Cheat vs. Trainer — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 5, 2024
A cheat provides specific codes or methods to bypass game rules, while a trainer is a program offering multiple cheats or modifications.
Difference Between Cheat and Trainer
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cheat codes are sequences or methods used within a game to unlock special abilities, bypass difficulties, or access hidden features, typically entered through the game’s interface or a special input screen. On the other hand, a trainer is an external software application designed specifically to modify a game's behavior by activating various cheats without the need for inputting codes directly in the game.
While cheat codes are often included by developers as a fun or helpful feature for players, trainers are usually created by third-party developers or enthusiasts to enhance the gaming experience or simplify challenges. Whereas trainers offer a broader range of modifications, from infinite health to unlimited resources, tailored to alter the game in favor of the player.
Using cheat codes usually does not require any additional software or tools, as these codes are a built-in feature of the game. In contrast, a trainer operates externally to the game and often requires running simultaneously with the game to inject code or modify game data in real-time.
The ethical considerations surrounding the use of cheat codes can be more lenient, especially since many are developer-sanctioned. Trainers, however, often carry a stigma of unfair advantage, particularly in multiplayer settings, and can lead to bans or penalties from online play.
The technical knowledge required to use cheat codes is minimal, making them accessible to a wide range of players. Trainers, however, may require a basic understanding of running and configuring third-party software, including managing potential security risks from downloading and using software from the internet.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Codes or methods to unlock abilities or features within a game.
A program that modifies game behavior to enable cheats or advantages.
Origin
Built-in by developers.
Created by third-party developers or enthusiasts.
Usage
Entered directly in the game.
Runs externally, alongside the game.
Scope
Specific codes for particular cheats.
Offers multiple cheats and game modifications.
Technical Knowledge
Minimal, accessible to most players.
Requires understanding of third-party software usage.
Compare with Definitions
Cheat
Specific Codes.
Entering godmode in the game enabled invincibility.
Trainer
Multiple Modifications.
The trainer provided options for unlimited ammo and health.
Cheat
Built-in Feature.
The developer included cheat codes as Easter eggs for players to discover.
Trainer
Third-Party Software.
Gamers downloaded a popular trainer to overcome difficult game levels.
Cheat
Direct Input.
Cheat codes are entered through a special menu in the game.
Trainer
External Operation.
Running the trainer in the background, it modifies the game's data in real-time.
Cheat
Minimal Technical Knowledge.
Players can easily apply cheat codes without external tools.
Trainer
Stigma of Unfair Advantage.
Using trainers in online games is frowned upon and can lead to account bans.
Cheat
Developer-Sanctioned.
Using cheat codes in single-player mode is often seen as a harmless way to enhance fun.
Trainer
Requires Technical Knowledge.
Gamers need to know how to configure and safely run trainers to avoid security risks.
Cheat
To deceive by trickery; swindle
Cheated customers by overcharging them for purchases.
Trainer
One who trains, especially one who coaches athletes, racehorses, or show animals.
Cheat
To deprive by trickery; defraud
Cheated them of their land.
Trainer
A contrivance or apparatus used in training.
Cheat
To mislead; fool
Illusions that cheat the eye.
Trainer
A member of a naval gun crew who trains cannons horizontally.
Cheat
To elude; escape
Cheat death.
Trainer
Chiefly British A sneaker or tennis shoe.
Cheat
To act dishonestly; practice fraud.
Trainer
A person who trains another; a coach.
Cheat
To violate rules deliberately, as in a game
Was accused of cheating at cards.
Trainer
(sports) A person responsible for treating injuries sustained by players during matches; a physiotherapist.
Cheat
(Informal) To be sexually unfaithful
Cheat on a spouse.
Trainer
(British) A running shoe or sneaker.
Cheat
(Sports) To position oneself closer to a certain area than is normal or expected
The shortstop cheated toward second base.
Trainer
A patch for a video game that applies cheats.
Cheat
An act of cheating; a fraud or swindle.
Trainer
(cycling) A piece of indoor equipment allowing a bicycle to be ridden while stationary.
Cheat
One who cheats; a swindler.
Trainer
Attributive form of trainers
There was chewing gum stuck to my trainer soles.
Cheat
A technique that exploits a flaw or hidden feature in a video game or computer program.
Trainer
One who trains; an instructor; especially, one who trains or prepares men, horses, etc., for exercises requiring physical agility and strength.
Cheat
(Law) Fraudulent acquisition of another's property.
Trainer
A militiaman when called out for exercise or discipline.
Cheat
(Botany) Any of several species of brome, especially Bromus secalinus, an annual European grass widespread as a weed.
Trainer
One who trains other persons or animals
Cheat
(intransitive) To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
My brother flunked biology because he cheated on his mid-term.
Trainer
Simulator consisting of a machine on the ground that simulates the conditions of flying a plane
Cheat
(intransitive) To be unfaithful to one's spouse or partner; to commit adultery, or to engage in sexual or romantic conduct with a person other than one's partner in contravention of the rules of society or agreement in the relationship.
My husband cheated on me with his secretary.
After he found out his wife cheated, he left her.
Cheat
(transitive) To manage to avoid something even though it seemed inevitable.
He cheated death when his car collided with a moving train.
I feel as if I've cheated fate.
Cheat
(transitive) To deceive; to fool; to trick.
My ex-wife cheated me out of $40,000.
He cheated his way into office.
Cheat
Someone who cheats.
Cheat
An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception.
Cheat
The weed cheatgrass.
Cheat
(card games) A card game where the goal is to have no cards remaining in a hand, often by telling lies.
Cheat
(video games) A hidden means of gaining an unfair advantage in a video game, often by entering a cheat code.
Cheat
(obsolete) A sort of low-quality bread.
Cheat
An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture.
When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat.
Cheat
One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater.
Airy wonders, which cheats interpret.
Cheat
A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; - called also chess. See Chess.
Cheat
The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.
Cheat
Wheat, or bread made from wheat.
Their purest cheat,Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste.
Cheat
To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle.
I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island.
Cheat
To beguile.
To cheat winter of its dreariness.
Cheat
To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.
Cheat
Weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous
Cheat
Weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
Cheat
Someone who leads you to believe something that is not true
Cheat
The act of swindling by some fraudulent scheme;
That book is a fraud
Cheat
A deception for profit to yourself
Cheat
Deprive somebody of something by deceit;
The con-man beat me out of $50
This salesman ripped us off!
We were cheated by their clever-sounding scheme
They chiseled me out of my money
Cheat
Defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit
Cheat
Engage in deceitful behavior; practice trickery or fraud;
Who's chiseling on the side?
Cheat
Be sexually unfaithful to one's partner in marriage;
She cheats on her husband
Might her husband be wandering?
Common Curiosities
Are cheat codes always included by game developers?
Yes, cheat codes are typically included by developers for fun or assistance, unlike third-party created trainers.
Do I need additional software to use cheat codes?
No, cheat codes are entered directly into the game without needing extra software, unlike trainers.
Can trainers work with any game?
Trainers are typically game-specific, designed to work with particular versions or releases of a game.
What is the main difference between a cheat and a trainer?
A cheat is a built-in game feature allowing special abilities, while a trainer is external software providing multiple cheats.
Why do people use trainers instead of cheat codes?
Trainers offer more extensive modifications and cheats than the built-in codes, enhancing the gaming experience beyond what's officially provided.
Can cheat codes affect game performance?
Cheat codes can affect game performance or stability if they trigger unintended glitches or behaviors.
Why might developers include cheat codes in their games?
Developers include cheat codes for debugging, fun, or to help players bypass difficult sections.
Can using a trainer get you banned from online games?
Yes, using trainers in online games can lead to bans due to the unfair advantages they provide.
Is it safe to use trainers?
Safety can vary; downloading trainers from reputable sources and ensuring they're free of malware is crucial.
How do trainers modify a game?
Trainers modify game behavior by injecting code or altering game data in real-time to activate cheats.
Do all games have cheat codes?
Not all games have cheat codes; the inclusion is up to the game's developers.
Are there ethical issues with using cheat codes?
Ethical concerns are minimal with cheat codes, especially in single-player modes, unlike the potential issues with trainers.
How do I activate cheats using a trainer?
Cheats are activated through the trainer interface, usually with buttons or toggles for each cheat while the game runs in the background.
Is it illegal to use trainers?
While not typically illegal, using trainers can violate game terms of service, especially in multiplayer environments.
Can I share a trainer with friends?
Sharing trainers can pose security risks and might violate the software's terms of use or the game's terms of service.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
