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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-07-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000045919</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARTE HANKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HHS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001712316</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tobia Alfred Victor Jr.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>767 THIRD AVENUE, 15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>652447</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Sidus Double Alpha Fund, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>315309</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Sidus Double Alpha Fund, Ltd.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>255552</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Sidus Investment Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>326692</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Managed Account of Sidus Investment Management, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of common stock owned directly by Sidus Double Alpha Fund, L.P. (&quot;Sidus Double Alpha&quot;). The Reporting Person, solely by virtue of his position as a managing member of Sidus Investment Management, LLC (&quot;Sidus Management&quot;), the investment manager of Sidus Double Alpha, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock directly held by Sidus Double Alpha for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (&quot;Section 16&quot;). The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of common stock owned directly by Sidus Double Alpha Fund, Ltd. (&quot;Sidus Double Alpha Offshore&quot;). The Reporting Person, solely by virtue of his position as a managing member of Sidus Management, the investment manager of Sidus Double Alpha Offshore, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock directly held by Sidus Double Alpha Offshore for purposes of Section 16. The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares of common stock owned directly by Sidus Investment Partners, L.P. (&quot;Sidus Partners&quot;). The Reporting Person, solely by virtue of his position as a managing member of Sidus Management, the investment manager of Sidus Partners, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock directly held by Sidus Partners for purposes of Section 16. The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares of common stock held in an account for which Sidus Management serves as a sub-advisor (the &quot;Managed Account&quot;). The Reporting Person, solely by virtue of his position as a managing member of Sidus Management, the sub-advisor to the Managed Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock directly held in the Managed Account for purposes of Section 16. The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert L. R. Munden, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
