An apparatus for heterogeneous compression of data streams is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sampling module that samples a data stream at one or more intervals to determine a content type for data within the one or more intervals. The apparatus further includes a mapping module that determines whether the content type is linked to a preferred data compression method. The apparatus further includes a processing module that compresses the data within the one or more intervals to produce compressed data using the preferred data compression method in response to determining that the content type is linked to the preferred data compression method. Embodiments of corresponding methods and computer program products are also disclosed.