Look, let’s be real for a second. If you’ve ever searched for something, watched a YouTube video, or checked your email, you’ve basically been paying Google with your time and data for years. It’s only natural to wonder how can I buy Google shares to actually get a piece of that massive pie for yourself. You aren't just buying a search engine. You’re buying into Waymo’s self-driving cars, Android’s global dominance, and a cloud infrastructure that basically runs half the internet.
But there is a weird quirk about Google. If you go to your brokerage app right now and type in "Google," you're going to see two different tickers: GOOG and GOOGL. It’s confusing. Most people just pick one at random, but there’s a specific reason they exist, and it’s all about power.
The GOOG vs. GOOGL dilemma
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, split its stock years ago to keep control in the hands of the founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. If you want a say in how the company is run—even if your single vote is a tiny drop in the ocean—you buy GOOGL (Class A shares). These come with voting rights. If you couldn't care less about voting and just want the price action, you buy GOOG (Class C shares).
Usually, the price difference is pennies. Honestly, for the average person sitting on their couch trying to figure out how can I buy Google shares, the choice doesn't matter much for your wallet, but it matters for your philosophy. Class B shares exist too, but you can't buy those. Those are super-voting shares held by the insiders to make sure no one can stage a hostile takeover.
Getting your feet wet with a brokerage
You can't just call up Google HQ and ask for a share. You need a middleman. In 2026, the barrier to entry is basically non-existent. You’ve got the old-school heavy hitters like Fidelity and Charles Schwab, and then the slick mobile-first apps like Robinhood or Public.
Opening an account is fast. It takes maybe ten minutes. You’ll need your Social Security number, some basic bank info, and a little bit of patience while they verify your identity. Once the account is live, you transfer money from your checking account. This is where people usually get stuck. They think they need $150 or $2,000 just to start. You don't.
Fractional shares are a game changer
Back in the day, if a stock was $2,500, you needed $2,500. Now? Most modern brokers offer fractional shares. If you have $10, you can buy $10 worth of Alphabet. You’ll own a tiny, microscopic slice of a share, but you’ll still benefit from the percentage gains.
It’s a great way to "dollar cost average." Instead of dumping $5,000 in at once and sweating every time the market dips, you just put in fifty bucks every payday. Over time, that adds up. It's boring. It's slow. But it’s how most people actually build wealth without losing their minds.
The actual steps to pull the trigger
Once your money has cleared—which can take a few days unless your broker does "instant deposits"—you search for the ticker. Let's say you chose GOOGL.
- Hit the "Buy" button.
- Choose your order type. A "Market Order" buys it right now at the current price. A "Limit Order" tells the broker, "Hey, I only want to buy this if the price drops to X amount."
- Review the trade.
- Swipe up or click confirm.
That’s it. You’re a shareholder. You’ll start getting those thick packets in the mail (or emails) about annual meetings and proxy voting.
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Why people are still bullish on Alphabet
The company is a cash cow. In their recent earnings reports, the "Google Search & other" segment continues to be the primary engine, but YouTube ads are a monster of their own. Then there's the AI stuff. With Gemini and their specialized AI chips (TPUs), they are trying to prove they won't get left behind by Microsoft and OpenAI.
Some analysts, like those at Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley, often point to the "Cloud" segment as the real growth story. It was losing money for a long time, but now it’s profitable. When a massive business segment flips from a cost center to a profit center, investors usually get pretty excited.
Risks that nobody likes to talk about
Nothing is a sure bet. Google is constantly in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the European Union. Antitrust lawsuits are a regular Tuesday for them. If a judge ever decides that Google has to spin off Chrome or the Android operating system, the stock price is going to have a very bad day.
There's also the "AI search" threat. If people start asking chatbots for answers instead of clicking on search results, Google’s ad revenue could take a hit. They’re pivoting fast, but pivots are messy. You have to decide if you believe their ecosystem is "sticky" enough to survive the shift.
Taxes and the "Boring" stuff
When you eventually sell your shares for a profit, the government is going to want their cut. This is called Capital Gains Tax. If you hold the stock for more than a year, you pay a lower rate. If you flip it in six months, you pay the same rate as your regular income tax.
If you're doing this in a Roth IRA, you might not have to pay taxes on the gains at all, provided you follow the retirement rules. It’s worth checking if your brokerage allows you to buy stocks inside an IRA. It's a smart move if you're thinking long-term.
Actionable Next Steps
Stop overthinking the "perfect" time to enter. The market doesn't care about your timing.
- Pick a platform: If you want simple, go with Robinhood or Wealthfront. If you want deep research tools, go with Fidelity.
- Fund the account: Even if it's just $25 to start.
- Decide on GOOGL or GOOG: Remember, "L" for "Listen to me" (voting), or the other one for just the price.
- Set a recurring buy: If you really want to grow your position, automate it. Set it to buy a small amount every month and then forget the password for a while.
The process of how can I buy Google shares is basically just a few clicks. The real work is having the discipline to hold onto them when the market gets shaky and everyone on the news is screaming that the sky is falling. Own the businesses you actually use every day. That’s the simplest investment strategy there is.