Google Drive is a fantastic online storage space that provides up to 15GB for free so you can back up and sync your files. It also syncs with several third-party services, and you can access it on major operating systems like Windows and macOS. However, on Linux the process is different.
While there is no official Google Drive client for Linux, you can still browse your Google Drive files in the File Manger if you’re using a GNOME-based desktop, thanks to the integration within the Files app. Otherwise Linux users would have to resort to third-party options to access Google Drive.
Below is a complete list of the known methods and proprietary services you can use to access Google Drive in Linux.
1. Web Browser
Like Google Drive, Linux can be used with any modern web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Other lesser-known browsers like Midori, Epiphany and Vivaldi also work beautifully with Google Drive.
However, only Chrome and Chromium browsers allow you to work offline with documents in Drive.
2. GNOME-Based Desktop Environment
If your Linux distro uses GNOME, with GNOME Calendar, you can use the Online Accounts feature to add your Google Drive account. This integrates your Google account with the Evolution Groupware Suite that has to-dos, email, tasks, calendar, contacts, and more, plus the GNOME calendar, among others.
3. Insync
Insync claims to be the “official unofficial Google Drive client for Linux users.” It’s an easy-to-use commercial app that runs on platforms such as Linux, macOS, and Windows.
The Drive-to-Desktop sync tool allows you to back up and sync Drive to your Linux desktop.
It offers some extra features that Drive doesn’t provide for other platforms, like support for multiple Google accounts. Other features include intuitive and selective file syncing and managing your Drive files with a GUI.
Insync offers a free trial so you can test run in Linux and see whether it works for you before upgrading to the paid plan.
4. overGrive
overGrive is an app created by the developers of Grive, a previously open-source command line tool. Due to changes in Google Drive’s API, Grive has been abandoned and no longer functions.
overGrive is a paid option with a free 14-day trial and is designed as a Google Drive client for Linux.
The tool automatically syncs offline copies of files the same way Drive does in Windows or macOS.
Also read: How to Install and Configure Overgrive Google Drive Client on Linux
5. Drive
Drive is a command line program that runs on macOS and Linux to push and pull files to and from Google Drive.
The open-source tool is written on Google’s Go programming language, originally written by Burcu Dogan, but it doesn’t offer many features like background sync.
6. GoSync
Written in the python programming language, GoSync offers an easy-to-use GUI and lets you sync documents and files between remote and local storage.
You can also pause or resume sync any time you want.
Although it hasn’t been perfected enough to perform like a Google Drive client for other platforms, it still gets the job done.
GoSync shows you the amount of storage left on your Google Drive account, the type of files taking up space, and automatic regular sync every 10 minutes, which you can pause but cannot turn off.
7. Rclone
Rclone is an open-source CLI-based cloud storage sync client that works for Linux and other primary platforms like macOS, Windows and BSD.
It offers file and document syncing to and from multiple cloud storage options including Google Drive, OneDrive, Mega, Dropbox, and more.
Also read: Using Rclone to Sync to Multiple Cloud Storage Providers in Linux
8. CloudCross
CloudCross is yet another open-source Google Drive client for Linux that works with macOS and Windows. It offers features and tools for syncing files and documents between various remote and local cloud storages.
Currently, CloudCross supports Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Yandex Disk and Mail.Ru clouds.
9. Google-Drive-ocamlfuse
This tool allows you to read and write access to folders and files, access the trash directory, and read-only access to Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
The CLI fuse-based file system supports multiple accounts and allows you to mount Linux seamlessly on Google Drive.
It is simple, easy to use, and you can perform directory operations on your Drive account. However, you need to be online to access your files, as it doesn’t sync files locally.
10. Tuxdrive
Tuxdrive is another CLI-based Google Drive client for Linux that gives you access to your Drive files and documents. It also allows you to upload or download files and manage everything in Google Drive.
Have you used any of these Google Drive clients for Linux? Tell us about your experience below.
Image Credits: Gnome, Github, Xmodulo
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Elsie Biage
My passion has always been to share every bit of useful information I find on tech, with the ultimate goal of helping people solve a problem.
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