Comparison
Compresto vs Apple Compressor
Apple Compressor is a professional-grade encoding companion for Final Cut Pro. Compresto is for everyone else — an all-in-one Mac app for compressing video, images, and PDFs without a pro video background.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Compresto | Apple Compressor |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | macOS only | macOS only |
| Video compression | ||
| Image compression | ||
| PDF compression | ||
| Batch processing | ||
| Hardware acceleration | ||
| Drag & drop | ||
| Price model | One-time purchase / free tier | One-time purchase $49.99 |
Compresto Strengths
- Much lower price ($19.99 vs $49.99) for most use cases
- Includes image and PDF compression — Compressor is video-only
- No Final Cut Pro workflow dependency
- Simpler interface suitable for non-video professionals
Apple Compressor Strengths
- Deep integration with Final Cut Pro for professional deliveries
- Advanced export presets for broadcast, streaming, and disc authoring
- Distributed encoding across multiple Macs for large jobs
Choose Compresto when...
- You do not use Final Cut Pro in your workflow
- You compress files for email, web, or social — not broadcast delivery
- You need image and PDF compression alongside video
- You want a lower-cost one-time purchase
Choose Apple Compressor when...
- You are a professional video editor using Final Cut Pro
- You need broadcast-ready export presets (H.264 for Apple devices, HEVC, etc.)
- You have complex encoding jobs that benefit from distributed processing
Pricing
Compresto
One-time purchase $19.99 or free tier with limits
Apple Compressor
One-time purchase $49.99 on the Mac App Store
Switching from Apple Compressor?
If you only use Apple Compressor for web/social video delivery, Compresto handles those tasks at a fraction of the cost. Keep Compressor if you need FCP integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need Final Cut Pro to use Apple Compressor?
- Apple Compressor can be used standalone, but its workflow is designed to complement Final Cut Pro. Compresto works completely independently of any video editing software.
- Is Apple Compressor worth $49.99 vs Compresto at $19.99?
- For professional video producers needing broadcast presets and FCP integration, yes. For everyone else — creators, marketers, everyday users — Compresto delivers comparable results at a lower cost.
- Can Compresto replace Apple Compressor for YouTube uploads?
- Yes. For YouTube and social media video compression, Compresto produces excellent results. Apple Compressor's advantages are in professional broadcast delivery scenarios.
- Does Apple Compressor compress images and PDFs?
- No. Apple Compressor is a video-only tool. Compresto adds image (PNG, JPEG, GIF, SVG, TIFF) and PDF compression.
- Which has better hardware acceleration, Compresto or Apple Compressor?
- Both leverage Apple's hardware encoders. Apple Compressor adds distributed encoding across multiple Macs, which Compresto does not offer.
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