In the present investigation the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Zn‐Cu‐Ti and Zn‐Cu‐Ti‐Mg alloys in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were studied through scanning electron microscope, electron probe microanalysis, X‐ray diffraction, polarization measurements and immersion tests. The Zn‐Cu‐Ti exhibited eutectic structure with rod‐shaped TiZn15 phase, while the Zn‐Cu‐Ti‐Mg mainly consisted of Zn matrix, TiZn15, τ2‐Cu2TiZn22 ternary phase and Zn‐Mg intermetallics along the grain boundaries. It was observed that in the corrosion products of both Zn‐Cu‐Ti and Zn‐Cu‐Ti‐Mg alloys, the main phases were ZnO and Zn5(OH)8Cl2 · H2O. The corrosion tests showed that the cathodic process was suppressed and the weight gain decreased for Zn‐Cu‐Ti‐Mg alloy in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The better corrosion properties of Zn‐Cu‐Ti‐Mg was owed to the formation of a more compact and protective corrosion layer arising from the increased intensity of Zn5(OH)8Cl2 · H2O.