Side by side

CheatDeck vs GameBuff

Both stand on game trainers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

CheatDeck

Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

CheatDeck offers detailed launch controls and sidecar support for Steam Deck through Decky Loader. Back up Custom Options before updating, and check whether sidecar dependencies are needed.

Visit CheatDeck

GameBuff focuses on single-player modifications, with a free client and broad listed game coverage. Check the Windows requirements and account activation requirement, and note that trainer changes may stop when the trainer closes or the game restarts.

Visit GameBuff

The facts

	CheatDeck	GameBuff
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Linux, Self-hosted	Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	2
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	github.com	gamebuff.cn
On game trainers	#5 of 30	#9 of 30

CheatDeck: what it does well

Runs selected .exe or .bat files alongside a game
Offers locale, compatibility, and audio settings
Custom Options support environment assignments and arguments
Read-only safeguards apply to ambiguous launch options

What to know first

Installation requires Decky Loader Developer Mode
Sidecar programs may need additional runtime dependencies
Previous Custom Options may not migrate to v2.0.0

GameBuff: what it does well

Free client download and trainer browsing without an account.
Advertises trainers for more than 7,000 games.
Supports Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox, and Ubisoft games.
Offers cloud configuration sync across devices.
Supports offline mode.

What to know first

No macOS or cloud gaming support.
Windows 7 compatibility is limited.
An account is required to activate trainer features.
Security software may flag the installer or trainer behavior.

Alternatives to CheatDeck Alternatives to GameBuff The whole list