It's generally better to refrain from doing checks like these because it gives the opponent a free move.

I would prefer c6 because it forces white to move their bishop back. Now if white does Bxc6 (which it does), black must get doubled pawns and will fall behind by about 0.1 points on computer analysis.

Black and white may be equal in material, but White is ahead positionally.

White is ahead in development.

I would consider to move the pawns first. This N here is just defending d5, but it also avoids the WQ to activate herself. d4 is on white's agenda before black consolidates the center with c5.