Can I make money from Stack Overflow?

Stack Overflow doesn't pay users to post on their site. However, you can earn reputation points by posting. Sharing your expertise could help you land new job opportunities as you showcase your knowledge and expertise, network with other users, and apply to jobs employers post on the platform.

What company does Stack Overflow belong to?

Stack Overflow is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prosus. The European technology company acquired It for $1.8 billion in 2021.

Can I buy Stack Overflow stock?

You can't buy shares of Stack Overflow. It's a private company owned by Prosus, which bought it for $1.8 billion in 2021. However, you can invest in Stack Overflow through Prosus, which is a publicly traded company. It trades on the OTC markets under the stock ticker PROSY and on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (Euronext Amsterdam) under the ticker PRX.

Can You Invest in Stack Overflow Pre-IPO?

Q: Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Stack Overflow is not a publicly traded company. It's a privately held company owned by European technology giant Prosus, which acquired it for $1.8 billion in 2021.

Can You Invest in Stack Overflow in 2026? Details & Alternatives

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Sep 2, 2026 at 2:34 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Stack Overflow is privately owned by Prosus and is not publicly traded.
Invest in Prosus to gain indirect exposure to Stack Overflow’s growth and AI integration.
Prosus also offers exposure through investments in Udemy and Tencent, expanding edtech reach.

Stack Overflow operates a popular question-and-answer website for software developers and other professionals. The site receives millions of visitors and answers tens of thousands of questions each month.

Like many companies, Stack Overflow is seeking to tap into the enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI). In 2023, it launched Overflow AI to integrate generative AI into its public platform, Stack Overflow for Microsoft's (MSFT -0.72%) Teams, and other new products.

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Someone using an AI chatbot app to find answers. — Image source: Getty Images.

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If you are an avid user of Stack Overflow and curious whether you can invest in the educational technology (edtech) company. Here's everything you need to know about investing in Stack Overflow stock.

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Stack Overflow is not a publicly traded company. It is a private company owned by Prosus (PROSY +3.71%). The European internet and technology group acquired Stack Overflow for $1.8 billion in 2021.

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When will Stack Overflow IPO?

As of mid-2026, the web community for software developers is a subsidiary of European internet and technology giant Prosus and doesn't have an initial public offering (IPO) on the calendar.

Prosus doesn't have plans to sell a stake in the company via an IPO. Stack Overflow's focus has been on improving its profitability by reducing costs. It would likely need to significantly improve its profitability (and value) before Prosus would consider an IPO of Stack Overflow.

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IPO

IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public, making it a publicly traded entity.

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Tencent

Tencent (TCEHY +3.69%) is a Chinese technology company. It's one of the world's top video game publishers and a leading social media platform with more than 1 billion monthly active users. Naspers is also one of Tencent's top investors. Like Prosus, Tencent owns and invests in many other companies, which gives it a diversified technology portfolio.

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How to buy stocks similar to Stack Overflow

People who want to buy one of these technology company alternatives to Stack Overflow can purchase shares in most brokerage accounts. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to invest in stocks.

Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Should I invest in Stack Overflow?

You can't invest directly in Stack Overflow because it's not a publicly traded company. However, you can buy shares of its owner, Prosus. Here are some reasons you might want to invest in Prosus or a similar company:

You're an avid user of Stack Overflow's site and want to invest in the company that owns it.
It would diversify your portfolio by adding an international stock.
You think Stack Overflow will continue to grow its user base and revenue at high rates in the future.
You like that Stack Overflow is embracing AI and believe it could become an important growth driver for the company.
You see lots of growth potential in the edtech sector.

On the other hand, here are some reasons you might not want to invest in Stack Overflow's owner or a similar company:

You don't understand what the company does or how it makes money.
You don't want to invest in a company listed on a foreign exchange.
You're concerned about Stack Overflow's losses and its impact on Prosus's bottom line.
You're concerned that AI will affect Stack Overflow's usefulness.

ETFs with exposure to Stack Overflow

Since Stack Overflow is a subsidiary of a larger company, you can't get passive exposure to its stock through exchange-traded funds (ETF). However, you can use ETFs to invest in Prosus and similar companies. Here are a couple of notable ETFs to gain some exposure to the European internet and technology company:

iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF (EWN +1.08%): This ETF focuses on stocks listed in the Netherlands. It held 53 companies in mid-2026, including Prosus (at 9.6%), and had a 0.5% ETF expense ratio.
iShares Europe ETF (IEV +0.08%): This fund focuses on European-listed companies. It held 360 stocks in late, including Prosus (0.40% of its net assets), and had a 0.60% expense ratio.

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The bottom line on Stack Overflow

While you can't invest directly in Stack Overflow, you can buy shares of its parent, Prosus. You could also consider investing in related companies (like Udemy or Tencent) or an ETF to gain exposure to the same trends driving its growth. With lots of growth ahead for edtech, AI, and other technologies, these investments could pay off in the coming years.

Investing in Stack Overflow FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft and Tencent. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Can You Invest in Stack Overflow in 2026? Details & Alternatives

Key Points

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

When will Stack Overflow IPO?

IPO

Tencent

How to buy stocks similar to Stack Overflow

Should I invest in Stack Overflow?

ETFs with exposure to Stack Overflow

The bottom line on Stack Overflow

Related investing topics

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Can You Invest in xAI Pre-IPO? What to Know and Alternatives to Consider

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Can You Invest in Sila Nanotechnologies Pre-IPO? What to Know

Investing in Stack Overflow FAQ

Can I make money from Stack Overflow?

Can I make money from Stack Overflow?

What company does Stack Overflow belong to?

What company does Stack Overflow belong to?

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Can I buy Stack Overflow stock?

Can I buy Stack Overflow stock?

About the Author

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When will Stack Overflow IPO?

IPO

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How to buy stocks similar to Stack Overflow

The bottom line on Stack Overflow

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Can You Invest in SeatGeek Pre-IPO? Everything You Need to Know

Can You Invest in Sila Nanotechnologies Pre-IPO? What to Know

Investing in Stack Overflow FAQ

Can I make money from Stack Overflow?

Can I make money from Stack Overflow?

What company does Stack Overflow belong to?

What company does Stack Overflow belong to?

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Can I buy Stack Overflow stock?

Can I buy Stack Overflow stock?

Is Stack Overflow publicly traded?

Is Stack Overflow profitable?

Alternatives to Stack Overflow stock

Prosus

Udemy

Should I invest in Stack Overflow?

ETFs with exposure to Stack Overflow