An apparatus for compression molding plastic articles, comprising at least one molding unit (3, 4) composed of an upper punch (3) and a lower mold (4) provided with a cavity for molding the articles, the punch and mold being aligned with each other and movable between a spaced position and a closer positions, feeders for feeding doses (D) of plastic material to be molded, comprising at least one removal element (12) for removing, in succession, individual doses (D) from an extruder (14) and depositing a removed dose (D) in the molding cavity (5) of the mold when it is spaced from the respective punch, supporting elements for temporarily supporting said dose (D) above the molding cavity (5), associated with the mold, and actuators for actuating the supporting elements so as to release a dose into the cavity before compression start.