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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000713425</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMSWA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001305419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thomas Lizanne</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>470 EAST PACES FERRY ROAD NORTHEAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2Q</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GEORGIA (COUNTRY)</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9740.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11228.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units ('RSUs&quot;) granted to the reporting person on May 2, 2023 (the &quot;Grant Date&quot;) pursuant to American Software, Inc.'s 2020 Equity Compensation Plan.  As  noted in the Form 4 filed on May 3, 2023, all RSU's granted to the reporting person were subject to vest in full on the first anniversary of the Grant Date (the &quot;Vesting Date&quot;) subject to the reporting person's continued service as a Director of the Company through the Vesting Date.  All RSUs vested on May 1, 2024.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lizanne Thomas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-05-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
