What you are probably seeing
Your terminal lacks a native client for popular cloud providers, forcing you to rely on third-party scripts or web interfaces that feel unreliable.
Paid subscriptions for full-featured syncing on Linux seem to be the default path, even though your actual storage and bandwidth needs are modest.
Why it happens
Major cloud vendors prioritize mobile and desktop operating systems, leaving Linux users with fragmented or community-maintained integration tools.
Free tiers often hide directory syncing behind paywalls or restrict them to basic file upload and download, rather than real-time folder synchronization.
What changed recently
Step by step
1. Check if Proton Drive offers a native Linux client or a well-supported terminal tool for your specific distribution.
2. Test a free tier by syncing a small folder and verifying that deleted files are recoverable from the web interface.
3. Look into open-source cloud storage platforms that provide S3-compatible APIs and have active Linux community support.
4. Verify that the chosen service allows unlimited file versioning or recovery features even on the free plan.
5. Document your recovery procedure and test restoring a file to ensure it actually reappears in your local directory.
Ways to go further
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