Electrolyte solutions for electrodeposition of zinc alloys and methods of electrodepositing zinc-iron alloys. An electrolyte solution for electroplating can include an alkali metal hydroxide, a zinc salt, a condensation polymer of epichlorohydrin, a quaternary amine, an aliphatic amine, a polyhydroxy alcohol, an aromatic organic acid and/or salts thereof, an amino alcohol, a bisphosphonic acid and/or salts thereof, an iron salt, an alkali metal gluconate, and an amine-based chelating agent. Electrodepositing zinc alloys on a substrate can include introducing a cathode and an anode into an electrolyte solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide, a zinc salt, a condensation polymer of epichlorohydrin, a quaternary amine, an aliphatic amine, a polyhydroxy alcohol, an aromatic organic acid and/or salts thereof, an amino alcohol, a bisphosphonic acid and/or salts thereof, an iron salt, an alkali metal gluconate, and an amine-based chelating agent.