AbstractIn the present work, the electrodeposition of Zn–Ni alloy from Sulfate bath was carried out in presence of a novel brightener (CG), the condensation product of Cysteine Hydrochloride and Glutaraldehyde. The corrosion studies were carried out using Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy and Potentiostatic techniques. They confirmed an increase in corrosion resistance and protection ability of bright zinc–nickel alloy coatings. Surface morphology was studied using SEM, FTIR, and reflectance spectroscopy that revealed fine‐grained nature of Zn‐Ni alloy crystallites. X‐ray diffraction studies were used for phase identification and preferred orientation of Zn–Ni alloy crystallites. The preferred orientation of the Zn‐Ni alloy crystallites along (630) planes was configured for bright appearance of the coating. CG was successful in giving an even, homogeneous, refined, and bright Zn‐Ni alloy deposit.