Campylopodiella is similar to small members of Campylopus, Dicranodontium, Dicranella,  or Ditrichum. Recognition of the genus depends on the examination of leaf cross sections. In transverse section the broad costa consists of a small pocket of ventral stereids, a layer of ventral hyalocysts, a median band or groups of stereid cells, and a dorsal layer of hyalocysts. Brothera, the only other moss genus with a costal cross section similar to Campylopodiella, lacks ventral costal stereids, and has entire to perforate peristome teeth and a broader costa.

Campylopodiella has been treated by Takaki (1971, 1973), Frahm (1984), and Müller and Frahm (1987).