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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000796655</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANTS SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ANTS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200820</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUOTOLO KENNETH L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.22</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>110000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>110000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>455000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Item 9 includes an option grant dated 11/28/2001 for 17,500 shares., exercise price $2.00, fully vested.; an option grant dated 10/03/2001 for 17,500 shares., exercise price $2.00, fully vested.; an option grant dated 6/21/2001 for 175,000 shares., exercise price $3.18, fully vested.;an option grant dated 2/06/2001 for 19,980 shares., exercise price $2.9062, fully vested.; an option grant dated 1/08/2001 for 9,340 shares., exercise price $2.75, fully vested.;  an option grant dated 4/10/2002 for 60,680 shares., exercise price $1.90, vesting schedule as follows: 2.78% shall vest at the conclusion of each month, such that 100% of shares shall be vested three years from the Vesting Measurement Date; an option grant dated 8/7/2002 for 20,000 shares., exercise price $.52, fully vested, an option grant dated 1/30/2004 for 20,000 shares., exercise price $.81, fully vested; a warrant dated 12/09/2004 for 5,000 shares, exercise price $2.00, fully vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an option grant dated 12/09/2004 for 110,000 shares, exercise price $1.22, vesting schedule as follows: 2.78% shall vest at the conclusion of each month, such that 100% of shares shall be vested three years from the Vesting Measurement Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth Ruotolo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

