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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086909</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROADSOFT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSFT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River Partnership IX, a limited partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396225</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River Partnership IX-A, a limited partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River IX-B, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396223</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River IX-C, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River IX GP Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Charles River Friends, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1471983</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2377323</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>516820</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1860503</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>124667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>299199</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1172784</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1172784</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares received upon conversion of shares of Series B-1 and C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (as described in Notes 2 and 3) as follows: 1,363,629 shares received by Charles River Partnership IX, LP (&quot;CRP IX&quot;), 41,773 shares received by Charles River Partnership IX-A, LP (&quot;CRP IX-A&quot;), 37,354 shares received by Charles River IX-B, LLC (&quot;CR IX-B&quot;) and 29,227 shares received by Charles River IX-C, LLC (&quot;CR IX-C&quot;).  CRP IX, CRP IX-A, CR IX-B and CR IX-C (collectively, the &quot;Partnerships&quot;) form a &quot;group&quot; for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each share of Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted into 2.4 shares of common stock upon the closing of the issuer's initial public offering, and had no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of Series C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted into 1 share of common stock upon the closing of the issuer's initial public offering, and had no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents 2,202,324 shares held by CRP IX, 67,467 shares held by CRP IX-A, 60,329 shares held by CR IX-B and 47,203 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Charles River IX GP, Limited Partnership (&quot;CR IX GP&quot;) is the General Partner of CRP IX and CRP IX-A; Charles River Friends, Inc. (&quot;CRF Inc.&quot;) is the manager of CR IX-B and CR IX-C.  Accordingly, each of CR IX GP and CRF Inc. (collectively, the &quot;GPs&quot;) may be deemed to beneficially own the reported securities held by the Partnerships of which it is the general partner or manager, but each of the GPs disclaims beneficial ownership of such reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this statement by any reporting person shall not be deemed an admission that such person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this statement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents 478,777 shares sold by CRP IX, 14,667 shares sold by CRP IX-A, 13,115 shares sold by CR IX-B and 10,261 shares sold by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Represents 1,723,547 shares held by CRP IX, 52,800 shares held by CRP IX-A, 47,214 shares held by CR IX-B and 36,942 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Effective upon the closing of the issuer's initial public offering, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was redeemed for $0.48 per share and subsequently cancelled, pursuant to its terms.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Represents 2,223,328 shares held by CRP IX, 68,112 shares held by CRP IX-A, 60,906 shares held by CR IX-B and 47,654 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Represents 115,489 shares held by CRP IX, 3,538 shares held by CRP X-A, 3,164 shares held by CR IX-B and 2,476 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Represents 277,174 shares held by CRP IX, 8,491 shares held by CRP X-A, 7,593 shares held by CR IX-B and 5,941 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Represents 1,086,455 shares held by CRP IX, 33,282 shares held by CRP X-A, 29,761 shares held by CR IX -B and 23,286 shares held by CR IX-C.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River IX GP, LP the general partner of Charles River Partnership IX, LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River IX GP, LP the general partner of Charles River Partnership IX-A, LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River Friends, Inc. the manager of Charles River Friends IX-B, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River Friends, Inc. the manager of Charles River Friends IX-C, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River IX GP, LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Reed as Attorney-in-Fact for Charles River Friends, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
