| Parasite | Saprotroph |
| The organism that grows on the body of another organism and derives nutrients from it. | The organism that obtains nutrients from the dead and decaying organic matter. |
| They take the ready made food from the host. | They take the digested and decayed food. |
| They directly feed on living organisms for their nutrition. | They feed on dead and decaying organism. |
| Example - Cuscuta and orchids. | Examples - Fungi and some Bacteria. |