In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), the family is placed in the suborder Aspleniineae, and includes two genera.

The distribution and evolution of characters in the family is complex, and the genera have few constant features by which they can be identified.

In 2014, Christenhusz and Chase submerged it as the subfamily Athyrioideae within the family Aspleniaceae,[3] a status maintained by Plants of the World Online as of July 2019[update].

[1] Athyriaceae is a member of the eupolypods II clade (now the suborder Aspleniineae), in the order Polypodiales.

[14] Most species of Athyriaceae are medium-sized terrestrial ferns, growing in the understorey below trees and shrubs.