diff --git a/.i18nrc.json b/.i18nrc.json
index dc01a10b6a686b..57dffa4147e525 100644
--- a/.i18nrc.json
+++ b/.i18nrc.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     "console": "src/plugins/console",
     "core": "src/core",
     "discover": "src/plugins/discover",
+    "bfetch": "src/plugins/bfetch",
     "dashboard": "src/plugins/dashboard",
     "data": "src/plugins/data",
     "embeddableApi": "src/plugins/embeddable",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f41c85c4c7b805..e5b9ca1ef98cc6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@
     "expiry-js": "0.1.7",
     "extract-zip": "^2.0.1",
     "fast-deep-equal": "^3.1.1",
+    "fflate": "^0.6.9",
     "file-saver": "^1.3.8",
     "file-type": "^10.9.0",
     "focus-trap-react": "^3.1.1",
diff --git a/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml b/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
index c28fd835919602..6ccf6269751b1e 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
+++ b/packages/kbn-optimizer/limits.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ pageLoadAssetSize:
   alerting: 106936
   apm: 64385
   apmOss: 18996
-  bfetch: 41874
+  bfetch: 51874
   canvas: 1066647
   charts: 195358
   cloud: 21076
diff --git a/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/entry.js b/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/entry.js
index 4029ce28faf5bf..d3755ed7c5f293 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/entry.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/entry.js
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ export const Theme = require('./theme.ts');
 export const Lodash = require('lodash');
 export const LodashFp = require('lodash/fp');
 
+export const Fflate = require('fflate/esm/browser');
+
 // runtime deps which don't need to be copied across all bundles
 export const TsLib = require('tslib');
 export const KbnAnalytics = require('@kbn/analytics');
diff --git a/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/index.js b/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/index.js
index 62ddb09d25add7..877bf3df6c039d 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/index.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-ui-shared-deps/index.js
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ exports.externals = {
   '@elastic/eui/dist/eui_theme_dark.json': '__kbnSharedDeps__.Theme.euiDarkVars',
   lodash: '__kbnSharedDeps__.Lodash',
   'lodash/fp': '__kbnSharedDeps__.LodashFp',
+  fflate: '__kbnSharedDeps__.Fflate',
 
   /**
    * runtime deps which don't need to be copied across all bundles
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/common/batch.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/batch.ts
index a84d94b541ae52..59b012751c66db 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/common/batch.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/batch.ts
@@ -19,3 +19,8 @@ export interface BatchResponseItem<Result extends object, Error extends ErrorLik
   result?: Result;
   error?: Error;
 }
+
+export interface BatchItemWrapper {
+  compressed: boolean;
+  payload: string;
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/common/constants.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/constants.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..bc72ad244d9be7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/constants.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+export const DISABLE_BFETCH_COMPRESSION = 'bfetch:disableCompression';
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/common/index.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/index.ts
index deca56989722a5..9bf326eb4b6e5b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/common/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/common/index.ts
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ export * from './util';
 export * from './streaming';
 export * from './buffer';
 export * from './batch';
+export * from './constants';
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.test.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.test.ts
index 1c7c44d7c9aa55..01cebcb15963b3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.test.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 import { createStreamingBatchedFunction } from './create_streaming_batched_function';
 import { fetchStreaming as fetchStreamingReal } from '../streaming/fetch_streaming';
 import { AbortError, defer, of } from '../../../kibana_utils/public';
-import { Subject } from 'rxjs';
+import { Subject, of as rxof } from 'rxjs';
+
+const flushPromises = () => new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
 
 const getPromiseState = (promise: Promise<unknown>): Promise<'resolved' | 'rejected' | 'pending'> =>
   Promise.race<'resolved' | 'rejected' | 'pending'>([
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
     const fn = createStreamingBatchedFunction({
       url: '/test',
       fetchStreaming,
+      compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
     });
     expect(typeof fn).toBe('function');
   });
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
     const fn = createStreamingBatchedFunction({
       url: '/test',
       fetchStreaming,
+      compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
     });
     const res = fn({});
     expect(typeof res.then).toBe('function');
@@ -74,6 +78,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
@@ -93,6 +98,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
@@ -107,6 +113,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       fn({ foo: 'bar' });
@@ -125,6 +132,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       fn({ foo: 'bar' });
@@ -146,14 +154,18 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       fn({ foo: 'bar' });
+      await flushPromises();
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       fn({ baz: 'quix' });
+      await flushPromises();
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       fn({ full: 'yep' });
+      await flushPromises();
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
@@ -164,6 +176,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const abortController = new AbortController();
@@ -186,11 +199,13 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       fn({ a: '1' });
       fn({ b: '2' });
       fn({ c: '3' });
+      await flushPromises();
 
       expect(fetchStreaming.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({
         url: '/test',
@@ -209,13 +224,16 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       fn({ a: '1' });
       fn({ b: '2' });
       fn({ c: '3' });
+      await flushPromises();
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       fn({ d: '4' });
+      await flushPromises();
       await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 6));
       expect(fetchStreaming).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
     });
@@ -229,6 +247,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const promise1 = fn({ a: '1' });
@@ -246,8 +265,11 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
+      await flushPromises();
+
       const promise1 = fn({ a: '1' });
       const promise2 = fn({ b: '2' });
       const promise3 = fn({ c: '3' });
@@ -287,6 +309,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const promise1 = fn({ a: '1' });
@@ -314,6 +337,20 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
       expect(await promise3).toEqual({ foo: 'bar 2' });
     });
 
+    test('compression is false by default', async () => {
+      const { fetchStreaming } = setup();
+      const fn = createStreamingBatchedFunction({
+        url: '/test',
+        flushOnMaxItems: 1,
+        fetchStreaming,
+      });
+
+      fn({ a: '1' });
+
+      const dontCompress = await fetchStreaming.mock.calls[0][0].compressionDisabled$.toPromise();
+      expect(dontCompress).toBe(false);
+    });
+
     test('resolves falsy results', async () => {
       const { fetchStreaming, stream } = setup();
       const fn = createStreamingBatchedFunction({
@@ -321,6 +358,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const promise1 = fn({ a: '1' });
@@ -362,6 +400,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const promise = fn({ a: '1' });
@@ -390,6 +429,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
 
       const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
@@ -442,6 +482,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const abortController = new AbortController();
@@ -471,6 +512,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const abortController = new AbortController();
@@ -509,6 +551,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
@@ -539,6 +582,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
@@ -576,6 +620,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
@@ -608,6 +653,7 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
           fetchStreaming,
           maxItemAge: 5,
           flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+          compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
         });
 
         const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
@@ -644,7 +690,9 @@ describe('createStreamingBatchedFunction()', () => {
         fetchStreaming,
         maxItemAge: 5,
         flushOnMaxItems: 3,
+        compressionDisabled$: rxof(true),
       });
+      await flushPromises();
 
       const promise1 = of(fn({ a: '1' }));
       const promise2 = of(fn({ a: '2' }));
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.ts
index 2d81331f10a88e..d5f955f517d135 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/create_streaming_batched_function.ts
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
+import { Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
 import { AbortError, abortSignalToPromise, defer } from '../../../kibana_utils/public';
 import {
   ItemBufferParams,
   TimedItemBufferParams,
   createBatchedFunction,
-  BatchResponseItem,
   ErrorLike,
+  normalizeError,
 } from '../../common';
-import { fetchStreaming, split } from '../streaming';
-import { normalizeError } from '../../common';
+import { fetchStreaming } from '../streaming';
 import { BatchedFunc, BatchItem } from './types';
 
 export interface BatchedFunctionProtocolError extends ErrorLike {
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ export interface StreamingBatchedFunctionParams<Payload, Result> {
    * before sending the batch request.
    */
   maxItemAge?: TimedItemBufferParams<any>['maxItemAge'];
+
+  /**
+   * Disabled zlib compression of response chunks.
+   */
+  compressionDisabled$?: Observable<boolean>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -64,6 +69,7 @@ export const createStreamingBatchedFunction = <Payload, Result extends object>(
     fetchStreaming: fetchStreamingInjected = fetchStreaming,
     flushOnMaxItems = 25,
     maxItemAge = 10,
+    compressionDisabled$ = of(false),
   } = params;
   const [fn] = createBatchedFunction({
     onCall: (payload: Payload, signal?: AbortSignal) => {
@@ -119,6 +125,7 @@ export const createStreamingBatchedFunction = <Payload, Result extends object>(
           body: JSON.stringify({ batch }),
           method: 'POST',
           signal: abortController.signal,
+          compressionDisabled$,
         });
 
         const handleStreamError = (error: any) => {
@@ -127,10 +134,10 @@ export const createStreamingBatchedFunction = <Payload, Result extends object>(
           for (const { future } of items) future.reject(normalizedError);
         };
 
-        stream.pipe(split('\n')).subscribe({
+        stream.subscribe({
           next: (json: string) => {
             try {
-              const response = JSON.parse(json) as BatchResponseItem<Result, ErrorLike>;
+              const response = JSON.parse(json);
               if (response.error) {
                 items[response.id].future.reject(response.error);
               } else if (response.result !== undefined) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/index.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..115fd84cbe979f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/batching/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+export {
+  createStreamingBatchedFunction,
+  StreamingBatchedFunctionParams,
+} from './create_streaming_batched_function';
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/plugin.ts
index ed97d468eec0b1..f97a91a0e70d37 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/plugin.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,11 @@
  */
 
 import { CoreStart, PluginInitializerContext, CoreSetup, Plugin } from 'src/core/public';
+import { from, Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
+import { switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { fetchStreaming as fetchStreamingStatic, FetchStreamingParams } from './streaming';
-import { removeLeadingSlash } from '../common';
-import {
-  createStreamingBatchedFunction,
-  StreamingBatchedFunctionParams,
-} from './batching/create_streaming_batched_function';
+import { DISABLE_BFETCH_COMPRESSION, removeLeadingSlash } from '../common';
+import { createStreamingBatchedFunction, StreamingBatchedFunctionParams } from './batching';
 import { BatchedFunc } from './batching/types';
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line
@@ -43,12 +42,23 @@ export class BfetchPublicPlugin
 
   constructor(private readonly initializerContext: PluginInitializerContext) {}
 
-  public setup(core: CoreSetup, plugins: BfetchPublicSetupDependencies): BfetchPublicSetup {
+  public setup(
+    core: CoreSetup<any, any>,
+    plugins: BfetchPublicSetupDependencies
+  ): BfetchPublicSetup {
     const { version } = this.initializerContext.env.packageInfo;
     const basePath = core.http.basePath.get();
 
-    const fetchStreaming = this.fetchStreaming(version, basePath);
-    const batchedFunction = this.batchedFunction(fetchStreaming);
+    const compressionDisabled$ = from(core.getStartServices()).pipe(
+      switchMap((deps) => {
+        return of(deps[0]);
+      }),
+      switchMap((coreStart) => {
+        return coreStart.uiSettings.get$<boolean>(DISABLE_BFETCH_COMPRESSION);
+      })
+    );
+    const fetchStreaming = this.fetchStreaming(version, basePath, compressionDisabled$);
+    const batchedFunction = this.batchedFunction(fetchStreaming, compressionDisabled$);
 
     this.contract = {
       fetchStreaming,
@@ -66,7 +76,8 @@ export class BfetchPublicPlugin
 
   private fetchStreaming = (
     version: string,
-    basePath: string
+    basePath: string,
+    compressionDisabled$: Observable<boolean>
   ): BfetchPublicSetup['fetchStreaming'] => (params) =>
     fetchStreamingStatic({
       ...params,
@@ -76,13 +87,16 @@ export class BfetchPublicPlugin
         'kbn-version': version,
         ...(params.headers || {}),
       },
+      compressionDisabled$,
     });
 
   private batchedFunction = (
-    fetchStreaming: BfetchPublicContract['fetchStreaming']
+    fetchStreaming: BfetchPublicContract['fetchStreaming'],
+    compressionDisabled$: Observable<boolean>
   ): BfetchPublicContract['batchedFunction'] => (params) =>
     createStreamingBatchedFunction({
       ...params,
+      compressionDisabled$,
       fetchStreaming: params.fetchStreaming || fetchStreaming,
     });
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.test.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.test.ts
index e804b3ea942275..a5d066f6d9a24d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@
 
 import { fetchStreaming } from './fetch_streaming';
 import { mockXMLHttpRequest } from '../test_helpers/xhr';
+import { of } from 'rxjs';
+import { promisify } from 'util';
+import { deflate } from 'zlib';
+const pDeflate = promisify(deflate);
+
+const compressResponse = async (resp: any) => {
+  const gzipped = await pDeflate(JSON.stringify(resp));
+  return gzipped.toString('base64');
+};
 
 const tick = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1));
 
@@ -21,6 +30,7 @@ test('returns XHR request', () => {
   setup();
   const { xhr } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
   expect(typeof xhr.readyState).toBe('number');
 });
@@ -29,6 +39,7 @@ test('returns stream', () => {
   setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
   expect(typeof stream.subscribe).toBe('function');
 });
@@ -37,6 +48,7 @@ test('promise resolves when request completes', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   let resolved = false;
@@ -65,10 +77,90 @@ test('promise resolves when request completes', async () => {
   expect(resolved).toBe(true);
 });
 
-test('streams incoming text as it comes through', async () => {
+test('promise resolves when compressed request completes', async () => {
+  const env = setup();
+  const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
+    url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(false),
+  });
+
+  let resolved = false;
+  let result;
+  stream.toPromise().then((r) => {
+    resolved = true;
+    result = r;
+  });
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+
+  const msg = { foo: 'bar' };
+
+  // Whole message in a response
+  (env.xhr as any).responseText = `${await compressResponse(msg)}\n`;
+  env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+
+  (env.xhr as any).readyState = 4;
+  (env.xhr as any).status = 200;
+  env.xhr.onreadystatechange!({} as any);
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(true);
+  expect(result).toStrictEqual(JSON.stringify(msg));
+});
+
+test('promise resolves when compressed chunked request completes', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(false),
+  });
+
+  let resolved = false;
+  let result;
+  stream.toPromise().then((r) => {
+    resolved = true;
+    result = r;
+  });
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+
+  const msg = { veg: 'tomato' };
+  const msgToCut = await compressResponse(msg);
+  const part1 = msgToCut.substr(0, 3);
+
+  // Message and a half in a response
+  (env.xhr as any).responseText = part1;
+  env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+
+  // Half a message in a response
+  (env.xhr as any).responseText = `${msgToCut}\n`;
+  env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+
+  (env.xhr as any).readyState = 4;
+  (env.xhr as any).status = 200;
+  env.xhr.onreadystatechange!({} as any);
+
+  await tick();
+  expect(resolved).toBe(true);
+  expect(result).toStrictEqual(JSON.stringify(msg));
+});
+
+test('streams incoming text as it comes through, according to separators', async () => {
+  const env = setup();
+  const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
+    url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   const spy = jest.fn();
@@ -80,16 +172,22 @@ test('streams incoming text as it comes through', async () => {
   (env.xhr as any).responseText = 'foo';
   env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
 
+  await tick();
+  expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+
+  (env.xhr as any).responseText = 'foo\nbar';
+  env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
+
   await tick();
   expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('foo');
 
-  (env.xhr as any).responseText = 'foo\nbar';
+  (env.xhr as any).responseText = 'foo\nbar\n';
   env.xhr.onprogress!({} as any);
 
   await tick();
   expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
-  expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('\nbar');
+  expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('bar');
 
   (env.xhr as any).readyState = 4;
   (env.xhr as any).status = 200;
@@ -103,6 +201,7 @@ test('completes stream observable when request finishes', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   const spy = jest.fn();
@@ -127,6 +226,7 @@ test('completes stream observable when aborted', async () => {
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
     signal: abort.signal,
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   const spy = jest.fn();
@@ -152,6 +252,7 @@ test('promise throws when request errors', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   const spy = jest.fn();
@@ -178,6 +279,7 @@ test('stream observable errors when request errors', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   const { stream } = fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   const spy = jest.fn();
@@ -210,6 +312,7 @@ test('sets custom headers', async () => {
       'Content-Type': 'text/plain',
       Authorization: 'Bearer 123',
     },
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   expect(env.xhr.setRequestHeader).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
@@ -223,6 +326,7 @@ test('uses credentials', async () => {
 
   fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://example.com',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   expect(env.xhr.withCredentials).toBe(true);
@@ -238,6 +342,7 @@ test('opens XHR request and sends specified body', async () => {
     url: 'http://elastic.co',
     method: 'GET',
     body: 'foobar',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
 
   expect(env.xhr.open).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
@@ -250,6 +355,7 @@ test('uses POST request method by default', async () => {
   const env = setup();
   fetchStreaming({
     url: 'http://elastic.co',
+    compressionDisabled$: of(true),
   });
   expect(env.xhr.open).toHaveBeenCalledWith('POST', 'http://elastic.co');
 });
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.ts
index d68e4d01b44f5f..1af35ef68fb85c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/fetch_streaming.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
+import { Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
+import { map, share, switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { inflateResponse } from '.';
 import { fromStreamingXhr } from './from_streaming_xhr';
+import { split } from './split';
 
 export interface FetchStreamingParams {
   url: string;
@@ -14,6 +18,7 @@ export interface FetchStreamingParams {
   method?: 'GET' | 'POST';
   body?: string;
   signal?: AbortSignal;
+  compressionDisabled$?: Observable<boolean>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -26,23 +31,49 @@ export function fetchStreaming({
   method = 'POST',
   body = '',
   signal,
+  compressionDisabled$ = of(false),
 }: FetchStreamingParams) {
   const xhr = new window.XMLHttpRequest();
 
-  // Begin the request
-  xhr.open(method, url);
-  xhr.withCredentials = true;
+  const msgStream = compressionDisabled$.pipe(
+    switchMap((compressionDisabled) => {
+      // Begin the request
+      xhr.open(method, url);
+      xhr.withCredentials = true;
 
-  // Set the HTTP headers
-  Object.entries(headers).forEach(([k, v]) => xhr.setRequestHeader(k, v));
+      if (!compressionDisabled) {
+        headers['X-Chunk-Encoding'] = 'deflate';
+      }
 
-  const stream = fromStreamingXhr(xhr, signal);
+      // Set the HTTP headers
+      Object.entries(headers).forEach(([k, v]) => xhr.setRequestHeader(k, v));
 
-  // Send the payload to the server
-  xhr.send(body);
+      const stream = fromStreamingXhr(xhr, signal);
+
+      // Send the payload to the server
+      xhr.send(body);
+
+      // Return a stream of chunked decompressed messages
+      return stream.pipe(
+        split('\n'),
+        map((msg) => {
+          return compressionDisabled ? msg : inflateResponse(msg);
+        })
+      );
+    }),
+    share()
+  );
+
+  // start execution
+  const msgStreamSub = msgStream.subscribe({
+    error: (e) => {},
+    complete: () => {
+      msgStreamSub.unsubscribe();
+    },
+  });
 
   return {
     xhr,
-    stream,
+    stream: msgStream,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/index.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/index.ts
index afb442feffb294..545cae87aa3d6a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/index.ts
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@
 export * from './split';
 export * from './from_streaming_xhr';
 export * from './fetch_streaming';
+export { inflateResponse } from './inflate_response';
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/inflate_response.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/inflate_response.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..73cb52285987ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming/inflate_response.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { unzlibSync, strFromU8 } from 'fflate';
+
+export function inflateResponse<Result extends object>(response: string) {
+  const buff = Buffer.from(response, 'base64');
+  const unzip = unzlibSync(buff);
+  return strFromU8(unzip);
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/plugin.ts
index 18f0813260f036..7fd46e2f6cc44e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/plugin.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import type {
   RouteMethod,
   RequestHandler,
   RequestHandlerContext,
+  StartServicesAccessor,
 } from 'src/core/server';
 import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
 import { Subject } from 'rxjs';
@@ -28,7 +29,8 @@ import {
   normalizeError,
 } from '../common';
 import { StreamingRequestHandler } from './types';
-import { createNDJSONStream } from './streaming';
+import { createStream } from './streaming';
+import { getUiSettings } from './ui_settings';
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line
 export interface BfetchServerSetupDependencies {}
@@ -112,9 +114,19 @@ export class BfetchServerPlugin
   public setup(core: CoreSetup, plugins: BfetchServerSetupDependencies): BfetchServerSetup {
     const logger = this.initializerContext.logger.get();
     const router = core.http.createRouter();
-    const addStreamingResponseRoute = this.addStreamingResponseRoute({ router, logger });
+
+    core.uiSettings.register(getUiSettings());
+
+    const addStreamingResponseRoute = this.addStreamingResponseRoute({
+      getStartServices: core.getStartServices,
+      router,
+      logger,
+    });
     const addBatchProcessingRoute = this.addBatchProcessingRoute(addStreamingResponseRoute);
-    const createStreamingRequestHandler = this.createStreamingRequestHandler({ logger });
+    const createStreamingRequestHandler = this.createStreamingRequestHandler({
+      getStartServices: core.getStartServices,
+      logger,
+    });
 
     return {
       addBatchProcessingRoute,
@@ -129,10 +141,16 @@ export class BfetchServerPlugin
 
   public stop() {}
 
+  private getCompressionDisabled(request: KibanaRequest) {
+    return request.headers['x-chunk-encoding'] !== 'deflate';
+  }
+
   private addStreamingResponseRoute = ({
+    getStartServices,
     router,
     logger,
   }: {
+    getStartServices: StartServicesAccessor;
     router: ReturnType<CoreSetup['http']['createRouter']>;
     logger: Logger;
   }): BfetchServerSetup['addStreamingResponseRoute'] => (path, handler) => {
@@ -146,9 +164,10 @@ export class BfetchServerPlugin
       async (context, request, response) => {
         const handlerInstance = handler(request);
         const data = request.body;
+        const compressionDisabled = this.getCompressionDisabled(request);
         return response.ok({
           headers: streamingHeaders,
-          body: createNDJSONStream(handlerInstance.getResponseStream(data), logger),
+          body: createStream(handlerInstance.getResponseStream(data), logger, compressionDisabled),
         });
       }
     );
@@ -156,17 +175,20 @@ export class BfetchServerPlugin
 
   private createStreamingRequestHandler = ({
     logger,
+    getStartServices,
   }: {
     logger: Logger;
+    getStartServices: StartServicesAccessor;
   }): BfetchServerSetup['createStreamingRequestHandler'] => (streamHandler) => async (
     context,
     request,
     response
   ) => {
     const response$ = await streamHandler(context, request);
+    const compressionDisabled = this.getCompressionDisabled(request);
     return response.ok({
       headers: streamingHeaders,
-      body: createNDJSONStream(response$, logger),
+      body: createStream(response$, logger, compressionDisabled),
     });
   };
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_compressed_stream.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_compressed_stream.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..6814ed1dd79550
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_compressed_stream.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { promisify } from 'util';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+import { catchError, concatMap, finalize } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { Logger } from 'src/core/server';
+import { Stream, PassThrough } from 'stream';
+import { constants, deflate } from 'zlib';
+
+const delimiter = '\n';
+const pDeflate = promisify(deflate);
+
+async function zipMessageToStream(output: PassThrough, message: string) {
+  return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
+    try {
+      const gzipped = await pDeflate(message, {
+        flush: constants.Z_SYNC_FLUSH,
+      });
+      output.write(gzipped.toString('base64'));
+      output.write(delimiter);
+      resolve(undefined);
+    } catch (err) {
+      reject(err);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+export const createCompressedStream = <Response>(
+  results: Observable<Response>,
+  logger: Logger
+): Stream => {
+  const output = new PassThrough();
+
+  const sub = results
+    .pipe(
+      concatMap((message: Response) => {
+        const strMessage = JSON.stringify(message);
+        return zipMessageToStream(output, strMessage);
+      }),
+      catchError((e) => {
+        logger.error('Could not serialize or stream a message.');
+        logger.error(e);
+        throw e;
+      }),
+      finalize(() => {
+        output.end();
+        sub.unsubscribe();
+      })
+    )
+    .subscribe();
+
+  return output;
+};
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_stream.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_stream.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..7d6981294341b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/create_stream.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { Logger } from 'kibana/server';
+import { Stream } from 'stream';
+import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+import { createCompressedStream } from './create_compressed_stream';
+import { createNDJSONStream } from './create_ndjson_stream';
+
+export function createStream<Payload, Response>(
+  response$: Observable<Response>,
+  logger: Logger,
+  compressionDisabled: boolean
+): Stream {
+  return compressionDisabled
+    ? createNDJSONStream(response$, logger)
+    : createCompressedStream(response$, logger);
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/index.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/index.ts
index 2c31cc329295d0..dfd472b5034a1b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/streaming/index.ts
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@
  */
 
 export * from './create_ndjson_stream';
+export * from './create_compressed_stream';
+export * from './create_stream';
diff --git a/src/plugins/bfetch/server/ui_settings.ts b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/ui_settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..cf7b13a9af1820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/bfetch/server/ui_settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import { UiSettingsParams } from 'src/core/server';
+import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
+import { DISABLE_BFETCH_COMPRESSION } from '../common';
+
+export function getUiSettings(): Record<string, UiSettingsParams<unknown>> {
+  return {
+    [DISABLE_BFETCH_COMPRESSION]: {
+      name: i18n.translate('bfetch.disableBfetchCompression', {
+        defaultMessage: 'Disable Batch Compression',
+      }),
+      value: false,
+      description: i18n.translate('bfetch.disableBfetchCompressionDesc', {
+        defaultMessage:
+          'Disable batch compression. This allows you to debug individual requests, but increases response size.',
+      }),
+      schema: schema.boolean(),
+      category: [],
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/schema.ts b/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/schema.ts
index f1592d5a8cf0b1..5f70deccba93cf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/schema.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/schema.ts
@@ -388,6 +388,10 @@ export const stackManagementSchema: MakeSchemaFrom<UsageStats> = {
     type: 'long',
     _meta: { description: 'Non-default value of setting.' },
   },
+  'bfetch:disableCompression': {
+    type: 'boolean',
+    _meta: { description: 'Non-default value of setting.' },
+  },
   'visualization:visualize:legacyChartsLibrary': {
     type: 'boolean',
     _meta: { description: 'Non-default value of setting.' },
diff --git a/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/types.ts b/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/types.ts
index 570b52171be283..bf28bb6cc01f5d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/types.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/kibana_usage_collection/server/collectors/management/types.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export interface UsageStats {
   /**
    * non-sensitive settings
    */
+  'bfetch:disableCompression': boolean;
   'autocomplete:useTimeRange': boolean;
   'search:timeout': number;
   'visualization:visualize:legacyChartsLibrary': boolean;
diff --git a/src/plugins/telemetry/schema/oss_plugins.json b/src/plugins/telemetry/schema/oss_plugins.json
index 693957057f1084..0ca1b863f91a7b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/telemetry/schema/oss_plugins.json
+++ b/src/plugins/telemetry/schema/oss_plugins.json
@@ -8217,6 +8217,12 @@
             "description": "Non-default value of setting."
           }
         },
+        "bfetch:disableCompression": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "_meta": {
+            "description": "Non-default value of setting."
+          }
+        },
         "visualization:visualize:legacyChartsLibrary": {
           "type": "boolean",
           "_meta": {
diff --git a/test/api_integration/apis/search/bsearch.ts b/test/api_integration/apis/search/bsearch.ts
index f539d0f9e4544e..11fb74200d7ddf 100644
--- a/test/api_integration/apis/search/bsearch.ts
+++ b/test/api_integration/apis/search/bsearch.ts
@@ -8,15 +8,18 @@
 
 import expect from '@kbn/expect';
 import request from 'superagent';
+import { inflateResponse } from '../../../../src/plugins/bfetch/public/streaming';
 import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../ftr_provider_context';
 import { painlessErrReq } from './painless_err_req';
 import { verifyErrorResponse } from './verify_error';
 
-function parseBfetchResponse(resp: request.Response): Array<Record<string, any>> {
+function parseBfetchResponse(resp: request.Response, compressed: boolean = false) {
   return resp.text
     .trim()
     .split('\n')
-    .map((item) => JSON.parse(item));
+    .map((item) => {
+      return JSON.parse(compressed ? inflateResponse<any>(item) : item);
+    });
 }
 
 export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
@@ -26,29 +29,69 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
   describe('bsearch', () => {
     describe('post', () => {
       it('should return 200 a single response', async () => {
-        const resp = await supertest.post(`/internal/bsearch`).send({
-          batch: [
-            {
-              request: {
-                params: {
-                  body: {
-                    query: {
-                      match_all: {},
+        const resp = await supertest
+          .post(`/internal/bsearch`)
+          .set({ 'X-Chunk-Encoding': '' })
+          .send({
+            batch: [
+              {
+                request: {
+                  params: {
+                    index: '.kibana',
+                    body: {
+                      query: {
+                        match_all: {},
+                      },
                     },
                   },
                 },
+                options: {
+                  strategy: 'es',
+                },
               },
-            },
-          ],
-        });
+            ],
+          });
+
+        const jsonBody = parseBfetchResponse(resp);
+
+        expect(resp.status).to.be(200);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].id).to.be(0);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result.isPartial).to.be(false);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result.isRunning).to.be(false);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result).to.have.property('rawResponse');
+      });
+
+      it('should return 200 a single response from compressed', async () => {
+        const resp = await supertest
+          .post(`/internal/bsearch`)
+          .set({ 'X-Chunk-Encoding': 'deflate' })
+          .send({
+            batch: [
+              {
+                request: {
+                  params: {
+                    index: '.kibana',
+                    body: {
+                      query: {
+                        match_all: {},
+                      },
+                    },
+                  },
+                },
+                options: {
+                  strategy: 'es',
+                },
+              },
+            ],
+          });
 
-        const jsonBody = JSON.parse(resp.text);
+        const jsonBody = parseBfetchResponse(resp, true);
 
         expect(resp.status).to.be(200);
-        expect(jsonBody.id).to.be(0);
-        expect(jsonBody.result).to.have.property('isPartial');
-        expect(jsonBody.result).to.have.property('isRunning');
-        expect(jsonBody.result).to.have.property('rawResponse');
+        expect(jsonBody[0].id).to.be(0);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result.isPartial).to.be(false);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result.isRunning).to.be(false);
+        expect(jsonBody[0].result).to.have.property('rawResponse');
       });
 
       it('should return a batch of successful responses', async () => {
@@ -57,6 +100,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             {
               request: {
                 params: {
+                  index: '.kibana',
                   body: {
                     query: {
                       match_all: {},
@@ -68,6 +112,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             {
               request: {
                 params: {
+                  index: '.kibana',
                   body: {
                     query: {
                       match_all: {},
@@ -95,6 +140,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             {
               request: {
                 params: {
+                  index: '.kibana',
                   body: {
                     query: {
                       match_all: {},
@@ -121,6 +167,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           batch: [
             {
               request: {
+                index: '.kibana',
                 indexType: 'baad',
                 params: {
                   body: {
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index ee4fadac018bc2..1e0f9a8821d1f1 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -13483,6 +13483,11 @@ fetch-mock@^7.3.9:
     path-to-regexp "^2.2.1"
     whatwg-url "^6.5.0"
 
+fflate@^0.6.9:
+  version "0.6.9"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/fflate/-/fflate-0.6.9.tgz#fb369b30792a03ff7274e174f3b36e51292d3f99"
+  integrity sha512-hmAdxNHub7fw36hX7BHiuAO0uekp6ufY2sjxBXWxIf0sw5p7tnS9GVrdM4D12SDYQUHVpiC50fPBYPTjOzRU2Q==
+
 figgy-pudding@^3.5.1:
   version "3.5.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/figgy-pudding/-/figgy-pudding-3.5.1.tgz#862470112901c727a0e495a80744bd5baa1d6790"