In this work, we use two unique methodologies, the homotopy perturbation transform method and Yang transform decomposition method, to solve the fractional nonlinear seventh-order Kaup–Kupershmidt (KK) problem. The physical phenomena that arise in chemistry, physics, and engineering are mathematically explained in this equation, in particular, nonlinear optics, quantum mechanics, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, and so on. The provided methods are used to solve the fractional nonlinear seventh-order KK problem along with the Yang transform and fractional Caputo derivative. The results are significant and necessary for exploring a range of physical processes. This paper uses modern approaches and the fractional operator to develop satisfactory approximations to the offered problem. To solve the fractional KK equation, we first use the Yang transform and fractional Caputo derivative. He’s and Adomian polynomials are useful to manage nonlinear terms. It is shown that the suggested approximate solution converges to the exact one. In these approaches, the results are calculated as convergent series. The key advantage of the recommended approaches is that they provide highly precise results with little computational work. The suggested approach results are compared to the precise solution. By comparing the outcomes with the precise solution using graphs and tables we can verify the efficacy of the offered strategies. Also, the outcomes of the suggested methods at various fractional orders are examined, demonstrating that the findings get more accurate as the value moves from fractional order to integer order. Moreover, the offered methods are innovative, simple, and quite accurate, demonstrating that they are effective for resolving differential equations.