Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Mar. 03, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN SOFTWARE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000713425
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Class A Common Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,368,467
Class B Common Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,821,587