| Symptom | Migraine | Tension-type | Cluster |
| Location | Adults: Unilateral in 60 to 70%, bifrontal or global in 30% Children and adolescents: Bilateral in majority | Bilateral | Always unilateral, usually begins around the eye or temple |
| Characteristics | Gradual in onset, crescendo pattern; pulsating; moderate or severe intensity; aggravated by routine physical activity | Pressure or tightness which waxes and wanes | Pain begins quickly, reaches a crescendo within minutes; pain is deep, continuous, excruciating, and explosive in quality |
| Patient appearance | Patient prefers to rest in a dark, quiet room | Patient may remain active or may need to rest | Patient remains active |
| Duration | 4 to 72 hours | 30 minutes to 7 days | 15 minutes to 3 hours |
| Associated symptoms | Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia; may have aura (usually visual, but can involve other senses or cause speech or motor deficits) | None | Ipsilateral lacrimation and redness of the eye; stuffy nose; rhinorrhea; pallor; sweating; Horner syndrome; restlessness or agitation; focal neurologic symptoms rare; sensitivity to alcohol |
