Due to their similar features, silver angelfish and zebra lace angelfish are sometimes mistaken for one another. The zebra angelfish has one or two additional black vertical stripes, whereas a silver angelfish has four vertical stripes.

The leopold's angelfish, which belongs to the Pterophyllum Leopoldi genus and are the smallest freshwater angelfish, can easily be distinguished from other Pterophyllum species by two distinctive characteristics: a large black spot between the dorsal spine and dorsal fins, and an unnotched predorsal contour.

Altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) are the largest of the three recognized freshwater angelfish species and are distinguished by their exceptionally tall, laterally compressed bodies and prominent vertical bands. Adults can reach approximately 15–18 cm (6–7 inches) in standard length and 35–40 cm (14–16 inches) in total height from the tip of the dorsal fin to the tip of the anal fin.