Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Jul. 02, 2020	Oct. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN SOFTWARE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000713425
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 516.5
Class A Common Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,620,541
Class B Common Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,821,587