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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000746210</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOWPOINT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLOW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Laezza Joseph</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>225 LONG AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HILLSIDE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07205</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7.1985</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>71985</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>497485</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A-3 Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35993</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-11-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35993</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>533478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has a Stated Value of $7,500 and is convertible into that number of shares of common stock computed by dividing the Stated Value by the Conversion Price, which is currently $0.75, subject to adjustment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are perpetual and therefore do not expire and are currently exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person acquired the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Warrants reported herein in exchange for all of the outstanding Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes issued to him by the Issuer, which, together with accrued interest thereon, totaled $28,794.15.  No fee, commission or other compensation of any kind was paid by the Issuer to the reporting person in connection with the reporting person's exchange of the Senior Secured Convertible Notes and interest for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Warrants.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This reflects the reduction of the previously reported shares issuable upon conversion of the Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes, which are no longer outstanding due to their exchange by the reporting person for Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Warrants.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph Laezza</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
