GOOG vs GOOGL: Understanding the Difference and Choosing the Right Alphabet Stock for Investors

If you’ve ever looked up Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, you’ve likely noticed two stock symbols — GOOG and GOOGL. Many new investors find this confusing. After all, both represent shares in the same company, so why are there two ticker symbols? This confusion has led to the ongoing debate of GOOG vs GOOGL stock among investors. The short answer to their difference lies in voting rights. But to make the right investment decision, it’s crucial to understand how these two share classes differ, how they came to exist, and what they mean for your investment portfolio.

In this in-depth GOOG vs GOOGL comparison, we’ll break down the distinctions between these stock classes, their impact on shareholder influence, performance, and which one may suit your investment goals in 2025 and beyond.

The Background: Why Alphabet Has Two Tickers

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, created two share classes in 2014 to maintain control in the hands of its founders — Larry Page and Sergey Brin — while still allowing public investors to own shares. Originally, there was only one type of Google stock (Class A). However, after several years of rapid growth, the founders wanted to raise more capital without losing voting power. This led to the stock split and the introduction of different classes:

• Class A shares (GOOGL)
• Class C shares (GOOG)

Both represent ownership in Alphabet Inc., but they differ in the rights attached to them.

GOOG vs GOOGL: The Core Difference

The key difference between GOOG and GOOGL stock lies in voting rights.

• GOOGL (Class A shares): Comes with one vote per share. Shareholders can participate in important corporate decisions such as board elections and major policy changes.
• GOOG (Class C shares): Comes with no voting rights. Investors in GOOG shares cannot vote at shareholder meetings.

This structure allows Alphabet’s founders and insiders to retain control over the company even if they own a smaller portion of its total shares.

Why Alphabet Created a Non-Voting Stock

The dual-share structure was introduced primarily to protect Alphabet’s leadership control. Larry Page and Sergey Brin wanted to ensure that outside investors couldn’t influence the company’s long-term vision. By issuing non-voting shares (GOOG), Alphabet could raise funds from investors without diluting control. In essence, this allows the company to keep innovating for the long term without external pressure from short-term market interests.

Performance Comparison: GOOG vs GOOGL in 2025

Over the years, GOOG and GOOGL have traded at nearly the same price. However, slight variations occasionally occur due to differences in demand. Typically, GOOGL stock may trade for a slightly higher price because of its voting rights. On the other hand, GOOG shares might appeal to investors who don’t care about voting rights and simply want exposure to Alphabet’s growth. As of 2025, both share classes perform almost identically because they represent the same underlying company, financial performance, and dividends. Any price difference is usually small and short-lived.

Dividends and Earnings

Currently, Alphabet does not pay dividends to shareholders. Instead, it reinvests profits into areas like AI, cloud computing, autonomous driving, and YouTube expansion. This means whether you own GOOG or GOOGL, your returns depend on stock appreciation rather than dividends. Alphabet’s strategy has proven effective — the company’s growth in advertising, cloud services, and AI-driven products continues to make it one of the strongest tech giants in the world.

Voting Power: Does It Really Matter?

One of the most important questions for investors is: Does voting power actually make a difference? For the average investor, not really. Even though GOOGL shareholders have voting rights, the influence of retail investors is minimal compared to the founders and institutional investors. Alphabet’s founders hold Class B shares, which have ten votes per share, giving them the majority control regardless of how the general public votes. So, while it may sound empowering to own voting shares, the reality is that your vote has a very limited impact on corporate decisions.

Stock Liquidity and Market Behaviour

Both GOOG and GOOGL stocks are highly liquid and traded heavily on the NASDAQ exchange. Since both represent the same company, they react similarly to earnings reports, news, and market events. Large institutional investors, mutual funds, and ETFs may hold both share classes. Some funds prefer GOOG for its slightly lower price, while others hold GOOGL to maintain representation in shareholder votes. This makes both stocks equally accessible and easy to buy or sell for most investors.

GOOG vs GOOGL: Which One Is Better for You?

If you’re wondering which one is better, GOOG or GOOGL, the answer depends on your priorities as an investor:

• Choose GOOGL (Class A) if you want the right to vote in company matters, even if your influence is limited.
• Choose GOOG (Class C) if you only care about stock performance and potential returns, and voting rights don’t matter to you.

Since both have nearly identical financial outcomes, most investors base their decision on price differences or personal preference.

Institutional and ETF Holdings

Many major funds and ETFs hold both GOOG and GOOGL shares. For example, index funds that track the NASDAQ 100 or S&P 500 include both tickers. This means if you’re investing through an ETF or mutual fund, you might already have exposure to both share types — even if you haven’t bought them individually.

Alphabet’s Long-Term Investment Appeal

Beyond the share class debate, Alphabet remains one of the most attractive long-term investments in the tech sector. The company’s diversification strategy ensures sustainable growth:

• Search and Ads: Google Search and YouTube dominate global advertising.
• Cloud Computing: Google Cloud continues to expand market share, competing with AWS and Microsoft Azure.
• Artificial Intelligence: Alphabet’s DeepMind and Gemini AI models are leading innovations in generative AI.
• Autonomous Technology: Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving project, continues to develop in the transportation space.
• Hardware Ecosystem: Pixel phones, Nest devices, and Chromebooks strengthen the company’s hardware footprint.

With such a wide-reaching ecosystem, both GOOG and GOOGL represent ownership in one of the world’s most powerful tech companies.

Historical Perspective: How the Split Happened

The stock split in 2014 introduced Class C (GOOG) shares to the market. Every shareholder received one Class C share for every Class A share they owned. This split preserved founder control while rewarding investors with additional shares. Since then, Alphabet’s stock structure has remained the same, though in 2022, the company conducted a 20-for-1 stock split to make shares more affordable to retail investors.

Key Takeaway: What Should Investors Do in 2025?

In 2025, both GOOG and GOOGL continue to perform as top-tier tech stocks. The difference between them remains minimal in terms of financial returns. For most investors, either stock is a strong long-term choice. If you value simplicity and price efficiency, GOOG is a fine pick. If you prefer having a voice in company decisions — however small — GOOGL is the one to go with. The good news is: whichever you choose, you’re investing in Alphabet, one of the most innovative and profitable companies on the planet.

Final Thoughts

The GOOG vs GOOGL debate isn’t about which company is better — they’re both Alphabet. The distinction lies only in voting rights and minor market fluctuations. For long-term investors, focusing on the company’s fundamentals — its dominance in AI, advertising, cloud computing, and continued innovation — is far more important than the ticker symbol you buy. Whether you hold GOOG or GOOGL, your investment represents a stake in a company shaping the future of technology.