Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.
For the last few weeks, we've been running a closed beta of SFTP storage with a select group of customers. Today, we're opening it up to everyone. No waitlist, no feature flags - just simple, secure file transfers to your backup storage.
Key Takeaways
- SFTP works with any device or client — phones, NAS boxes, legacy systems, scripts
- Same pricing as all other services: 100GB free, then €10/TB/month
- No deduplication or incremental backups — use Borg or PBS for those workloads
- Uses existing SSH infrastructure — if you have SSH keys configured, SFTP just works
- Complements (not replaces) Borg and PBS for specific use cases like mobile backups
Why SFTP?
We already support Proxmox Backup Server, Borg, and rsync. So why add SFTP?
Universal compatibility. SFTP works with virtually everything. Your phone, your NAS, your grandmother's laptop, that IoT device with a weird backup script — if it can speak SFTP, it can back up to remote-backups.com.
During our beta, we saw customers using SFTP for use cases we hadn't fully anticipated:
- Photo backups from mobile devices using apps like FTPManager and Termius
- Synology and QNAP NAS boxes that don't support Borg natively
- Legacy systems where installing new software isn't an option
- Quick manual uploads when you just need to stash a file somewhere safe
- Automated scripts from systems that already have SFTP tooling in place
The common thread? People wanted something that just works, without installing specialized backup software.
What We Learned From the Beta
Our invite-only beta ran for 2 weeks with around 25 customers. Here's what we learned:
It's Really About Accessibility
The most frequent feedback wasn't about features — it was about how easy SFTP made things. One beta tester put it perfectly: "I can finally back up my phone photos without setting up a whole infrastructure."
SFTP removes the barrier to entry. You don't need to learn Borg's CLI, configure PBS datastores, or set up rsync scripts. You just connect and upload.
Mobile Backup Is a Real Use Case
We were surprised by how many beta testers used SFTP primarily for mobile device backups. Photo libraries, document folders, app data — things that don't fit neatly into traditional backup workflows.
Several iOS and Android apps support SFTP out of the box. Point them at your storage, configure automatic uploads, and you're done.
It Complements Other Backup Methods
Most beta testers didn't replace their existing backup setup with SFTP. Instead, they used it alongside Borg or PBS for specific use cases:
- PBS for VM snapshots
- Borg for server configurations
- SFTP for personal files and mobile devices
Different tools for different jobs.
How It Works
SFTP access uses the same SSH infrastructure as our other services. If you already have SSH keys configured for Borg or rsync, they work for SFTP too.
Connecting
Use any SFTP client:
Host: your-host.pbs-host.de
Port: 22
Protocol: SFTP
Username: your-username
Authentication: SSH KeyThat's it. FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck, Transmit, command-line sftp — they all work.
From the Command Line
# Connect interactively
sftp customer@your-host.pbs-host.de
# Upload a file
sftp> put /path/to/local/file.zip
# Upload a folder recursively
sftp> put -r /path/to/folder
# Download files
sftp> get remote-file.zipFrom Mobile
Most SFTP apps follow a similar setup:
- Add a new connection
- Enter your host, username, and SSH key (or import from your keychain)
- Configure automatic uploads if desired
- Done
We've tested successfully with Termius, FTPManager, Secure ShellFish, and several others.
Pricing
SFTP storage uses the same pricing as all our other services:
- 100GB free to get started
- 10 EUR per TB per month for additional storage
No separate SFTP fees. No transfer costs. No surprises.
Your SFTP uploads count toward your datastore's storage allocation, just like Borg or rsync backups.
What SFTP Doesn't Do
Let's be clear about the limitations:
No deduplication. Unlike Borg or PBS, SFTP stores files as-is. If you upload the same file twice, it takes up space twice. For large, frequently-changing datasets, Borg is still the better choice.
No incremental backups. SFTP transfers whole files. It doesn't track changes between versions. For efficient incremental backups, use Borg or PBS.
No built-in encryption. SFTP encrypts data in transit, but files are stored as uploaded. If you want client-side encryption, encrypt before uploading or use Borg's built-in encryption.
No versioning. Overwriting a file replaces it. There's no automatic version history. Consider organizing files with timestamps if you need to keep multiple versions.
For sophisticated backup workflows, our other tools remain the better choice. SFTP fills a different niche: simple, universal file transfers when you don't need the complexity.
Getting Started
SFTP is available now for all accounts:
Log into your dashboard
Go to your datastore settings
Ensure SSH access is enabled
It probably already is if you're using Borg or rsync.
Connect with any SFTP client
FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck, Transmit, or command-line sftp — they all work.
If you're new to remote-backups.com, sign up for free and get 100GB to test with.
Thank You to Our Beta Testers
A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the closed beta. Your feedback shaped this release — from UI suggestions to edge cases we hadn't considered. Several features that made it into the final release came directly from beta tester requests.
You know who you are. We appreciate you.
What's Next
SFTP rounds out our storage access options. Whether you're running enterprise Proxmox clusters, homelabbing with Borg, scripting with rsync, or just need to upload files from your phone — we've got you covered.
Questions? Reach out to support. We're happy to help you figure out the best approach for your specific use case.
