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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001036188</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QAD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QADA, QADB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001644597</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Chilton Anton</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 INNOVATION PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Global Services</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock ($0.001 par value)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13614</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock ($0.001 par value)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>164</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-10-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-06-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-06-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.81</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-06-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-06-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-10-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Original 16,000 SAR grant was made on February 5, 2009.  All 16,000 SARs are fully vested.  12,000 SARs have been exercised leaving 4,000 unexercised SARs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Original 4,000 SAR grant was made on October 15, 2009.  All 4,000 SARs are fully vested.  2,000 SARs have been exercised leaving 2,000 unexercised SARs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Original 4,500 SAR grant was made on June 7, 2011.  All 4,500 SARs are fully vested.  1,125 SARs have been exercised leaving 3,375 unexercised SARs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Original 7,500 SAR grant was made on June 12, 2012.   3,750 SARs have vested.  1,875 SARs will vest on June 12, 2015 and 1,875 shares will vest on June 12, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Original 7,500 SAR grant was made on June 11, 2013.  1,875 SARs have vested.  1,875 SARs will vest on each of June 11, 2015, June 11, 2016 and June 11, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Original 4,000 SAR grant was made on February 5, 2009.  All 4,000 SARs are fully vested.  3,000 SARs have been exercised leaving 1,000 unexercised SARs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Original 1,000 SAR grant was made on October 15, 2009.  All 1,000 SARs are fully vested.  500 SARs have been exercised leaving 500 unexercised SARs.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Betty Weinert, attorney in fact for Anton Chilton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
