With the in-depth advancement of digital China construction and the modernization of primary-level governance, digital social work services in China are embracing broad development prospects while also being confronted with numerous practical challenges, creating an urgent need to establish an independent knowledge system adapted to China’s local institutional logic and governance scenarios. A comparative analysis of the digital evolution of social work indicates that digital social work services in China and the West follow highly similar trajectories in technology application, yet exhibit fundamental divergences in terms of political logic, mission objectives, and practical pathways. The West, with professional autonomy and market operation as its core logic, has developed a mature practice system encompassing law-based ethical constraints, industry-led autonomous governance, targeted service delivery, and full-cycle talent cultivation. In stark contrast, China’s practice demonstrates distinctive features of Party building leadership, systematic integration, and the two-way empowerment of governance and services. Drawing on Western experience and China’s inherent institutional strengths, digital social work with Chinese characteristics should advance localized exploration across four dimensions: ethical norms, industry governance, service delivery, and talent cultivation. At the practical level, efforts focus on forging an ethical system featuring two-way integration between the rule of law framework and Party building leadership, as well as a governance pattern that balances centralized Party building guidance and professional synergy. Complementing these are a service model embedding technology empowerment deeply into primary-level governance, and a whole-chain collaborative talent training mechanism that unites the government, universities, enterprises and social organizations. These localized practices will ultimately give shape to a people-centered Chinese solution underpinned by Party building leadership and oriented toward the integration of service and governance.