Comparison

TB Compressor vs AU3FX

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

Head to head
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.

About

AU3FX

This audio effect plugin offers a versatile stereo dynamics processor with a noise gate, compressor/expander, and limiter. Achieve subtle compression, extreme pumping, or maximum loudness with its highly tweakable controls and high-quality DSP.

Highlights
  • Noise gate
  • Compressor/expander with side-chain
  • Limiter/clipper
  • Negative ratio support
  • External side-chain input
  • Parallel compression
  • Adjustable envelope followers
Features
Read full description

A highly tweakable stereo dynamics processor with noise gate, compressor/expander with external side-chain input, and limiter/clipper. From subtle compression, extreme pumping, to maximum loudness! This app is part of the AU3FX series, a collection of simple and powerful audio unit effect plugins. • High quality 32-bit DSP engine. • Compressor/expander with optional lookahead buffer. • Allows negative ratios for pumping/cancellation effects. • Hard or soft knee with adjustable radius. • Built-in side-chain low/high cut filters with monitor toggle. • External side-chain input. • Built-in noise gate. • Brick-wall lookahead limiter. • Hard/soft clipper. • Supports "parallell compression". • RMS/Peak envelope followers with attack, release and hold time. • Switchable between Linear and Logarithmic mode. • Automatic makeup gain. • Stereo link on/off. • Comes with several bundled presets. • Use multiple instances at the same time. • Save/load session state in host. • External access and control of all parameters from host. • User presets shared across hosts (on iOS 13 and later).

Screenshots

TB Compressor4 screens
AU3FX3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: AU3FX at every 4 days against TB Compressor's every 2 months. AU3FX also leads on price ($6.99 vs $8.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

TB Compressor costs $8.99 and AU3FX $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for TB Compressor against 4.7 for AU3FX. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 14 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of TB Compressor's written reviews are positive against 75% of AU3FX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TB Compressor ships an update every 2 months, AU3FX every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TB Compressor versus AU3FX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTB CompressorAU3FX
Price$8.99$6.99 — better
Rating4.8 (24 ratings) — better4.7 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews82.4% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToneBoostersKymatica AB

Customer experience

TB Compressor

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

AU3FX

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

TB Compressor

No in-app purchases

None

AU3FX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TB Compressor free?
TB Compressor costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AU3FX free?
AU3FX costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TB Compressor or AU3FX?
TB Compressor is rated higher. TB Compressor averages 4.8 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while AU3FX averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.
Do TB Compressor or AU3FX have ads?
Neither TB Compressor nor AU3FX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TB Compressor or AU3FX?
TB Compressor ships an update every 2 months, and AU3FX every 4 days. Most recently, TB Compressor was updated on October 9, 2026 and AU3FX on October 13, 2026.

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