To investigate the crack resistance effect of low-heat cement concrete in the Baihetan Dam, the thermodynamic performances of low-heat cement concrete and regular medium hot cement were compared, and the temperature control scheme was designed on a typical dam section. The temperature and stress were calculated by finite element simulation, and their effects on temperature, stress and surface crack resistance were analyzed and compared in the critical periods of early cooling, primary cooling, secondary cooling and arch sealing. The results show that the stress process trend of concrete is consistent in different seasons. Compared with medium hot concrete, low-heat cement concrete has higher safety factor of crack resistance, but the key point of temperature control and crack prevention is still at the end of the secondary cooling. In addition, for the case of large temperature difference between day and night, the low-heat cement needs better insulation measures at the early age to achieve the surface anti-cracking effect.