-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 NmeDItlRuf5YDGaWsW5CCw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001100613-04-000004.txt : 20040816
<SEC-HEADER>0001100613-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040816
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040816134836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001100613-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040625
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040816

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EVANS THOMAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001100613

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25681
		FILM NUMBER:		04977601

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		10TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		10TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANKRATE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				650423422
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5616277330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ILIFE COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000329

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTELLIGENT LIFE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-25</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-07-13</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001080866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANKRATE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RATE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001100613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVANS THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11 EAST 44TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.46</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option will vest as to 200,000 shares on July 1, 2005 and 16,666.67 shares on the first of each month commencing on August 1, 2005 and ending on July 1, 2007, on which date the option will be 100% vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas R. Evans</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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