Best compressor pedals: tame your tone's dynamics with compression

Often overlooked by beginner players, the best compressor pedals are fantastic utility pedals that should be on every player’s pedalboard. Granted there are always more exciting sounds and textures to get into like reverbs and delays, but if you’re looking to vastly improve your tone, then a compressor pedal can be a serious game changer.

Apart from EQ, compressors are probably the most powerful utility pedals available. Once you understand how they function, they can be used to make your licks pop, add punch to your guitar tone, and have your distortions shaking the earth. Many experienced players use one as an 'always on' tone-enhancer, and if you're primarily a clean or low-gain player, you’ll find adding one to your setup invaluable.

We’re always on the quest for a better tone here at Guitar World, so we've rounded up our pick of the best compressors on the market today. If you want to know more about the complex topic of compression, make sure you check out our buying advice section, which features loads of great advice from the experienced writing team here.

Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley

Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.

Best compressor pedals: The quick list

The best compressor pedals available today

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Here you'll find full writeups and reviews of all the best compressor pedals you can buy today. Many of these products have been tested first hand by the expert authors here at Guitar World, so you can rely on our recommendations.

Best overall

Best compressor pedals: Keeley Compressor Plus 4-Knob Compressor Pedal

(Image credit: Keeley)

1. Keeley Compressor Plus

Meet the industry standard for value and tone

Specifications

Controls: Sustain, level, blend, tone, single coil/humbucker switch
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: True bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply, 9V battery

Reasons to buy

+
Great tones
+
It’s easy to use
+
The price is right

Reasons to avoid

-
Often sells out fast

Robert Keeley’s most popular stompbox has been updated to make it all the more tweakable. Mercifully, it’s still intuitively laid out. There’s now a release switch to set the appropriate attack for humbucker and single-coil pickups. 

A blend control dials in how much of the compressed signal you want – fully counter-clockwise you’ve got a half-and-half blend, and turned fully clockwise it is all squashed quack. 

It puts you in control of the peaks in your guitar playing. A tone control lets you compensate for the high-end and harmonic response you sometimes lose with compression. Tone-wise, the Compressor Plus is exceptional, and it’s insanely good value for money, making it our top pick for best compressor pedal.

Best multi-band

Best compressor pedals: Boss CP-1X

(Image credit: Boss)

2. Boss CP-1X Compressor

An affordable pro-quality multi-band compressor pedal

Specifications

Controls: Level, attack, ratio, comp
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: Buffered
Power requirements: 9V power supply, 9V battery

Reasons to buy

+
Ace transparent performance
+
Cool gain-reduction indicator
+
Excellent value

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life can be short

Boss has always made excellent compressors, but the CP-1X takes their stompbox squash further with the use of Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP) to preserve your fundamental tone. It only compresses overtones so that your signal remains as transparent as possible. 

The control panel, meanwhile, is typically well laid out, with controls for compression, ratio and attack enabling you to dial in exactly what you want from the unit, and a level knob for controlling your output.

There’s even a Knight Rider-esque gain-reduction indicator to let you know how much compression you’re running at any given time. It is also low noise, and runs on 9V that internally converted to 18V, giving it plenty of headroom.

Best for versatility

Best compressor pedals: JHS Pulp 'n' Peel v4

(Image credit: JHS)

3. JHS Pulp 'n' Peel Compressor v4

Easily find the right balance of attack and clarity

Specifications

Controls: Volume, EQ, compression, blend, Dirt switch, buffered/true-bypass switch, ground lift switch, gain trim-pot
Sockets: Input, output, XLR out, power
Bypass: Switchable true or buffered bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply

Reasons to buy

+
Super-tough build
+
Smart features
+
Expressive tilt EQ 

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite expensive

The fourth generation of Josh Scott’s Pulp ’n’ Peel compressor welcomes a dirt switch to the enclosure that toggles on and off a parallel overdrive circuit. This introduces a little overdrive to proceedings, with a trim pot on the side of the pedal lets you control how much gain. That’s a nice option to have. 

Elsewhere, there’s a blend control for finding the right balance of attack and clarity, and a tilt EQ that can darken or brighten your processed tone. Set it at noon and it’s bypassed. As you’d expect from JHS, the Pulp ’n’ Peel has a meticulous build, with little touches such as switchable buffered/true-bypass and balanced XLR output with ground lift to kill. 

Best 'always-on' compressor

Best compressor pedals: Wampler Ego Compressor Pedal with Blend Control

(Image credit: Wampler Pedals)

4. Wampler Ego Compressor Pedal

The best compressor pedal to make you feel good about your tone

Specifications

Controls: Sustain, tone, attack, volume, blend
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: True bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply, 9V battery

Reasons to buy

+
Super-tweakable
+
Good range of musical compression

Reasons to avoid

-
You might prefer the mini version

The Ego Compressor belongs to that select band of compression units you can set and leave always on as a tonal sweetener and one-pedal support group for your playing. The layout gives you complete control over your compression, with the all-important blend control on hand to dial in the level of squash you need. 

Brian Wampler says the Ego was designed to compress and do all the things compressor pedals do, but also to keep your tone uncolored, transparent and ultimately dynamic. Five knobs may seem like overkill, but once you’ve set the Ego you can forget about it, and you might never switch it off.

Best budget option

Best compressore pedals: TC Electronic HyperGravity Multiband

(Image credit: TC Electronic)

5. TC Electronic HyperGravity Multiband

The best compressor pedal for those on a budget

Specifications

Controls: Sustain, level, attack, blend, Spectra/TonePrint/Vintage switch
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: Switchable true or buffered bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply, 9V battery

Reasons to buy

+
Versatile
+
Great value
+
Downloadable TonePrint feature

Reasons to avoid

-
Overwhelming amount of options

The HyperGravity Multiband features a three-way switch that lets you select three different modes of compression. You can have a super-transparent Spectra compression, a more squishy Vintage compression to go with your Brad Paisley tab book, or you can upload one from TC Electronic’s extensive TonePrint library. You can also do this wirelessly via your phone.

Elsewhere, this is just an excellent compressor, operating at the nexus between digital and analogue. You can switch between true- or buffered bypass, there is a familiar menu of controls for dialing in your compression and it is built tough.

Best studio-style

Best compressor pedals: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe

(Image credit: Origin Effects)

6. Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe

The primo studio-quality compressor pedal

Specifications

Controls: Dry, Out, In, dry, attack, release
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: Switchable true or buffered bypass
Power requirements: 9V/18V power supply

Reasons to buy

+
Studio-quality compressor
+
No noise
+
Excellent dynamics

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive

Compressor pedals can be a little noisy, but not the Cali176. Its transistors are biased for high-current operation and make for a hiss-free studio-quality stompbox that houses a ’60s-style FET compressor in a compact enclosure.

Inspired by the Universal Audio 1176 Compressor/Limiter, the Cali176 has a discrete Class A circuit that delivers a highly musical compression that does the job of a compressor without killing dynamics. This is transparent, boosting sustain and saucing your tone with a little studio magic - so much so, that this pedal is on our best bass compressor pedals list too.

Under the hood you’ve got premium components such as MELF resistors and film and tantalum capacitors. The build is such that there’s no space for a battery, but that’s a welcome trade-off.

More options...

Best compressor pedals: Fender The Bends Compressor

(Image credit: Fender)

7. Fender The Bends Compressor

The Big F’s pedalboard hot-streak continues apace

Specifications

Controls: Blend, drive, recovery, level
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: True bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply, 9V battery

Reasons to buy

+
Backlit LEDs on control knobs
+
Great for visibility on dark stages
+
Blend control function

Reasons to avoid

-
Controls may feel a little unfamiliar

If the very idea of Fender building your go-to stompbox compressor is kinda novel, and if the controls on offer feel a little unfamiliar – with drive and recovery knobs joining the wet/dry blend control – then the tones should sound reassure you… The Bends offers OTA-based circuitry that places it in the lineage of the MXR Dyna Comp et al. 

Backlit LEDs on the control knobs let you know what’s what on a darkened stage. Recovery sets the release time of the compression – ie, how long it takes before the compression relaxes – and in conjunction with the drive control enables you to dial in the compression and sustain you want. Blend ensures you have control over how much of your original uncompressed signal is in the mix. 

Fender The Bends pedal is built like a tank, with dual audio paths keeping noise to a minimum. The enclosure’s Fender amp jewel light is pretty darn cool too.

Best compressor pedals: MXR M228 Dyna Comp Deluxe Compressor

(Image credit: MXR)

8. MXR M228 Dyna Comp Deluxe Compressor

The best compressor pedal if you want a true classic

Specifications

Controls: Output, sensitivity, clean, tone, on/off attack button
Sockets: Input, output, power
Bypass: True bypass
Power requirements: 9V power supply

Reasons to buy

+
Typically great MXR build
+
Classic compression tones

Reasons to avoid

-
You want more features…
-
...Or the mini Dyna Comp instead

One of the OG OTA compressor pedals to make itself a ubiquitous presence on pedalboards worldwide, the Dyna Comp has had a multitude of releases through the years. The Dyna Comp Deluxe retains the classic CA3080 ‘metal can’ integrated circuit, but updates the pedal with a number of smart features that put you in control of the squash and sustain. 

Here, the clean control acts as a blend, while an on/off attack button offers a binary choice between vintage slow and more modern fast attack times. The tone control is on-hand in case your signal loses a little brightness. 

Whether you’re chasing old-school squish for playing through the Nashville songbook or want something a little more subtle, the Dyna Comp has got you covered.

Best compressor pedals: Empress Compressor Mk II

(Image credit: Empress)

9. Empress Compressor Mk II

Studio style compression for your pedalboard

Specifications

Controls: Input, Output, Attack, Release, Mix, Tone, Ratio, Sidechain HPF
Sockets: Input, Output, Power, Sidechain
Bypass: True
Power: 9V DC Power supply

Reasons to buy

+
Unrivaled feature set
+
Excellent, transparent comp
+
Visual metering

Reasons to avoid

-
It's pretty complex

The Empress Compressor Mk II is probably the only pedal to beat the Cali76 for features and that 'studio' sound. If you're used to studio gear and want that level of flexibility live, or are planning to use the pedal on other instruments, it's a great option.

It's an instrument-level, rather than line-level studio compressor in a handy stompbox format. This makes it a good option if you want a pedal that has all the features of a rack compressor but you're not using a rack mount rig yourself.

In features terms, the visual gain indicator is more of a gimmick than something you'll carefully dial in. The sidechain is a pain to set up but is nevertheless an exciting feature. Because the ratio is at pre-set intervals, you can't do extreme pumping, but it will work for both bass and synths if needed.

Best compressor pedals: Buying advice

Close up of a Wampler Ego compressor pedal

(Image credit: Future)

What is compression?

Compressors make the quiet louder, and the loud quieter. They were originally used in studios to smooth out signal levels to aid mixing and mastering. Eventually, they found their way into compact pedals as a utility. It's easy to see why, as players can easily run into level issues. They're often used for distorted legato lead parts, shredding and tapping, or clean math rock DADGAD acrobatics.

The most noticeable hallmark of a compressor operating is that the sustain of the guitar increases. This is as a result of boosting the signal as it tails off, which is why not all players leave them engaged all the time. This make-up-gain adds sustain, particularly when stacked with other pedals, and often tips over into dirt. Some comp pedals even have a gain stage of their own to add more dirt.

Is it worth getting a compressor pedal?

There are some situations where a compressor is essential - think rhythmically complex funk or the twangy licks of country. A compressor can also be beneficial if you're a metal player who has a penchant for legato shred - I mean, who doesn't? 

Some people find these pedals challenging to use, so let's go through some standard controls found on the best compressor pedals. It should be noted that not every pedal has all of these controls, this is just a general guide to what these terms mean. 

Sustain/Compression 

This is probably the most crucial control and the easiest to explain. Sometimes labeled as sustain, compression, or simply comp, this knob controls the overall level of compression your signal receives. The higher the dial, usually the more sustain you will get. Be warned, though, sometimes the more compression you add, the more noise you can add to your signal as well.  

Attack  

The attack knob simply adjusts how quickly the compressor kicks in. A slower attack will allow a portion of your note to be unaffected. In contrast, a fast attack means the compression is immediate. The Dyna Comp has this as a fast/slow binary choice, while Wampler's Ego and the CP-1X have dials. If your compressor has this control, it's worth playing around with it to get the exact sound you want. 

Close up of controls on an Origin Effects compressor

(Image credit: Future)

Release/ Recovery 

Some pedals will have controls for recovery. This is for adjusting the length of time before your compressed signal relaxes back to normal. 

Ratio 

This control you see more on studio compressors. Still, it can be found on high-end pedals such as the Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe. Basically, this control adjusts the amount the volume will dip once the compressor kicks in.  

Blend 

One feature to look out for is a blend control, enabling you to control the mix between your dry, uncompressed signal and the compressed signal. After you've set your compression – how fast the attack, the level of sustain, and so on – adjusting the blend is a convenient way of keeping on top of your squish. 

Close up of a Origin Effects Cali76 compressor pedal

(Image credit: Future)

Multi-band 

Compressors like the Boss CP-1X are a multi-band effects pedal, meaning they process different frequencies in your signal independently. These can be set up so that your signal is as transparent as possible. Others, such as the Dyna Comp, are primarily voiced after the more squishy late '60s and early '70s compressor, yet are revised to offer a more transparent performance for today's guitarist. 

Drive/ Dirt 

Lastly, compressors work great with overdrive pedals and valve guitar amps, with the capability of hitting both with some extra decibels, encouraging some sweet breakup. Some, such as JHS's Pulp' N' Peel v4, have a dedicated dirt switch for this purpose. 

There you have it, that's what we believe are the best compressor pedals on the market right now. So if you haven't tried one out, we urge you to have a go. We'd bet good money that once you introduce compression to your pedalboard, it's there to stay. 

How we choose the best compressor pedals

At Guitar World, our writing team consists of seasoned musicians deeply immersed in the world of guitar gear. With years of playing and rigorous product testing under our belts, we bring a practical understanding derived from real-world experience with musical equipment. Our dedication covers every aspect of the musical journey, from live gigs to studio sessions, forming the foundation for our carefully curated recommendations across various categories.

When it comes to finding the best compressor pedals in the market, our approach is meticulous. We blend practical experience, insights from user reviews, and extensive discussions within our editorial team. This down-to-earth method ensures a thorough evaluation, offering a reliable guide for your next pedal purchase.

As passionate guitarists ourselves, our main aim is to help fellow players discover gear that perfectly fits their needs. We consider factors like budget constraints, features, and the pedal's usability, creating a list that straightforwardly represents the best compressor pedals in today's musical landscape.

Read more about how how we test products and services and how we make our recommendations.

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Jonathan Horsley

Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.

With contributions from