Goog vs Googl: Stock Ticker Differences

If you’ve ever tried to invest in Google stock, you may have noticed something strange. There are two ticker symbols: GOOG and GOOGL. What gives? Are they different companies? Did someone make a typo? It’s okay — you’re not the only one confused!

TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

The difference between GOOG and GOOGL comes down to voting rights. GOOGL shares give you voting power in the company, while GOOG shares do not. Both are part of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company. For most casual investors, the difference is small — but it can matter if you want a say in company decisions.

Let’s Back Up: What Is Alphabet Inc.?

In 2015, Google restructured itself into a bigger company called Alphabet Inc.. Think of it like this:

• Google is the top brand you know — with Search, Maps, YouTube, and Gmail.
• Alphabet is the umbrella company that owns Google and other stuff — like Waymo (self-driving cars) and DeepMind (AI research).

So when you’re buying stock in “Google,” you’re actually buying stock in Alphabet.

Why Two Ticker Symbols?

Here’s where things get interesting. Alphabet has three classes of stock. But only two are publicly traded:

• GOOGL — Class A Shares
• GOOG — Class C Shares

There’s also a Class B stock, but that’s held mostly by insiders (like Larry Page and Sergey Brin). You can’t buy those on the market.

The key difference is in voting power. Let’s dive into what that means.

GOOGL: Your Voice Counts

GOOGL shares are Class A stock. Each share gives you one vote in the company’s annual shareholder meetings. These meetings are where shareholders get to vote on things like board members and major company decisions.

So, when you own GOOGL shares, Alphabet is kinda-sorta asking for your opinion. It’s unlikely your lone vote will swing anything, but it still counts!

Think of it like this: If Alphabet were a club, GOOGL shareholders get to attend the meetings and vote on what snacks to serve.

GOOG: For the Quiet Types

GOOG shares are Class C stock. These shares have zero voting rights. Nada. Zip.

That might sound like a bad deal, but not always. Lots of companies offer non-voting shares to keep control centralized. And GOOG shares often trade at a slightly lower price. So it can save you a few bucks if you just want to invest without the whole governance thing.

Why Did Alphabet Do This?

Great question! Google created these classes to let the founders keep control of the company while still raising money from investors.

Back in 2014, they split the original shares into two kinds. They gave GOOGL voting rights and created GOOG shares without them.

It was kind of brilliant.

• Founders kept their super-voting Class B shares.
• The public got GOOGL and GOOG shares.
• Alphabet raised money without giving up much control.

So if you ever wondered why Google can still make bold moves (like building flying cars or buying robot companies), it’s partly thanks to that voting setup.

Which One Should You Buy?

Let’s review your options:

• GOOGL — Has voting rights, usually trades at a slightly higher price.
• GOOG — No voting rights, usually trades a bit lower.

For most people, it doesn’t make a huge difference. Unless you’re buying thousands of shares or want to be more active in shareholder votes, pick the one with the better price at the moment.

Also, if you’re planning to hold long term, the difference might even out.

Fun Fact: They’re Almost Twins

GOOG and GOOGL move nearly identically on the stock market. They’re not exact clones, but super close.

This means you’re not likely to get richer (or poorer) by picking one over the other. Unless Alphabet makes a huge change, the two will pretty much stick close together.

What About Taxes?

Good news: From a tax perspective, there’s no real difference. Whether you earn dividends or sell your shares, the IRS doesn’t care which ticker you chose.

They only care if you made money and how long you held the shares. So the voting stuff doesn’t affect your reporting or tax bill.

Where to Buy GOOG or GOOGL?

You can buy either ticker from any popular brokerage:

• Robinhood
• Fidelity
• Charles Schwab
• TD Ameritrade
• eToro

Just type in the symbol and decide how many shares you want!

Wait, There’s One More Twist…

After 2022, Alphabet announced its first-ever stock split. They did a 20-for-1 split — which dramatically lowered the price per share to make it more accessible for everyday investors.

It didn’t change the GOOG vs. GOOGL setup. Both types of shares were split equally. But it was another move that kept the Alphabet train moving forward.

Quick Recap

If you’re still scratching your head, here’s the cheat sheet:

Final Thoughts

Buying Alphabet stock is a smart way to bet on innovation, even if you don’t fully understand every difference in a ticker symbol.

Just remember:

• GOOGL = voting rights
• GOOG = cheaper, no voting rights

Go with the one that suits your investing style. Or flip a coin — you’ll probably be fine either way. After all, it’s Alphabet… and they own half the internet!