<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-27</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001165532</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATX COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COMM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001138865</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURUCHIAN DEBRA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 MONUMENT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALA CYNWYD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19004</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>2003-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3022273</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Following the reported transaction, the Reporting Person directly owns 3,022,273 shares of Common Stock and the Reporting Person's minor child owns 33,057 shares of Common Stock.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock held by the Reporting Person's minor child, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ DEBRA BURUCHIAN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

