So, you’ve probably heard about all types of cloud storage solutions offered for PC and Mac users in recent years. Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google all provide their users with convenient ways of backing up their data.
But, what happens if you’re a Linux user?
Many of the cloud storage services we’ve come to know don’t provide reliable Linux options (if they provide them at all).
Linux users still need a place to store and back up their files reliably, don’t they?
Well, thankfully these services do exist. And we’re here to point you in the right direction and show you exactly who is providing them.
Finding the Best Cloud Storage for Linux
Yes, it’s true that many of the traditional cloud storage services are compatible with Linux. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they all work well with Linux. Most of the reason for this is that a lot of cloud storage services aren’t quite designed with Linux users at the forefront of their plans. It’s a much less popular OS in comparison to its Apple and Microsoft counterparts.
With all of that being said, you still need to protect your files and data. On your quest to discover the best cloud storage for Linux, there are some things you may want to hone in on:
- A service that is fully compatible and integrates the way you need it to without hiccups
- A secure solution that will keep all of your data safe
- A service that is easy to use and provides you with all of the features you’re seeking
Our first bit of advice? Think about all of the reasons you’d be looking into a cloud storage solution in the first place. Figure out the things that are the most important to you whether those things are security, reliability, ease of use, or otherwise. Start jotting each point down and condense everything into a nice, tidy list. Using this list, you’ll have a convenient template to help you decide which service fits your needs like a glove.
Maybe all of these things are already obvious to you and you’re ready to cut to the chase. Ready? Alright! Let’s start exploring the best cloud storage for Linux!
Winner: SpiderOak Cloud Storage
SpiderOak is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and was founded in 2007. The main selling point of the company is their zero-knowledge encryption, which means that employees of the company have no access to your encryption keys and that your files are accessible by only you.
SpiderOak has an excellent Linux client, which is not easy to find. As we mentioned before, SpiderOak also takes privacy very seriously and prides their reputation on it. As a Linux user who values speed, a client that works the way it should, and never wants to worry about their privacy being compromised, SpiderOak is an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Zero-knowledge encryption ensures that you are the only one who will ever have access to your files and data
- “Hive” folder is a great feature that allows you to insert a file, pull it up later on a different machine and continue working on it
- 21-day 250GB free-trial lets you test the service without any long-term obligations
- Constantly runs in the background and keeps all of your files safe and up to date
- Every version of your files are stored
Cons:
- Only 2GB free storage beyond the trial period
- Some users have reported that the client bogged down their machine
- No hard copy backup service, which is offered by a few other companies
Second Place: MEGA Cloud Storage
MEGA is a New Zealand-based company that launched in 2013 and currently boasts 50-million users in more than 245 countries. Much like the aforementioned SpiderOak, MEGA is very invested in the privacy of their users and employs a similar “no-knowledge” encryption policy which keeps the AES key in the hands of the user and no one else.
The MEGA desktop client is really nice and works well. Privacy is at the forefront, as it should be. You won’t find a ton of bells and whistles while using the MEGA service, but it works well in most phases and gets the job done.
Pros:
- Excellent service to use if you’re concerned with privacy. You won’t find many services that are more secure
- 50GB free storage plan is as good as it gets
- Extremely affordable overall; the vast majority of competitor’s charge more for similar service
- Completely web-based
- File versioning allows you to go back and access older iterations of files
Cons:
- File sharing isn’t quite up to par with what is offered by a few competitors
- No unlimited storage options
- Upload speeds are a bit slower than we’d prefer
Third Place: pCloud Cloud Storage
pCloud is a cloud storage service based out of Switzerland that was founded in 2013. One of the major selling points for pCloud is their ease of use; the company set out to offer a cloud storage solution for customers that wasn’t confusing or difficult to use.
We really like the Ubuntu client offered by pCloud. Sharing files is easy, the service is fast, and pCloud is useable on any browser. The great positive with pCloud is that it doesn’t take up space on your computer the way most other cloud storage services do. Strong all-around service that is user-friendly and doesn’t have many downsides.
Pros:
- No file size limits
- Faster than many of the comparable services
- 20GB free storage
- Secure data transfer that goes through TSL/SSL protocol and is copied to at least 3 server locations
- pCloud is able to sync any folder whereas some competitors have one folder limitations
Cons:
- Ubuntu is the only officially supported Linux distribution
- Local encryption isn’t part of pCloud’s standard plans
- Only one user can edit files at a time which could be problematic if multiple users are working on a large project
What We’ve Learned
When it comes to finding a reliable cloud storage solution for Linux users, the search isn’t as easy as it is for others using more popular platforms. You still need a solution that provides the reliability, features, and security you’re looking for. Finding the best option was a bit trickier, but when all was said and done, we felt that the SpiderOak cloud storage service checked more of the boxes than the competition and made the most sense for Linux users.
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