Multi effect stomp box or individual pedals

[Fendershed33]

I have a wah pedal already and am looking to add to my effects. I was thinking a compression pedal and a blues driver pedal in the future. But im staring to look into these multi effect stomp box's more recently. I think this is the cheaper way to go in the long run. Are independent pedals actually "better" or more "effective" than the multi effect box's? Just curious what is the best way to go about this, Im fairly new to the pedals and effects aspect of playing.

[harpinon]

A lot depends on your "ear" for nuance.
Spend some time listening to pedal demos.
One of my favorites is Gearmanndude on YouTube.

[DraggAmps]

Well there's really no "better" in tone, and most people on here are respectful of that and won't say that something is better than something else without offering that this is just their opinion... and I'll do the same. To me, digital multi effects pedals just don't compare in most areas. I would NEVER use a digital overdrive, distortion, or fuzz. I would never use a digital compressor, wah, or most effects. Digital is a simulation of analog and in some cases it can come close, in it's most high quality implementations, and some times it can take on it's own great sound and do things that can't be achieved with analog, at least not easily. Analog almost always just sounds better and individual effects just make things easier for the most part. Digital chorus, reverb, delay, vibrato, phase, flange, and others can sound very good. TC Electronic does some great digital stuff, especially with their new Tone Print pedals. I have a TC Hall of Fame and sounds great. I've had several other great digital reverbs. I use a Stymon El Capistan and it's a great digital emulation of tape delay. Some people use pedals like the Line 6 M9 because, while it might be a slight sacrifice in tone, it keeps things all together which saves space and costs less. It's wry expensive to get great analog versions of all of those effects, but I don't think most people concerned with tone use the M9 for overdrive and distortion and they probably prefer a better delay and reverb tone, even if it's still digital, so they usually have separate delay, reverb, OD, distortion, compression, etc. But a little bit of a generic flange, vibe, phase, etc, is sometimes worth it to get it in a cheaper, more "all in one" format that is programable. Other than those situations, I would never consider a multi effects unit. Accept for maybe the really great rack units, such as Axe-FX, but that would be mostly for recording and isn't a cost effective setup anyway. I don't think multi effects units sound good for the most part, but TC is one brand that does digital well and they do have a multi unit, the G-System. I wouldn't mind having one but it's large and also not cheap. There are. Few brands who make smaller units that just do modulation effects and they're also good sounding, such as the TC Nova Mod and the Eventide Mod Factor. Ive used those and they're great for a multi unit. Bascally, in my opinion, digital and multi effects units can sound good when doing modulation effects, but only the higher end stuff comes close.