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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000945989</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASTEA INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATEA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450205</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KVO Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>44 S. MAIN STREET, BOX 17</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HANOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Mbr 13(d) grp own more thn 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162729</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ASHTON ROBERT B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>44 S. MAIN STREET, BOX 17</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HANOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Mbr 13(d) grp own more thn 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001305456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Oberting Kernan V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>44 S. MAIN STREET, BOX 17</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HANOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Mbr 13(d) grp own more thn 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12708</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>419423</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares are held in private accounts over which KVO has voting and dispositive power</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 368,132 shares held in private accounts over which KVO has both voting and dispositive power pursuant to contract.  KVO's voting and dispositive power over shares held in these accounts is revocable on or after December 31, 2010.  Also includes 38,533 shares held in a private account on behalf of Mr. Ashton, a portfolio manager of KVO, over which KVO has both voting and dispositive power pursuant to contract.  KVO's voting and dispositive power over these shares is revocable if Mr. Ashton terminates his employment with KVO, at which time the right to vote and dispose of these shares will revert to him.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Oberting is the Managing Member of KVO. By reason of the provisions of Rule 16a-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;), Mr. Oberting may be deemed to beneficially own all of the shares that KVO is deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Oberting disclaims beneficial ownership of any of the securities covered by this Form 4</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Ashton is a portfolio manager of KVO. By reason of the provisions of Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act, Mr. Ashton may be deemed to beneficially own all of the shares that KVO is deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Ashton disclaims beneficial ownership of any of the securities covered by this Form 4 other than the shares held in a private account on behalf of Mr. Ashton and reported above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alexander S. Glovsky, attorney-in-fact for KVO Capital Management, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alexander S. Glovsky, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Robert B. Ashton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alexander S. Glovsky, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Kernan V. Oberting</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
