-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jjh0LOQ6TZgKM657ACMq6Yafwmmd/NFhY06fyrrh9N8eYtXVpqR0KRf0x1U//GNN
 UBDt6JInnp8wyMAVQDOb+A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-04-000790.txt : 20040413
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-04-000790.hdr.sgml : 20040413
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040413201712
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-04-000790
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040412
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040413

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUTTER JAMES F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237902

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25857
		FILM NUMBER:		04731558

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 S. AMPHLETT BLVD.
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-12</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237902</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUTTER JAMES F</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Immediately.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">No price applies.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James Sutter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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