here´s how app lounge calculates the privacy score of apps
aurora store refers to exodus project
If you want to observe what apps do (better: to where they try to connect) you can monitor the outgoing “traffic” via apps that utilize the vpn interface of the android system, like e.g. netguard or rethinkDNS or by other more sophisticated means.
If you choose apps with trackers anyway you might simply choose the one you like the best from a user perspective (that still does not include too many trackers) and then block the trackers not needed for function… (try eOS Advanced Privacy trackers blocker or rethinkDNS or personalDNSfilter or blokada or others)
Yes, some apps will connect outwards as soon as installed and they will do even when not in use
the more detail you want the more you have to dive in…
that´s why I like simple rules of thumb 