Objective To compare the short⁃term efficacy and safety of drug⁃eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB⁃TACE) versus conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (C⁃TACE) in patients with unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with unresectable PLC were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the embolic agent used, patients were divided into observation group (employing DEB⁃TACE, n=30) or control group (employing C⁃TACE, n=30). The two groups were compared in terms of efficacy at 3 months post⁃surgery, liver function indicators with respect to serum ALT, AST, total bilirubin (TBIL), and albumin (ALB) levels before and 1 month after surgery, alpha⁃fetoprotein (AFP) level before and 3 months after surgery, as well as the occurrence status of postoperative adverse reactions and complications. Results At 3 months post⁃surgery, the objective response rate was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05), while no statistically significant difference was observed in the disease control rate between the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 months after surgery, AFP level decreased compared to pre⁃treatment level in both groups (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in AFP level between the two groups either before or 3 months after surgery (P>0.05). At 1 month post⁃surgery, serum AST level in the control group was lower than pre⁃treatment level (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in serum TBIL, ALB, or ALT levels compared to pre⁃treatment levels in either group (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum TBIL, ALB, ALT levels, or AST level between the two groups before or 1 month after surgery (P>0.05). The incidence rate of postoperative adverse reactions and complications did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with C⁃TACE, DEB⁃TACE demonstrates superior short⁃term efficacy in treating patients with unresectable PLC, with a controllable safety profile.