-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GftMxjzIcEV+Wc1JCSyLcvuAvfMvYgtMaTAr75+hwzV4+mcHPOLMQkj3KzLIcFkD
 00/8RMpCmhAzNyj0ubujaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892712-08-000906.txt : 20081117
<SEC-HEADER>0000892712-08-000906.hdr.sgml : 20081117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081117174440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892712-08-000906
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEARING BRIAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240270

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19608
		FILM NUMBER:		081196558

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11425 W LAKE PARK DR
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARI NETWORK SERVICES INC /WI
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879796
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370]
		IRS NUMBER:				391388360
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11425 WEST LAKE PARK DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224-3025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		414 973-4300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11425 WEST LAKE PARK DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224-3025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879796</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARI NETWORK SERVICES INC /WI</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARIS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240270</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEARING BRIAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11425 W. LAKE PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6176</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>102076</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>In Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13890</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock portion of annual bonus under the Executive Compensation Long Term Bonus Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary Pierson (pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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