I’m not sure you can compare the is to each other. It’s like comparing Ubuntu to Windows and say they are equal as you can demicrosoft windows.

That's simply not true. You can install either Linux or Windows on your Desktop, but when you buy a phone you basically stuck with the OS. (You can flash LineageOS but it'll still be android)

I’m not sure you can compare apple to Google either. One gives away their os for free and make their money from user data,

Not sure it's true either, I heard that companies have to pay for Google for putting Google services on their smartphone lines. I might edit to add a source later.

As any user can install an app that “takes over your internets” without rooting there’s only trust keeping other apps from doing the same.

But when it's open source and reviewed, while being backed up by bodies like mozzila (looking at you rethinkDNS), it's way better than your other options. Also, if you don't trust and app just don't use it? Web versions are good enough for most cases. And there you have Mull (hardened ff for android) with uBO to protect you.