<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001222574-03-000005
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031111
<FILING-DATE>20031112
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JONES RICHARD H
<CIK>0001222574
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11859
<FILM-NUMBER>03995091
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O PEGASYSTEMS INC
<STREET2>101 MAIN STREET
<CITY>CAMBRIDGE
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02142
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PEGASYSTEMS INC
<CIK>0001013857
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7374
<IRS-NUMBER>042787865
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>101 MAIN ST
<CITY>CAMBRIDGE
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02142-1590
<PHONE>6173749600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>101 MAIN ST
<CITY>CAMBRIDGE
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02142-1590
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-11</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001013857</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEGASYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEGA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JONES RICHARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PEGASYSTEMS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>101 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>983000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>June M. Morris, Esq.,Attorney-in-Fact for Richard H. Jones</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
