Want to buy ASX growth shares? Consider these ETFs instead

Growth ETFs can be easier to invest in than shares.

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Adding ASX growth shares to one's stock portfolio is a tempting prospect. After all, most of us want to see the highest possible returns from our share market investments. And growth shares, by their very name, typically offer the best prospects for high-return investments.

However, ASX growth shares also present some unique difficulties. For one, it can be far harder to put an accurate valuation on a company if it is projected to be far larger in the future than it is at the present. For another, growth shares can be more exposed to external economic factors, such as interest rates or a recession.

It's for these reasons that some Australian investors might be better off choosing an ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) or two for their portfolios in lieu of picking individual growth shares themselves. With that in mind, here are two such ASX ETFs that I think offer investors a more diversified exposure to growth shares today.

ETF spelt out with a piggybank.

Image source: Getty Images

Looking for ASX growth shares? Try these two ETFs

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

First up, we have the BetaShares Australian Technology ETF. This fund offers investors an underlying portfolio of the largest 40 or so ASX tech stocks. Most of these companies can also be described as growth shares, thanks to their future potential.

ATEC tracks the S&P/ASX All Technology Index, which weights its tech stocks according to market capitalisation. This means that, similar to a broad-market index fund, the fastest-growing companies rise to the top of the index, and thus, this ETF's portfolio.

You'll find growth stocks ranging from WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) to REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) in this portfolio.

If you're an investor who wants some exposure to ASX growth shares in your portfolio but has difficulty identifying the best opportunities, this fund is a great option, in my view.

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Another Betashares ETF, this fund is a different option for ASX investors looking to buy growth shares.

Unlike ATEC, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF invests in US stocks rather than ASX shares. It is an index fund that follows the 100 largest non-financial shares listed on the American Nasdaq stock exchange.

The Nasdaq is the exchange known for housing some of America's most famous growth shares. Its largest holdings are the  'Magnificent Seven', which is made up of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, NVIDIA, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet.

However, ASX investors will also gain access to other growth stocks, such as NetflixPayPalCostco, and Palantir Technologies.

The US is home to the best growth stocks in the world. As such, I think it's also a great place to start if you want to add some growth share exposure to an ASX portfolio today.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Costco Wholesale, Life360, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, PayPal, Tesla, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short June 2025 $77.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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