What exactly are the differences between these types of cartridges, and what explains the large differences in pricing between these different options?

OEM Cartridges

HP OEM Ink Cartridges

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. OEM cartridges are the cartridges manufactured by the original manufacturer of the printer, and are designed to work with specific printer models.

For example, if you owned a HP printer, then any cartridges made by HP themselves for that printer would qualify as OEM.

These cartridges are far and away the most expensive option, as you pay a premium for the brand name.

Remanufactured Cartridges

Remanufactured cartridges are used OEM cartridges that have been used and returned through a cartridge recycling program. The cartridges are then professionally cleaned and refilled. After the cartridges undergo strict quality testing and inspection, they are then repackaged and ready for use.

Remanufacturing cartridges is a long-standing practice, regulated by the IITC.

Remanufactured cartridges are better for the environment, as they reduce waste by recycling old cartridges. Every year, thousands of tons of industrial metal and plastic are kept out of landfills by the remanufacturing process.

In terms of price, they are generally anywhere from 3 to 4 times cheaper than OEM cartridges.

Compatible Cartridges

Unlike remanufactured cartridges, compatible cartridges are constructed from brand-new components. Compatible cartridges comply with the same construction standards as their OEM counterparts. They are the generic version of printer cartridges, and are typically are the least expensive.

Compatible cartridges offer performance as good as OEM cartridges, but at a significantly lower price.
Purchased from a reliable source, compatible cartridges can provide the same quality and performance of OEM cartridges, at a fraction of the cost.

Not all printers have remanufactured or compatible cartridges available, although the majority do.
Want to see if remanufactured/compatible cartridges are available for your printer? Try an ink searching service like InkHunt.