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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000888953</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ONLINE RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ORCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOROWITZ EDWARD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1140 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE. 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>No securities are beneficially owned.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Edward D. Horowitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
