Ethyl (2Z)-2-cyano-3-[(4-ethoxyphenyl)amino]prop-2-enoate utilizes a rare N⋯π interaction, two C–H⋯N and two C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds forming a zigzag double-ribbon; ethyl (2Z)-2-cyano-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]prop-2-enoate exploits two more rare nonhydrogen bonding interactions of N⋯π and O⋯π types and a C–H⋯N hydrogen bond forming a simple 1-D double-column.