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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CALLIDUS SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CALD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001459574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Alberti Merritt</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CALLIDUS SOFTWARE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>160 WEST SANTA CLARA STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Client Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37697</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">11,250 shares of the amount reported represent unvested shares under a restricted stock unit award of April 30, 2008 (&quot;RSU&quot;).  Under the RSU, the Reporting Person was awarded 15,000 shares, of which 3,750 shares previously vested and are included in the amount reported in Table I.  The remaining unvested shares under the RSU vest in quarterly installments of 1,250 shares until fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: V. Holly Albert  For: Merritt Alberti</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
