Paper-based oil filters are pretty interchangeable. NAPA and Wix are the same, both are made by the same folks and they also supply a LOT of the OEMs.
When you start talking about the glass-pack filters though there is a difference - between them and the paper ones. The glass-pack are superior - period, end of discussion. They're also more expensive - about twice as much.
However, they hold a LOT more grit, and they filter to a much better level, as they are partially depth and partially surface filters. Paper filters are surface-only devices.
There are some folks who have undertaken a study of the various OEM-style filters out there by cutting them open and measuring and inspecting. This is great for automotive, but I know nobody who has done the same thing for boat diesel filters. However, what I learned from this is that one avoids certain brands and that others are all pretty much the same.
WIX/Napa are available anywhere, of decent quality, and are inexpensive.
OEM are probably no better than the WIX/Napa, but at least are "safe".
If you want high performance, you want a glass-pack oil filter. More money, but worth it, unless you're going to put some kind of bypass system on your engines (that's even better, but is quite spendy.)
