Windows Defender... or should I renew Bitdefender?

I see the last thread on Windows Defender went off topic very quickly. I have have had paid-for Bitdefender installed for a couple of years and it is up for renewal soon. I have been wondering if Windows Defender would be an adequate substitute. It's not a matter of cost just that BD is becoming bloated and there are parts that I don't use already. There have been a few occasions when I have had odd problems with programmes on the laptop which turned out to be the Safe Files section blocking the programmes or access to files without giving any real-time indication and I only found out when I saw a reference to a block in Notifications later on. Is Bitdefender still the dog's danglies in the PC security world? Would I be just as well leaving everything to Windows Defender?

I too, have used Bitdefender for 6 years now.
Personally, Let it expire for a few days and they'll send you a email for something around $20.00 for any of their products.
Just use Windows Defeender, as your main av, until you get the deal email from Bitdefender.
Bitdefender always beat's Windows Defender in any av tests done.
Last January when my Bitdefender Internet Security subscription ended, I waited for the del email from them and got Bitdefender Total Security for $20.00.

Thanks for the tip. I'll bear that in mind when the time comes. That seems well worth the wait. As I say, it's not really the cost but the bloat that concerns me. Perhaps a 'Bitdefender Lite' might be what I'm looking for.

Thanks. I'll take a look. What worries me about free versions of AV is the delay in updating. I'll look st Bitdefenders policy on this.

There isn't any bloat with Bitdender everything in it actually does something.
Secure Browser for shopping.
Password Manager.
If you get Total Security it has disk cleanup toolks and they let you see how much space each thing takes up.
It's also had Ransomeware Protection since 2016, way before Microsoft had it and it works better.
I also agree with what you said, you get what you pay for update wise. Better up to date protection.