-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GOw0NnjgdEWaJcOlhEfQzI0tFxxSI8LU6fdb8wSB04qZ4zLrpMmAJ6k1XX82Fq1g
 42PwRO/5TCxJSZickuEyRQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-04-000328.txt : 20040217
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-04-000328.hdr.sgml : 20040216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040217150912
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-04-000328
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084400
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				943138935
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 SOUTH AMPHLETT BLVD., 3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6503417733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 S. AMPHLETT BLVD, 3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNINGER DEREK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001105776

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25857
		FILM NUMBER:		04607881

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC
		STREET 2:		1720 S AMPHLETT BLVD 3RD FL
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		503417733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC
		STREET 2:		1720 S AMPHLETT BLVD 3RD FL
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084400</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRSW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001105776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENNINGER DEREK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1720 S. AMPHLETT BLVD., 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Worldwide Field Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1186</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>105388</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8390</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8390</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>384</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by The Henninger Family Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by the trust, and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Held by The Henninger Family Irr Tr fbo: Grant Larson Henninger uad 4/3/2000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Held by The Henninger Family Irr Tr fbo: Webb Ryan Henninger uad 4/3/2000.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Derek Henninger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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