diff --git a/cmd/help.go b/cmd/help.go
index bdd768c81..10c00ac23 100644
--- a/cmd/help.go
+++ b/cmd/help.go
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"os"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/ncw/rclone/fs"
 	"github.com/ncw/rclone/fs/config/configflags"
@@ -16,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 // Root is the main rclone command
 var Root = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "rclone",
-	Short: "Sync files and directories to and from local and remote object stores - " + fs.Version,
+	Short: "Show help for rclone commands, flags and backends.",
 	Long: `
 Rclone syncs files to and from cloud storage providers as well as
 mounting them, listing them in lots of different ways.
@@ -36,17 +39,55 @@ var helpCommand = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "help",
 	Short: Root.Short,
 	Long:  Root.Long,
+	Run: func(command *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		Root.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
+		_ = Root.Usage()
+	},
 }
 
+// to filter the flags with
+var flagsRe *regexp.Regexp
+
 // Show the flags
 var helpFlags = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "flags",
+	Use:   "flags [<regexp to match>]",
 	Short: "Show the global flags for rclone",
 	Run: func(command *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		if len(args) > 0 {
+			re, err := regexp.Compile(args[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Fatalf("Failed to compile flags regexp: %v", err)
+			}
+			flagsRe = re
+		}
+		Root.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
 		_ = command.Usage()
 	},
 }
 
+// Show the backends
+var helpBackends = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "backends",
+	Short: "List the backends available",
+	Run: func(command *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		showBackends()
+	},
+}
+
+// Show a single backend
+var helpBackend = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "backend <name>",
+	Short: "List full info about a backend",
+	Run: func(command *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		if len(args) == 0 {
+			Root.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
+			_ = command.Usage()
+			return
+		}
+		showBackend(args[0])
+	},
+}
+
 // runRoot implements the main rclone command with no subcommands
 func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	if version {
@@ -81,12 +122,15 @@ func setupRootCommand(rootCmd *cobra.Command) {
 		return cmd.CalledAs() != "flags"
 	})
 	cobra.AddTemplateFunc("showLocalFlags", func(cmd *cobra.Command) bool {
-		return cmd.CalledAs() != "rclone"
+		// Don't show local flags (which are the global ones on the root) on "rclone" and
+		// "rclone help" (which shows the global help)
+		return cmd.CalledAs() != "rclone" && cmd.CalledAs() != ""
 	})
 	cobra.AddTemplateFunc("backendFlags", func(cmd *cobra.Command, include bool) *pflag.FlagSet {
 		backendFlagSet := pflag.NewFlagSet("Backend Flags", pflag.ExitOnError)
 		cmd.InheritedFlags().VisitAll(func(flag *pflag.Flag) {
-			if _, ok := backendFlags[flag.Name]; ok == include {
+			matched := flagsRe == nil || flagsRe.MatchString(flag.Name)
+			if _, ok := backendFlags[flag.Name]; matched && ok == include {
 				backendFlagSet.AddFlag(flag)
 			}
 		})
@@ -101,8 +145,8 @@ func setupRootCommand(rootCmd *cobra.Command) {
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(helpCommand)
 	helpCommand.AddCommand(helpFlags)
-	// rootCmd.AddCommand(helpBackend)
-	// rootCmd.AddCommand(helpBackends)
+	helpCommand.AddCommand(helpBackends)
+	helpCommand.AddCommand(helpBackend)
 
 	cobra.OnInitialize(initConfig)
 
@@ -133,7 +177,74 @@ Backend Flags:
 Additional help topics:{{range .Commands}}{{if .IsAdditionalHelpTopicCommand}}
   {{rpad .CommandPath .CommandPathPadding}} {{.Short}}{{end}}{{end}}{{end}}
 
-Use "{{.CommandPath}} [command] --help" for more information about a command.
-Use "rclone help flags" for more information about global flags.
+Use "rclone [command] --help" for more information about a command.
+Use "rclone help flags" for to see the global flags.
 Use "rclone help backends" for a list of supported services.
 `
+
+// show all the backends
+func showBackends() {
+	fmt.Printf("All rclone backends:\n\n")
+	for _, backend := range fs.Registry {
+		fmt.Printf("  %-12s %s\n", backend.Prefix, backend.Description)
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("\nTo see more info about a particular backend use:\n")
+	fmt.Printf("  rclone help backend <name>\n")
+}
+
+func quoteString(v interface{}) string {
+	switch v.(type) {
+	case string:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%q", v)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprint(v)
+}
+
+// show a single backend
+func showBackend(name string) {
+	backend, err := fs.Find(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var standardOptions, advancedOptions fs.Options
+	done := map[string]struct{}{}
+	for _, opt := range backend.Options {
+		// Skip if done already (eg with Provider options)
+		if _, doneAlready := done[opt.Name]; doneAlready {
+			continue
+		}
+		if opt.Advanced {
+			advancedOptions = append(advancedOptions, opt)
+		} else {
+			standardOptions = append(standardOptions, opt)
+		}
+	}
+	optionsType := "standard"
+	for _, opts := range []fs.Options{standardOptions, advancedOptions} {
+		if len(opts) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("### %s Options\n\n", strings.Title(optionsType))
+		fmt.Printf("Here are the %s options specific to %s (%s).\n\n", optionsType, backend.Name, backend.Description)
+		optionsType = "advanced"
+		for _, opt := range opts {
+			done[opt.Name] = struct{}{}
+			fmt.Printf("#### --%s\n\n", opt.FlagName(backend.Prefix))
+			fmt.Printf("%s\n\n", opt.Help)
+			fmt.Printf("- Config:      %s\n", opt.Name)
+			fmt.Printf("- Env Var:     %s\n", opt.EnvVarName(backend.Prefix))
+			fmt.Printf("- Type:        %s\n", opt.Type())
+			fmt.Printf("- Default:     %s\n", quoteString(opt.GetValue()))
+			if len(opt.Examples) > 0 {
+				fmt.Printf("- Examples:\n")
+				for _, ex := range opt.Examples {
+					fmt.Printf("    - %s\n", quoteString(ex.Value))
+					for _, line := range strings.Split(ex.Help, "\n") {
+						fmt.Printf("        - %s\n", line)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("\n")
+		}
+	}
+}