diff --git a/.chloggen/enable-compression-by-default.yaml b/.chloggen/enable-compression-by-default.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3e992bb59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/enable-compression-by-default.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: breaking
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. agent, clusterReceiver, gateway, networkExplorer, operator, chart, other)
+component: agent
+# A brief description of the change. Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Enable compression by default.
+# One or more tracking issues related to the change
+issues: [600]
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 89defec2ee..54884644e1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ This Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector for Kubernetes release adopts the [Splunk Op
 - Fix for secret name which now respects the same overrides as other resources in the chart [#873](https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-collector-chart/pull/873)
 - Update the secret validation hook pod to use imagePullSecrets instead of possible non-existing serviceAccountName [#888](https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-collector-chart/pull/888)
 
+### Changed
+
+- Set HEC exporter gzip compression enabled by default [#601](https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-collector-chart/pull/601)
+
 ## [0.82.0] - 2023-08-02
 
 This Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector for Kubernetes release adopts the [Splunk OpenTelemetry Collector v0.82.0](https://github.com/signalfx/splunk-otel-collector/releases/tag/v0.82.0).
diff --git a/ci_scripts/sck_otel_values.yaml b/ci_scripts/sck_otel_values.yaml
index 86bf2dfd33..8a27306f35 100644
--- a/ci_scripts/sck_otel_values.yaml
+++ b/ci_scripts/sck_otel_values.yaml
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ splunkPlatform:
   sourcetype:
   # Maximum HTTP connections to use simultaneously when sending data. Defaults to 200.
   maxConnections: 200
-  # Whether to disable gzip compression over HTTP. Defaults to true.
-  disableCompression: true
+  # Whether to disable gzip compression over HTTP. Defaults to false.
+  disableCompression: false
   # HTTP timeout when sending data. Defaults to 10s.
   timeout: 10s
   # Whether to skip checking the certificate of the HEC endpoint when sending data over HTTPS. Defaults to true.
diff --git a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
index 5c7ea1472b..7a482f99c2 100644
--- a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
+++ b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_logs:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ data:
           insecure_skip_verify: false
         token: ${SPLUNK_PLATFORM_HEC_TOKEN}
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ data:
           insecure_skip_verify: false
         token: ${SPLUNK_PLATFORM_HEC_TOKEN}
       splunk_hec/platform_traces:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: ""
diff --git a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 3cc56407a4..d0352ac229 100644
--- a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
diff --git a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
index 0bdb3c0c9b..4ee49162b0 100644
--- a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
+++ b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-collector-agent
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: e18f1ab9721bb3626da79c7ed2319302c755962ee61e6ad56f19c97e6974b269
+        checksum/config: f4c82d9d27dd31622e384cf5938ec3e7bca1e1b695347a86e1a9f9fd1e413f47
         kubectl.kubernetes.io/default-container: otel-collector
     spec:
       hostNetwork: true
diff --git a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 904b940842..10e3822124 100644
--- a/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/disable-persistence-queue-traces/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-k8s-cluster-receiver
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: d40ed9bad68eb91904f17128a33d06d307803d707393aa2975b0dfa4749839b8
+        checksum/config: 8fcd123c2b8cd2dd0c41e6aad1cdb3ca01f4855482678b034386325182142109
     spec:
       serviceAccountName: default-splunk-otel-collector
       nodeSelector:
diff --git a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
index 8761492655..e849199741 100644
--- a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
+++ b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_logs:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ data:
           insecure_skip_verify: false
         token: ${SPLUNK_PLATFORM_HEC_TOKEN}
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ data:
           insecure_skip_verify: false
         token: ${SPLUNK_PLATFORM_HEC_TOKEN}
       splunk_hec/platform_traces:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: ""
diff --git a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 3cc56407a4..d0352ac229 100644
--- a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
diff --git a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
index 07da698ad6..b78fb537d0 100644
--- a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
+++ b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-collector-agent
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: 0152ea275395d83f8717a7129f647963e4182cdc13ac3758c3786a16059ab946
+        checksum/config: 90b7dcf38b20005d49c064dbd988106919dcfbb4e5088f037087289f2306be74
         kubectl.kubernetes.io/default-container: otel-collector
     spec:
       hostNetwork: true
diff --git a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 904b940842..10e3822124 100644
--- a/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/enable-persistence-queue/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-k8s-cluster-receiver
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: d40ed9bad68eb91904f17128a33d06d307803d707393aa2975b0dfa4749839b8
+        checksum/config: 8fcd123c2b8cd2dd0c41e6aad1cdb3ca01f4855482678b034386325182142109
     spec:
       serviceAccountName: default-splunk-otel-collector
       nodeSelector:
diff --git a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
index c5bbea5d29..5ab810df0b 100644
--- a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
diff --git a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 3cc56407a4..d0352ac229 100644
--- a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/configmap-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_metrics:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: CHANGEME
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: CHANGEME
diff --git a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
index 063d64f9f1..30dd1a2a4e 100644
--- a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-collector-agent
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: 16994c03a950dbe6f8eabd71f6b5b8fe09a7cd0bd52d36d92f96809287041868
+        checksum/config: 63a527c6e229c46c5c33e4cf11bf64c14a8ff0280644bd1381a9fbb2b11ecc7e
         kubectl.kubernetes.io/default-container: otel-collector
     spec:
       hostNetwork: true
diff --git a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
index 904b940842..10e3822124 100644
--- a/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-metrics-platform/rendered_manifests/deployment-cluster-receiver.yaml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-k8s-cluster-receiver
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: d40ed9bad68eb91904f17128a33d06d307803d707393aa2975b0dfa4749839b8
+        checksum/config: 8fcd123c2b8cd2dd0c41e6aad1cdb3ca01f4855482678b034386325182142109
     spec:
       serviceAccountName: default-splunk-otel-collector
       nodeSelector:
diff --git a/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml b/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
index db91381785..9527cdc07b 100644
--- a/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
+++ b/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/configmap-agent.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ data:
   relay: |
     exporters:
       splunk_hec/platform_logs:
-        disable_compression: true
+        disable_compression: false
         endpoint: http://localhost:8088/services/collector
         idle_conn_timeout: 10s
         index: main
diff --git a/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml b/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
index a9db41a577..71da1e2791 100644
--- a/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
+++ b/examples/splunk-enterprise-index-routing/rendered_manifests/daemonset.yaml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ spec:
         component: otel-collector-agent
         release: default
       annotations:
-        checksum/config: 454aee54bfdf9a862458bec560bcbd70e5fac491e589e9e2e7658d61db210e39
+        checksum/config: b7869bc843b3cab9dc4230da785116ba074aa63367fde37ecd18d1b3e9a5473d
         kubectl.kubernetes.io/default-container: otel-collector
     spec:
       hostNetwork: true
diff --git a/helm-charts/splunk-otel-collector/values.yaml b/helm-charts/splunk-otel-collector/values.yaml
index 316070bf78..d019282e24 100644
--- a/helm-charts/splunk-otel-collector/values.yaml
+++ b/helm-charts/splunk-otel-collector/values.yaml
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ splunkPlatform:
   sourcetype: ""
   # Maximum HTTP connections to use simultaneously when sending data.
   maxConnections: 200
-  # Whether to disable gzip compression over HTTP. Defaults to true.
-  disableCompression: true
+  # Whether to disable gzip compression over HTTP. Defaults to false.
+  disableCompression: false
   # HTTP timeout when sending data. Defaults to 10s.
   timeout: 10s
   # Idle connection timeout. defaults to 10s