You don't have to use Google Play on your Android phone.
There's a free open alternative called F-Droid, which is much more privacy-friendly, and which you can install yourself relatively easily.
There's a simple instruction guide for beginners on switching.social:
https://switching.social/ethical-alternatives-to-google-play/
There's a much more detailed guide by @IzzyOnDroid here:
https://android.izzysoft.de/articles/named/fdroid-intro-1
You can follow the official F-Droid account here: