Free and Open Source Software

I like Andisearch.com

I use www.startpage.com It's Google without the trackers. Probably not really what you're looking for but is does the job really well.

There was a time before google's search engine, when all the previous attempts had not managed to become the dominant entry point for the web. During that time, we would find interesting web pages through people and/or specific interests. Then, google came, and for a time it was good (read like The Second Renaissance Part I story from animatrix). Ads and SEO were not everywhere yet, content mattered more than those two. So, while I came here to suggest what @bbbhltz@beehaw.org commented, when I read your post text I thought that maybe, at least for what we tend to constantly look for news, articles and discussions, we shouldn't constantly rely on search engines. For example, most technologies have news letters, weekly/monthly magazines, mailing lists, community boards or other forms of group communication through which you can gradually discover better content sources (individuals or groups) on what interests you. Without the search engine service and its cost (direct or indirect) between you and the content.

Use a SearXNG instance for free search. Kagi for paid. We've unfortunately hit the point where this is necessary.

Have you tried https://duckduckgo.com/ . I've used them a very long time. I do not use Google search.