is explorer cheating

I have been using the explorer to learn common openings whilst playing correspondence chess.
I have an opponent who says I'm cheating and likely to get banned... Do I need to worry??

Your opponent is wrong.

Explorer is allowed in correspondence. 

https://support.chess.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1444879-fair-play-on-chess-com-what-you-need-to-know

Surprisingly many people play here without having read the rules before.

I have a similar question. Would using an actual physical board and doing variations and whatnot be considered cheating?

Definitely not, unicyclejunkie.

Not for Daily/correspondence. 

For Live, yes.

Not happy with this explorer for daily games... These are Gm games.. 

Is [another site -- MS] the same

It's allowed in Daily Chess, which is the site's version of Correspondence chess, where it is also allowed. If you have questions about other sites, you should ask there.

Surprisingly no one really cares to read the rules.

Fair enough.. Would be good to have the option to have separate daily games where opening explorer is not allowed

     One of the benefits of daily games or correspondence games is the chance to analyze more deeply and reach a greater understanding of the positions that arise. To this end use of the openings database and/or opening books is allowed. You may also use a chessboard and set to plan your moves. This can help you learn HOW to analyze positions. In ancient times (1975-1990) I played chess by mail, and looking deeper into each move definitely helped me move from a low C-class player to the middle of the Expert class OTB.

You can't prevent access to resources like that; there are other sites, books, magazines, videos, etc.

There are a few clubs on site that agree not to use allowed resources for Daily. You might look into joining one of those so you can play like-minded members.

Thats understandable.. Cheers, thank you for the tip about those clubs

It's definitely allowed. First, some daily games last for weeks or months. Can we really expect people to avoid all opening study during that time, just in case they read about an opening relevant to a game in progress? Second, the use of external study materials has pretty much always been allowed for correspondence chess. The rules are clear-cut: games database, reference books = OK. Asking other people for advice/moves on a game = Not OK. Chess engine = Not OK. This might get murky if you ask whether using a static opening book compiled from engine analysis is OK. I am not sure about that.

For myself, daily games are primarily about improving my understanding. Blindly following the top move in a games database is hardly likely to teach anything. I have tried, and I just end up in a position that I don't understand. But I do like to combine specific openings in daily games with books explaining the plans and ideas of those openings. It's a great way to learn and apply the ideas.

A lot of people have been waiting on my own opinion here. Obviously, it is permitted though why “engines” are prohibited but the Explorer is allowed, is beyond my paygrade. I also do not know why they say it is limited to openings. Does the Explorer stop after the first 8 moves? In any case, yes, it’s cheating. And no, it’s not against the rules. You cheat yourself and make the game less fair (the latter is the case only if your opponent objects even though it’s legal).

If you want to study, study the game after the fact and use the explorer when the game is over to see what you should have done. That way you get the best of both worlds, testing your skills without crutches and learning what to do in various situations.

It's not cheating, and no doubt useful when learning overall schemes. Having said that I don't think it might be useful for the improving player either. I don't see the point of a player just copying moves from the the great and the good to only hang a piece etc. when the "moves run" out.

My recommendation would be to check the opening after the game. The practice of making even the "wrong moves" but learning from the losses is IMO more important than just repeating what others have done.

For Daily games, it's specifically allowed and you still have to choose your own moves. Not all moves found in explorer are going to be best and if you blindly following a database game, you're likely going to get into a position you don't understand and will be on your own.

Your allowed to follow the database however long you want to as well

For live games, no resources are allowed.