<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001050446</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MICROSTRATEGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001663620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rennyson David J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1850 TOWERS CRESCENT PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TYSONS CORNER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22182</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SEVP, Worldwide Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>131.53</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option vests as to 5,000 shares on the first anniversary of the grant date, and as to an additional 5,000 shares on each anniversary thereafter until the option is vested in full.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Rennyson also directly owns an employee stock option to purchase 70,000 shares of Class A common stock with (i) an exercise price of $165.01 per share and (ii) an expiration date of February 2, 2025. Of the 70,000 shares subject to this option, 17,500 shares vested on February 2, 2016, 17,500 shares vested on February 2, 2017, 17,500 shares vested on February 2, 2018 and 17,500 shares are scheduled to vest on February 2, 2019. In addition, Mr. Rennyson directly owns an employee stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of Class A common stock with (i) an exercise price of $189.16 per share and (ii) an expiration date of March 8, 2027. Of the 20,000 shares subject to this option 5,000 shares are scheduled to vest on March 8, 2018, 5,000 shares are scheduled to vest on March 8, 2019, 5,000 shares are scheduled to vest on March 8, 2020 and 5,000 shares are scheduled to vest on March 8, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David J. Rennyson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
