
rclone
rclone is a CLI tool to sync, copy, mount, and serve files across cloud storage providers and standard protocols like S3, WebDAV, FTP, and SFTP.

rclone is a command-line program for managing files on cloud storage and remote filesystems, often described as “rsync for cloud storage”. It supports a large range of providers and protocols, and can be used interactively, in scripts, or via its remote control API.
Key Features
- Sync, copy, move, and verify files between local storage and many cloud providers
- Integrity checking with hashes (such as MD5/SHA-1 where supported) and preserved timestamps
- One-way sync and two-way synchronization (bisync) workflows
- Optional client-side encryption (crypt), compression, chunking, and other virtual backends
- Mount remotes as a local disk via FUSE on supported platforms
- Serve remotes over common protocols (HTTP, WebDAV, FTP, SFTP, DLNA)
- Resumable transfers and support for efficient server-side copies when providers allow it
Use Cases
- Encrypted backups and restores to S3-compatible or consumer cloud storage
- Data migration between cloud vendors without manually downloading and re-uploading
- Mounting cloud/object storage as a filesystem for legacy applications and workflows
Limitations and Considerations
- Primarily a CLI tool; GUI functionality exists but is not the main interface
- Some capabilities depend on the chosen backend (hash types, server-side copy, metadata support)
rclone is a mature, cross-platform tool that excels at reliable file transfer and automation across heterogeneous storage systems. It is widely used for backup, migration, and day-to-day cloud storage operations where scripting and protocol flexibility matter.













