In this paper, first, we give the notion of a compatible pre-Lie algebra and its representation. We study the relation between compatible Lie algebras and compatible pre-Lie algebras. We also construct a new bidifferential graded Lie algebra whose Maurer-Cartan elements are compatible pre-Lie structures. We give the bidifferential graded Lie algebra which controls deformations of a compatible pre-Lie algebra. Then, we introduce a cohomology of a compatible pre-Lie algebra with coefficients in itself. We study infinitesimal deformations of compatible pre-Lie algebras and show that equivalent infinitesimal deformations are in the same second cohomology group. We further give the notion of a Nijenhuis operator on a compatible pre-Lie algebra. We study formal deformations of compatible pre-Lie algebras. If the second cohomology group H2(g;g) is trivial, then the compatible pre-Lie algebra is rigid. Finally, we give a cohomology of a compatible pre-Lie algebra with coefficients in arbitrary representation and study abelian extensions of compatible pre-Lie algebras using this cohomology. We show that abelian extensions are classified by the second cohomology group.