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How to Buy a High-Capacity NAS

How to · Tech

How to Buy a High-Capacity NAS

Get a network storage setup for your home data and pay it off over 18 months without interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $500 before anything else
Across the 0% window $27.78/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $500 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

A solid network attached storage setup keeps your files safe and accessible for years. You want an enclosure with enough bays to grow so you aren't replacing the whole box in twelve months. It is one of those things where spending a bit more now saves you from buying the whole thing twice later.

Wait for the mid-summer tech sales to grab your drives. Last year's enclosure models usually do the same job as the newest ones for less money. We can use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card (Citi) to break that $500 cost into smaller, manageable pieces.

This 0% offer is a timeline, not a gift. If you still have a balance on the card after those 18 months are up, the standard interest rate will apply to whatever is left.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your bays

    Buy a four-bay enclosure even if you only start with two drives. Adding more storage later is much cheaper than replacing a small enclosure that you outgrew in a year.

  2. 02

    Wait for the July dip

    Major tech retailers drop prices on storage in mid-summer to compete with massive shopping events. This is usually when a $500 setup hits its lowest price point.

  3. 03

    Use the 18-month window

    Put the purchase on your Citi Simplicity® Credit Card (Citi). It offers 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening.

  4. 04

    Set your auto-pay

    To clear a $500 balance before the interest starts, pay $27.78 every month. Setting this up on day one means you don't have to think about the math again.

  5. 05

    Choose the right drives

    Stick to Conventional Magnetic Recording drives for your NAS. They handle the constant work of a network drive better than cheaper SMR drives and tend to last longer.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Should I buy used hard drives?

No. Drives have a finite lifespan and you have no way of knowing how hard a stranger pushed them. Always buy new drives for data you actually care about.

Is 0% interest really 0%?

Yes, for the 18-month window. You still have to make your minimum payments on time or you could lose the promotional rate and owe extra fees.

Do I need the newest enclosure model?

Usually not. NAS hardware moves slowly. A model from a year or two ago will likely run the same software and hold the same drives for a better price.

Can I just use a cheap USB drive?

You can, but you won't get the redundancy or remote access that a real NAS provides. It's a cheaper shortcut that's much riskier for your long-term storage.