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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001030058</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORLDGATE COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WGAT.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001456791</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stevanovski Robert</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>349-L COPPERFIELD BOULEVARD, #407</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001458595</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WGI Investor LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>349-L COPPERFIELD BOULEVARD, #392</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001456822</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Manna Holdings, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>349-L COPPERFIELD BOULEVARD, #402</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001456821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Praescient, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1086</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORNELIUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28031</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.432</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-08-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-08-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By WGI Investor LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities are held directly by WGI Investor LLC (&quot;WGI Investor&quot;). The securities are held indirectly by Manna Holdings, LLC (&quot;Manna Holdings&quot;), as holder of a substantial majority of the membership interests of WGI Investor, and Praescient, LLC (&quot;Praescient&quot;), as the sole manager of WGI Investor and managing member of Manna Holdings. Robert Stevanovski is the manager of Praescient.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Robert Stevanovski is a principal of Manna Holdings and the manager of Praescient, which serves as the manager of WGI Investor, and as the managing member of Manna Holdings. Manna Holdings is the holder of a substantial majority of the membership interests of WGI Investor. As such, Mr. Stevanovski, Praescient and Manna Holdings may be deemed to beneficially own the securities reported herein and owned directly by WGI Investor. Each of Mr. Stevanovski, Praescient and Manna Holdings disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for the purpose of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of such reporting person's pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This report is filed jointly by WGI Investor, Manna Holdings, Praescient and Robert Stevanovski, all of whom may be deemed to beneficially own more than 10% of a class of the Issuer's securities. Mr. Stevanovski is a director of the Issuer. WGI Investor also may be deemed a director by virtue of its right to nominate members of the Issuer's board of directors pursuant to terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of December 12, 2008 between WGI Investor and the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert Stevanovski, by Colleen R. Jones, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ WGI Investor LLC, by Praescient, LLC, its manager, by Colleen R. Jones, authorized signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Manna Holdings, LLC, by Praescient, LLC, its managing member, by Colleen R. Jones, authorized signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Praescient, LLC, by Colleen R. Jones, authorized signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
