Objective To compare the clinical effects of transabdominal preperitoneal(TAPP) laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and tension-free inguinal hernia repair in the treatment of inguinal hernia. Methods A total of 53 patients with inguinal hernia admitted to Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force from January 2021 to September 2024 were enrolled and divided into an observation group (25 cases, undergoing TAPP) and a control group (28 cases, undergoing tension-free inguinal hernia repair). General conditions, complications, recurrence of contralateral hernia, and postoperative recovery of the two groups were compared. Results There were no statistically significant differences in age, hernia location, or operation time between the two groups. However, the observation group experienced significantly less intraoperative blood loss[(5.60±2.78) ml vs. (10.36±3.83) ml, P＜0.05], shorter hospital stay (10.38±1.33)d vs. (13.56±2.94)d, P＜0.05), and earlier postoperative ambulation [(18.23±3.90)h vs. (22.17±4.72) h,P＜0.05]. The visual analogue scale(VAS) score of 6 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in the observation group (3.85±0.80) than in the control group (4.72±0.57),P＜0.05. VAS scores of 12, 24, and 72 hours postoperatively were not significantly different between the groups. The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group (4% vs. 25%), and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). The observation group had a higher recurrence rate of contralateral hernia, , but the difference was not statistically significant . The incidence of local foreign body sensation at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively was significantly lower in the observation group (8% vs. 39.29% at 1 month; 0% vs. 17.86% at 3 months, P＜0.05 for both). By 6 months, the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of inability to tolerate light physical activity at 1 month and 3 months after surgery was lower than that in the control group (8% vs. 32.14%, 4% vs. 10.17%), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of inability to tolerate heavy physical activity in the observation group at 1 month and 3 months after surgery was lower than that in the control group (4% vs. 21.43%, 0 vs. 7.14%), but the differences were not statistically significant. At 6 months after surgery, both groups were able to tolerate light physical activity; the observation group had no heavy physical activity at 1 month after surgery, and the incidence of inability to tolerate heavy physical activity at 3 and 6 months after surgery was lower than that in the control group (4% vs. 21.43%, 0 vs. 7.14%), but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions Tension-free inguinal hernia repair and TAPP repair both demonstrate good therapeutic effects in the treatment of inguinal hernia. However, TAPP causes less damage, less blood loss, less pain, fewer complications, and a more rapid recovery.