How to buy Alphabet (GOOGL) shares from Australia

By   |   Verified by David Boyd   |   Updated 27 Sep 2023

It's easy to invest in Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) shares from Australia thanks to the rise of online share trading platforms.

Read on for our step-by-step guide to buying shares in Google, covering everything from selecting a broker to configuring an order.

About the company

Alphabet overview

Alphabet Inc. was created in 2015 by a restructuring of the Google company and now stands as the parent of Google LLC and its numerous subsidiaries, including Fitbit. Google’s self-titled search engine is the most-visited website on the planet, followed by their online video platform YouTube.

Unsure about what trading platform to use?

Where to buy Alphabet shares

eToro

On website

Highlights

  • Trade and invest in top financial instruments, including a wide selection of stocks.
  • eToro is regulated by CySec, FCA, and ASIC.
  • Your funds are protected by industry-leading security protocols.
  • Earn up to 5.3% annual interest on your balance.
Saxo Markets

On website

Saxo Markets

Highlights

  • Invest in 23,500+ stocks from ASX, New York, Hong Kong, and 50+ other global markets.
  • No platform fees, no inactivity fees, and no FX fees on each trade.
  • Analyse, improve and manage your risk using intuitive trading tools.
Pearler

On website

Highlights

  • Enjoy low, transparent fees.
  • An option to Autoinvest. Set-and-forget your investment strategy.
  • Simply invest into any ETF from one of Pearler's ETF managers for at least one year, and it's free.
  • Clearing House Electronic Sub-register System (CHESS) sponsored.
Superhero

On website

Highlights

  • Open an account with just $100 and start investing today with a $5 flat-free brokerage ($0 on US shares) on share trades.
  • Buy and sell US shares & ETFs with $0 brokerage plus trade unsettled funds.
  • Fund your account in minutes with PayID and enjoy realtime FX transfers for fast US share trading.
Tiger Brokers

On website

Highlights

  • Available for ASX, US & HK stocks trading, ETFs, and US options trading.
  • Free market data for ASX and US stocks.
  • More accessible investment to all with a demo account.
Webull

On website

Webull

Highlights

  • Trade AU & US stocks, ETFs, and Options with $0 commission for the first 30 days.
  • Provides intuitive and powerful advanced charts, multiple technical indicators, and premier Level 2 Advance (Nasdaq TotalView).
  • Regulated by ASIC.

Pros

  • Invest from as little as US$5.
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees.
  • Allows you to trade fractional shares.
  • Access to advanced trading tools.

Cons

  • Scarcity of instructional resources for investors.
  • Supports AU and US markets only.
Moomoo

On website

Moomoo

Highlights

  • Trade blue-chip stocks in AU and US markets.
  • Trade multi-markets and multi-products with a lower commission. No custodian fee.
  • Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Compare online trading platforms with Finty. Research trading fees, tradable assets, markets, and commodities, etc.

First time buying?

How to buy Alphabet shares

Step 1: Pick an online broker

A broker is a service that allows you to buy and sell shares. If you are buying Alphabet shares (NASDAQ: GOOGL, NASDAQGS: GOOG) from Australia, you will need to set up an account with a broker that trades in US shares. Thankfully there are plenty to choose from, offering various features.

Some of the options your online broker may offer include:

Commission-free trades

When you are making regular trades, the commissions charged for each transaction can really add up.

Commission-free trading, which many online brokers that trade in US shares offer, can make a big difference.

Fractional investing

Investing in a tech giant such as Google can be an expensive undertaking, so the chance to buy just a part of a share can allow you to enjoy the benefits of share ownership without breaking the bank. It is less risky than buying full shares.

Research and reporting

Look for a platform that has a solid research and reporting section that can give you important information about Google, including company overview, price history, recommendations and price forecasts.

Easy-to-use trading platform

If you are starting out in share trading, too much information can be confusing. Look for one that allows you to conduct your trades simply.

Step 2: Send funds to your account

When you have settled on a broker, you will transfer money from your bank account into your brokerage account; this may take a few days to clear if you do not have an account open.

Step 3: Decide how much you want to invest

Alphabet shares are expensive, which is where fractional share investing can be of real benefit. This method allows you to start small — because you can buy a fraction of a share that might otherwise be unable to afford — and build your investment as you wish.

No matter how much you decide to invest, it’s important to only spend as much on shares as you can afford to lose.

Step 4: Buy shares or an ETF?

You may prefer to invest in an Exchange-Traded Fund rather than buying straight-out shares.

ETFs are a collection of assets such as bonds and shares, similar to mutual funds, that can function like individual shares on the market.

They are a less interesting option than share investing for active traders though.

Cathie Wood’s ARK Industrial Innovation ETF (ARKQ) is a prominent example of an ETF where Alphabet is part of a portfolio of assets. Other ETFs with exposure to Alphabet include SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV).

Step 5: Decide your order type

There are several order types to be aware of, which are customised for certain market conditions.

Market order

Market orders mean your order executes at whatever the share price is at the time.

For example, if the price of an Alphabet share is US$2300 and you hit buy, your order will start to go through at that price.

Keep in mind that share price fluctuations may mean that by the time your share purchase is complete, you may pay more or less than US$2300 for your shares.

Limit order

A buy limit order helps you buy shares at a price you nominate (or lower) and can be a useful tool in sticking to an investing budget.

For example, you may decide you will buy Alphabet shares when they reach US$2200 or lower. If and when the shares hit that mark, your trade will start to execute.

Stop limit

This sell order allows you to nominate a price at which you will sell shares.

Let’s say you decide that when Alphabet shares reach US$2400, you are willing to let them go.. When the price reaches that figure, your order kicks in.

Stop loss

A stop loss order helps get you out of a stock that you decide isn’t worth holding onto if it drops below a certain price. Let’s say the Alphabet price plummets to your nominated stop loss price of US$1800. Your order executes and you are saved from any further losses.

Step 6: Place your order

Once you have settled upon an order type, then you can place your order on Alphabet’s GOOG or GOOGL shares – buying the latter allows you to enter shareholder meetings. After this is completed, you wait and see how the market reacts in the time that passes.

After you buy

What moves Alphabet's share price

The market can be fickle and subject to a lot of factors. It is worthwhile keeping an eye on things such as market trends, news about Alphabet and its competitors, company announcements and reports, and trends in technology as these can all play into the company’s share price.

Tech companies like Google worth tracking include Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Facebook (NASDAQ: FB), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX).

Disclaimer: We put our customer’s needs first. The views expressed in this article are those of the writer’s alone and do not constitute financial advice. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content. However, Finty and/or the writer may have a financial interest in the companies mentioned. Finty is committed to providing factual, honest, and accurate information that is compliant with governing laws and regulations. Do your own due diligence and seek professional advice before deciding to invest in one of the products mentioned. For more information, see Finty’s editorial guidelines and terms and conditions.