The nanocrystalline ZnMFeO4 (M=Fe, Mn, Cr and Ti) ferrites were synthesized by sol–gel autocombustion route. XRD studies on these compositions revealed the formation of cubic phase for Cr and Ti substituted zinc ferrite, while tetragonal for phase for Mn substituted samples. The FT-IR data revealed two absorption bands in the range 400–800cm−1 arising due to tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) stretching vibrations. Surface morphology of all the samples studied by scanning electron microscopy technique revealed nearly spherical particles and agglomerates. The elemental analysis as obtained from EDAX is in close agreement with the starting composition used for the synthesis. The ferromagnetic properties studied by VSM indicate a significant role on the magnetic properties of the samples. The detailed results of XRD, infrared spectroscopy, SEM and magnetic properties indicating the role of substitution of different metal ions on the structural and magnetic properties of zinc ferrites are presented in the manuscript