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Head-to-head · Game Memory Editors

Cheat Engine vs MemDBG

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Cheat Engine #1 in Game Memory Editors 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Cheat Engine
MemDBG #2 in Game Memory Editors 9.2/10 Open source ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit MemDBG

Cheat Engine leads on 0 checks, MemDBG on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCheat Engine · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly Cheat Engine
  • Most featuresMemDBG · 4 of 4

Cheat Engine scores higher on our rubric for game memory editors: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

MemDBG offers open source; Cheat Engine doesn't.

Cheat Engine is the better fit for most users needing a full-featured editor. MemDBG is the better fit for open-source, cross-platform power users.

  • Cheat Engine fits best

    Most users needing a full-featured editor

  • MemDBG fits best

    Open-source, cross-platform power users

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Side by side

Feature Cheat Engine 9.4/10 Visit ↗ MemDBG 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.2
Ranking #1 in Game Memory Editors #2 in Game Memory Editors
Best for Most users needing a full-featured editor Open-source, cross-platform power users
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Free plan Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Cheat Engine 0/4 · MemDBG 4/4
Pointer scanning Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Debugger Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Scripting support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Open source — ✓ (best)
Specs
Operating systems Not checked yet Cross_platform
Architecture support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Memory scanning, value modification, debugging, and disassembly
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with offline use
  • Adds scripting, trainers, overlays, and runtime inspection tools
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
  • Combines scanning, debugging, patching, trainers, and telemetry
  • Includes Lua and Python desktop-side plugin support
Cons
  • macOS access is trialware until the user joins the Patreon
  • Online-game use may violate game terms
  • The broad toolkit can exceed the needs of simple edits
  • Focused on PS4 and PS5 homebrew research
  • Pre-release development may require evolving workflows
  • Console work depends on a payload plus host applications
Our verdict

Cheat Engine is a standalone desktop development environment for modifying single-player games and inspecting applications. It is aimed at users who need more than basic value changes, including memory scanning, debugging, disassembly,…

Read the review →

MemDBG is an open-source memory inspection, scanning, debugging, and trainer-building suite for PS4 and PS5 homebrew research. It is aimed at developers, reverse-engineering learners, preservation projects, and authorized security…

Read the review →
  1. Cheat EngineGame Memory Editors 9.4Free plan
  2. MemDBGGame Memory Editors 9.2Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cheat Engine — where it wins

    • Memory scanning, value modification, debugging, and disassembly
    • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with offline use
    • Adds scripting, trainers, overlays, and runtime inspection tools

    Where it doesn't

    • macOS access is trialware until the user joins the Patreon
    • Online-game use may violate game terms
    • The broad toolkit can exceed the needs of simple edits
  • MemDBG — where it wins

    • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
    • Combines scanning, debugging, patching, trainers, and telemetry
    • Includes Lua and Python desktop-side plugin support

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on PS4 and PS5 homebrew research
    • Pre-release development may require evolving workflows
    • Console work depends on a payload plus host applications

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update