| Feature | Cranial Inflammation Headache | Extracranial Headache | Muscle Contraction Headache | Traction Headache | Vascular Headache |
| Aggravated by head movements | Severe | Mild | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| Course | Acute | Acute–subacute | Subacute–chronic | Subacute–chronic | Acute |
| GI disturbance | Mild–severe | Absent | Absent–mild | Moderate | Severe |
| Laterality | Bilateral | Unilateral or bilateral | Bilateral usually | Unilateral or bilateral | Unilateral onset |
| Neurologic focal signs | Present sometimes | Absent | Absent | Present sometimes | Present sometimes |
| Severity | Severe | Mild–severe | Mild–severe | Usually mild | Severe |
| Stiff neck | Severe | Absent | Mild | Mild–severe | Absent |
| Throbbing | Present | Usually absent | Absent at onset, may arise later | Usually absent | At onset |
| Visual disturbance | Present sometimes | Present in sinusitis | Absent | Present sometimes | Present |