

icedrive login

3. Mount cloud as drive:

icedrive mount X:

7. Dropbox (dropbox)

1. Install:

sudo apt install python3-gpg dropbox
dropbox start -i

2. Follow OAuth link to authorize.
3. Common commands:

dropbox status
dropbox upload file.txt
dropbox download folder/file.txt

Common Issues amp Troubleshooting

• Authentication failures: Double-check credentials, regenerate tokens, enable 2FA app passwords.
• Dependency conflicts: Use virtual environments for Python-based clients, or snaps if apt fails.
• FUSE mount errors: Ensure fuse kernel module is loaded and user is in fuse group.
• Rate limits: Heavy scripts may hit API limits—add sleep or batch smaller uploads.
• Sync loops: Exclude temporary files via CLI exclude flags or .syncignore where supported.

Conclusion

Selecting the best cloud storage CLI on Xubuntu comes down to your priorities: if you want maximum free space, MEGA or pCloud for airtight privacy, Proton Drive or Tresorit for mainstream support, Dropbox. All of these services offer robust Linux CLI tools—install, authenticate, and you’re ready to script automated backups and file operations. When issues arise, consult each provider’s documentation and ensure dependencies (Python, FUSE, snapd) are correctly set up. Happy uploading!