Better Google Drive access/sync alternatives

General Help
1

I find the google drive integration in files pretty limited and frustrating to use, to the point that I don't. Frequently have issues copying files into it, folders are slow to load and there's no sync, it's just the drive.

I'd like something closer to the Google Drive windows app - being able to keep individual folders synced, more responsive, native sharing etc.

I'm looking at InSync and OverGrive

Anyone have experience of these and can recommend one over the other? Or any other alternatives I should look at?

2

The only service I use is via Web and smartphone (Murena.io) - but I don't like the way it wants to autosync my phone folders which could fill up my allocated cloud storage!

Using Brave A.I. search came back with the following:

" Insync is widely regarded as the best full-featured Google Drive sync alternative for Linux, offering seamless integration with desktop environments, support for multiple accounts, selective syncing, and reliable two-way synchronization. While it’s a paid service, users consistently highlight its stability, performance, and excellent support—making it a top choice for professionals and power users.

For free and open-source options , rclone stands out for its flexibility and powerful command-line interface. It allows mounting Google Drive as a local folder via FUSE, supports automated syncs with cron jobs, and works with multiple cloud services. Though it requires some technical setup, it’s praised for reliability and versatility.

Syncthing is another strong free alternative, especially for users prioritizing privacy and decentralization. It syncs files directly between devices without relying on a central server, ensuring full data control. It’s ideal for peer-to-peer syncing across Linux, Windows, and mobile devices.

Other notable options include:

  • overGrive (simple GUI, but less actively maintained).
  • GNOME Online Accounts (built-in for GNOME users, limited functionality).
  • FreeFileSync (open-source, supports direct Google Drive sync without local copies, great for backup and selective sync).

If you value privacy and self-hosting, Nextcloud or Seafile offer full control with collaboration tools, while MEGA and pCloud provide secure, commercial alternatives with strong Linux client support.

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts."

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3

I've been using InSync on Windows for the last 7 years as I'm a full time web/JS dev and no other Google drive compatible sync app seemed to have anything close to as good a file ignore system as the .gitignore-like one that InSync uses.

I switched to Zorin 18 in November 25 and InSync has been running perfectly since the switch, with absolutely no issues so far!

Even though the price has gone a up since I purchased my GDrive licence in "19 it's still a great deal in my opinion. Runs smoother, better upload chunking, better upload speeds somehow, better configuration options, just.. better

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4

Brilliant, thanks for that. inSync it is then.

I just want something simple & low faff that just works. Sounds like it fits the bill perfectly.

I'm also a fulltime dev. Switched to Zorin 18 months ago from Windows, never looked back!

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5

I use rclone for Google Drive (offline local access):

Configuration steps

  1. Run sudo apt update && sudo apt install rclone -y && rclone config
  2. Press 'n' to create a New remote
  3. Enter name: gdrive
  4. Choose Storage option for Google Drive (e.g., enter '22' if it's in there)
  5. Leave client_id blank (press Enter)
  6. Leave client_secret blank (press Enter)
  7. Choose scope drive (e.g., enter '1' for full access)
  8. Leave service_account_file blank (press Enter)
  9. Press 'n' for "Edit advanced config?"
  10. Press 'y' to "Use web browser to automatically authenticate"
  11. Authenticate in your web browser
  12. Press 'n' for "Configure this as a Shared Drive (Team Drive)?"
  13. Press 'y' to "Keep this remote"
  14. Press 'q' to "Quit config"
  15. Create folder with mkdir ~/GoogleDrive
  16. Then run:
    rclone bisync gdrive: ~/GoogleDrive --resync -P --transfers 4 --checkers 4 --tpslimit 3 --ignore-times --drive-acknowledge-abuse

Later you can add this file (gnulinux-config/bin/GoogleDrive at main · sglbl/gnulinux-config · GitHub) to your startup so that once in ten minutes it synces (if you remove/add sth)

To ignore you can use ignore-from flags: (Rclone Filtering)

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