Comparison

Mix Bus Compressor vs TB Compressor

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mix Bus Compressor

This audio plugin offers ultra-transparent compression with exceptionally low harmonic distortion. Its unique design provides immediate response without adding latency or phase distortion, making it ideal for real-time audio processing. The scalable interface ensures a clear visual experience on all iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Ultra-low harmonic distortion
  • Unique envelope follower
  • Immediate response time
  • No added latency
  • No phase distortion
  • Scalable user interface
Features
Read full description

This compressor has the lowest total harmonic distortion of any plugin we have seen, including desktop units. At the heart of it is a unique envelope follower design that makes it possible to compress the signal without creating distortion harmonics. On the spectrum of compressor tone that ranges from "vintage analog" to "pristine digital", this plugin sits at the extreme end of low-noise digital clarity, but it is different from other low-noise digital designs because it doesn't use digital look-ahead. Therefore its response time is immediate, it adds no extra delay to the signal chain, and it works great for processing real-time performance effects. It uses no oversampling so there is no phase distortion or loss of high-frequency energy from anti-aliasing filters. It also uses no digital-style filters (FIR filters) and no digital look-ahead, so it adds no additional latency to the signal chain. Although it is not a model of an existing piece analog hardware, every component of its signal path is realizable in the analog domain. We think of it as a digital model of our ideal analog compressor: it could exist as an analog circuit but would be very expensive to build with physical analog electronic parts. The user interface is 100% scalable, designed specifically for iOS, so it looks beautiful at any screen size or orientation, from tiny portrait views in AUM on iPhone to the largest full-screen views on iPad Pro.

About

TB Compressor

This professional audio plugin offers mastering-grade compression and dynamics processing for iOS devices. It features advanced controls like soft knee, parallel, upward/downward, and band-limited compression, with real-time visual feedback and an interactive interface.

Highlights
  • Mastering-grade compression
  • Upward and downward compression
  • External side-chain input
  • Band-limited and spatially selective compression
  • Real-time interactive display
  • Audition function for compressor and side chain
  • Integrated spectrum analyzer
Read full description

Say Hi! to your new favourite iOS compressor AUv3 plugin! ToneBoosters Compressor is an AUv3 plugin for professional, mastering-grade compression and dynamics processing. This flexible plug-in has all the features you will ever need, such as: - Soft knee compression - Parallel compression - Upward and downward compression - External side-chain input (if supported by the host) - Band-limited compression - Spatially selective compression This compressor is suitable for every compression task and beyond: - Track compression - Bus and master bus compression - De-essing and de-harshing using the band-limited compression feature The user interface shows compression in action, with a real-time and interactive display of levels, gains and curves. Assisted sliders provide guidance to accurately adjust threshold, makeup and range parameters. Want to hear what signal elements are affected by compression? Hit the audition button and listen to everything that is changed by the compressor in isolation. The side-chain editor allows you to adjust the frequency response of the side chain, and has an integrated spectrum analyzer. You can select which channels the side chain listens to, including selection of mid or side channels. Obviously we have provided an audition button for the side chain as well! Imagine you could just compress the mid or side channel, and apply compression to a specific frequency range only. Dynamically make space for elements without having to compress the full mix; de-ess those sibilant vocals in the mid channel; soothe those harsh frequencies; the possibilities are endless. This is all possible with the compression zone feature. The ToneBoosters Compressor app captures the microphone (or external sound card) input and processes the signals in real time. To use it as a plug-in, use an AUv3-compatible host app such as Steinberg Cubasis, Apple Garageband, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, Auria, AUM, or others. ToneBoosters Compressor will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins. Key features: - The same professional sound as the acclaimed desktop version - Ultra-low harmonic distortion, even with very short attack and release times (THD less than -100dB at 1kHz, depending on the selected compression mode) - Full-fledged side-chain equalizer - Audition function for compressor and side chain - Integrated spectrum analyzer for output and side chain - Variable release curve shape and release time - Upward and downward compression - Signal-adaptive release - Auto make up - Range parameter to limit the amount of compression - Dry/wet (amount) control for parallel compression - Zero latency (for live use) or lookahead mode (for studio use) - Interactive user interface with assisted sliders, curve and gain visualization - Undo/redo, and A/B comparison - Color themes for the user interface - Max screen support in Garageband - Optimised for iPad and compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.

Screenshots

Mix Bus Compressor4 screens
TB Compressor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TB Compressor at 4.8 against Mix Bus Compressor's 3.9. TB Compressor also leads on ratings volume (24 vs 8). Mix Bus Compressor's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $8.99) and iOS requirement (10.2 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Mix Bus Compressor costs $5.99 and TB Compressor $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TB Compressor holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Mix Bus Compressor's written reviews are positive against 82% of TB Compressor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mix Bus Compressor ships an update every 6 weeks, TB Compressor every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mix Bus Compressor versus TB Compressor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMix Bus CompressorTB Compressor
Price$5.99 — better$8.99
Rating3.9 (8 ratings)4.8 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews82.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings824 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.2 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Mangoo Consulting Company LimitedToneBoosters

Customer experience

Mix Bus Compressor

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

TB Compressor

All ratings24 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

In-app purchases

None

Mix Bus Compressor

No in-app purchases

None

TB Compressor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mix Bus Compressor free?
Mix Bus Compressor costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TB Compressor free?
TB Compressor costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mix Bus Compressor or TB Compressor?
TB Compressor is rated higher. Mix Bus Compressor averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while TB Compressor averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.
Do Mix Bus Compressor or TB Compressor have ads?
Neither Mix Bus Compressor nor TB Compressor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mix Bus Compressor or TB Compressor?
Mix Bus Compressor ships an update every 6 weeks, and TB Compressor every 2 months. Most recently, Mix Bus Compressor was updated on November 3, 2026 and TB Compressor on November 3, 2026.

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