Yeah, I wouldn’t trust anything these guys publish: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/mint-press-news/

I quite like 4get, but SearXNG is probably closer to what you want.

Since you’re using Edge, I’ll assume you’re running Windows. In that case, I’d recommend either Librewolf or ungoogled-chromium.

I, myself, use Mullvad Browser and Links2, but they’re not quite as good for new users.

Lemmy.ca and Sopuli both worked fine on ProtonVPN, and .ca also seems to be fine on Mullvad.

Neither newpipe nor libretube work for me anymore for a while now.

…except NewPipe doesn’t work.

I’d say that your best bet is FreeTube, which got ported to Android back in 2020. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks, since I only got ahold of an Android device this month, but it has never let me down.

It’s available on the IzzyOnDroid repo, and as an APK, so you can install it with F-Droid or Obtainium (or manually).

Remember, of course, that Wickr has been owned by Amazon since 2021.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/25/aws-is-buying-encrypted-messaging-service-wickr/

1. You don’t need an account, and there is no such thing as a GrapheneOS account. Most of your apps should be able to be installed through either F-Droid, Obtainium, or the sandboxed Play Store. Some apps require Google Play Services, however, but LineageOS has an alternative called microG which works most of the time, and GrapheneOS containerises apps.
2. GrapheneOS, I believe, uses the default gallery and SMS apps from stock Android; and they also have their own camera, PDF viewer, and web browser (Vanadium), which are developed in-house. However, cloud syncing and note-taking apps are not included. I would suggest either having a look on F-Droid, asking on this sublemmy, or checking out Privacy Guides to find some apps you’ll like.
3. GrapheneOS doesn’t have a “cloud”, as such. This is a good thing, and it lets you choose your own provider if you must. I would personally recommend Filen for files and photos, and Cryptee for notes.
4. It is completely possible to use multiple app stores. If you use GrapheneOS, I would say use F-Droid or Obtainium when possible, and the Sandboxed Play Store for everything else.
5. We like to use things like NextCloud because it gives us full control over our data, among other reasons. However, it is not essential. I, personally, use Filen for my cloud sync needs; but I also tend to use physical storage a lot because of my shitty internet and cheap hardware. You also don’t necessarily need to pay for these services, but it’s polite and it can improve your experience.

Good luck on your privacy journey, and don’t hesitate to ask more questions. In addition to Lemmy, here are a few good resources:

• Privacy Guides
• !privacyguides
• Techlore
• Techlore Forum
• The New Oil

Thanks!