<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001665328-18-000002.txt : 20180117
<SEC-HEADER>0001665328-18-000002.hdr.sgml : 20180117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180117164546
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001665328-18-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Taslakov Dimitre
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001665328

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19417
		FILM NUMBER:		18531899

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		14 OAK PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Tasklakov Dimitre
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20160128

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000876167
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				042746201
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 OAK PARK
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781-280-4473

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 OAK PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_151622553305313.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-01-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000876167</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRGS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001665328</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Taslakov Dimitre</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14 OAK PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Talent Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4143</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4143.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4143</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>50.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13271</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13271.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13271</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6905</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6905.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6905</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units acquired by the Reporting Person pursuant to the Company's 2008 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The restricted stock units vest in six equal installments beginning on October 1, 2018, subject to the continued employment of the Reporting Person with Progress Software Corporation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock Options vest in eight equal semiannual installments beginning on October 1, 2018, subject to the continued employment of the Reporting Person with Progress Software Corporation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents performance-based restricted stock units that vest based on Progress Software Corporation total shareholder return and total operating income over a three-year period, as will be determined at the first meeting of the Progress Software Corporation's compensation committee following November 30, 2020.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen Faberman, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
