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ShabuBox is honest indie software. Email gets a real answer — not a ticket bot.
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It’s in our inbox — a real person reads every one, and we’ll reply to the address you gave. You can also reach us any time at hello@shabubox.com.
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Before you request a refund
Tell us first. Most refund-worthy problems are bugs we’d rather fix — and usually can, fast. If it’s still not right for you, email us within 14 days and we’ll refund you in full.
Scanner compatibility
ShabuBox drives your scanner directly — if ScanSnap Home is running, it holds the connection. ShabuBox now detects that conflict and offers to quit ScanSnap Home for you; if a scan still jams, a Reset Scanner action clears it. If you’d rather handle it yourself, quit ScanSnap Home before scanning. Wi-Fi scanning is not supported; connect your scanner via USB. Any eSCL / AirScan network scanner also works out of the box. Long paper and receipts are supported via long-paper mode.
Confirmed working by real users. Using a different model? Tell us what you scan with and we’ll add it here.
ScanSnap iX2500
ScanSnap iX1600
ScanSnap iX1500
ScanSnap iX1300
ScanSnap iX500
ScanSnap S1500M
HP OfficeJet Pro 9010
Common questions
What is ShabuBox?
ShabuBox is a document management app for macOS that organizes your scanned and downloaded PDFs. On-device AI reads every page, learns the folder structure you already use, and files new documents there for you — then lets you search every word or ask questions and get answers with citations. Nothing leaves your Mac.
Is ShabuBox a DEVONthink alternative?
For personal paperwork, often yes — but they aim at different people. DEVONthink is a deep, long-established research tool with its own databases, scripting, and a large feature surface to learn. ShabuBox is narrower on purpose: it manages your scanned and downloaded PDFs, does the filing itself by learning the folders you already have, and keeps everything as ordinary files on disk. It’s $24.99 once and needs macOS 26 on Apple Silicon. If you rely on DEVONthink’s scripting, its research database features, or its iOS apps, it isn’t a replacement.
Do I need to run a server, like Paperless-ngx?
No. ShabuBox is a normal Mac app — no Docker, no container, no web server, no database to administer. The AI runs on your Mac, and your documents stay in folders on your own disk.
Does it work with ScanSnap?
Yes — over USB. ShabuBox drives ScanSnap scanners directly, and the iX2500, iX1600, iX1500, iX1300, iX500, and S1500M are confirmed working. Wi-Fi scanning is not supported, and ScanSnap Home has to release the scanner first — ShabuBox detects that conflict and offers to quit it for you. Any eSCL / AirScan network scanner also works, and there’s a scan-to-folder watch fallback for anything else.
Where do I get the app, and how do updates work?
ShabuBox is downloaded directly from shabubox.com. It’s signed and notarized by us, and it updates itself in place — one purchase, no subscription, nothing that renews.
Where are my files stored?
In real folders on your Mac. ShabuBox’s database is just an index over them and can be rebuilt — your files are never locked in a proprietary format.
Does anything leave my Mac?
Your documents never do, and neither does anything read out of them or typed by you. What does: update checks, a weekly list of revoked licenses, a one-time AI model download if you opt into one, local-network scanner discovery, an issue report if you choose to send one — and anonymous usage statistics (which features are used, plus your app and macOS version, tied to a hashed random install ID). You can switch those off in Settings › General › Privacy. Full detail in the privacy policy.
How do I turn on iCloud sync?
It’s optional and off by default. When enabled it uses your own iCloud Drive under your own Apple account — the developer can’t see synced data.
The chat model won’t download or run.
The richer local model needs enough free RAM and disk for a ~2.3 GB download. The model picker only shows models your Mac can run; you can also fall back to the built-in tiers.
Something looks misfiled or missing.
Check Folder Health, then try the maintenance tools: rebuild index, regenerate thumbnails, rescan, or repair library. If it persists, email us.
How do I send a scanner diagnostic report?
When a scan fails and the guided fix can’t sort it out, click Save Diagnostic Bundle… in the scanner banner. It gathers ShabuBox’s own scanner log lines, the conflict diagnosis, and a device probe into one plain-text file — nothing is sent automatically. Pick a destination in the save panel, then attach that file to an email to hello@shabubox.com so we can see what your scanner saw.
How do I turn off anonymous usage statistics?
Go to Settings → General → Privacy and switch off Share anonymous usage statistics. It stops collection immediately and discards anything not yet sent — no restart needed.