GOOGL vs GOOG: Understanding the Difference Between Two Alphabet Stocks

If you’ve ever searched for Alphabet Inc. on the stock market, you may have come across two confusing ticker symbols: GOOGL and GOOG. They both represent shares of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, but they aren’t exactly the same. In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between the two, why they exist, and what they mean for investors and curious observers alike.

A Brief Background on Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc. is the holding company that owns Google and several other businesses, including YouTube, Waymo (self-driving technology), DeepMind (AI research), and more. It was created in 2015 as part of a corporate restructuring to separate Google’s core business from its more experimental ventures.

Since going public in 2004, Google (now Alphabet) has undergone stock splits and changes to its stock structure. The result is the existence of two main types of publicly traded shares: GOOGL and GOOG.

What is GOOGL?

Ticker: GOOGL

GOOGL shares are Class A shares. They come with voting rights, which means shareholders can vote on company matters like electing board members or approving corporate policies. However, average retail investors rarely have enough shares to sway decisions significantly — most power remains with the founders and major shareholders.

GOOGL shares are often priced slightly higher than GOOG due to the added value of voting power, even if minor.

What is GOOG?

Ticker: GOOG

GOOG shares are Class C shares. They do not come with voting rights, making them non-voting shares. These were introduced in 2014 when the company split its stock to maintain control while raising capital.

These shares are ideal for investors who want to bet on Alphabet’s growth but aren’t concerned with influencing its internal decisions.

Why Did Alphabet Create Two Types of Shares?

The split was largely about control. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wanted to preserve their leadership over Alphabet while still allowing the company to issue new shares and raise money. Here’s a quick breakdown of Alphabet’s stock structure:

• Class A (GOOGL): 1 vote per share

• Class B: 10 votes per share (Not publicly traded; held by founders and insiders)

• Class C (GOOG): 0 votes per share

This dual-class structure ensures that even if Alphabet issues new shares to the public, the founders retain majority control.

Which One Should You Buy?

From a financial perspective, GOOGL and GOOG tend to move almost identically in price, though slight differences in price can occur due to voting rights.

• Choose GOOGL if you value having a say in company decisions (even if small).

• Choose GOOG if you don’t care about voting and are just focused on the stock’s price performance.

Both offer exposure to Alphabet’s strong business ecosystem — from search engines and advertising to AI and self-driving cars.

While GOOGL and GOOG represent the same company, the key difference lies in voting rights. Understanding this distinction helps investors make informed decisions based on their priorities — whether it’s participating in governance or simply riding the wave of Alphabet’s continued growth.