Neeva is free to use, I'm using it as a free search engine and no account is needed.
Yes, previously I used DuckDuckGo and Google.
Worth mentioning that DuckDuckGo is using Bing in the background as far as I know (which delivers different search results than google does) and that there are other players in the market as well. I.e.
Ecosia is in my eyes a very good alternative: Using Googles search engine in the background (again as far as I know), but
very privacy oriented (not collecting, using or selling personal data) and further more using all of their profits to fund tree
planting projects (and being very transparent with their finances, too). It is a relative small company from Berlin and they exist for many years already. I've visited them a couple of years ago and they really take their mission serious - no greenwashing.
Effectively no downside in comparison to using Google directly but benefits, for the user as well as for the planet.