The three most important types of ink cartridges are the third party manufacturer ink cartridge, manufacturer ink cartridge and refurbished cartridges. Manufacturer cartridges are made by the manufacturer and are always compatible but are obviously the most expensive, third-party manufacturer cartridges are made by third parties and less costly. Lastly, refurbished ink cartridges are the most affordable since they are made by manufacturers using recycled and environmentally friendly products. However, their quality is sometimes questionable.