Novel cationic and gemini surfactants were synthesized and characterized. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the synthesized surfactants was studied, on carbon steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and EIS. The results revealed that both cationic and gemini surfactants effectively inhibited the corrosion of carbon steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies obtained were calculated by weight loss and electrochemical experiments. The potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that the inhibitors acted as mixed-type inhibitors. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and kinetic were obtained from weight loss at different temperatures (20–60 °C). The inhibitor adsorption on the carbon steel surface obeyed the Langmuir isotherm.