diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
index 68ea688..a8faa5d 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import os
 import toml
 
 from mastodon_blocklist_deploy.models import Instance
+from mastodon_blocklist_deploy.helpers import blocklist_to_markdown, blocklist_to_toml
 
 
 def load_blocklist_file(filename: str) -> [Instance]:
@@ -39,6 +40,31 @@ def load_blocklist_from_instance(server: str, token: str) -> [Instance]:
         raise ConnectionError(f"Could not connect to the server ({response.status_code}: {response.reason})")
 
 
+def remove_key_from_dict(dict, key):
+    del dict[key]
+    return dict
+
+
+def exporter(blocklist, output=None, format: str = "toml", private: bool = False):
+    if format == "markdown":
+        exported_text = blocklist_to_markdown(blocklist, private)
+        if output is not None:
+            with open(output, "w") as f:
+                f.write(exported_text)
+        else:
+            print(exported_text)
+    if format == "toml":
+        exported_text = blocklist_to_toml(blocklist, private)
+
+    # Output the text
+    if output is not None:
+        with open(output, "w") as f:
+            f.write(exported_text)
+    else:
+        print(exported_text)
+
+
+
 def cli():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Deploy blocklist updates to a mastodon server')
     parser.add_argument('action', choices=['diff', 'deploy', 'export'],
@@ -53,6 +79,9 @@ def cli():
     parser.add_argument('-o', '--output', help="Filename where to export the blocklist")
     parser.add_argument('-v', '--verbose', action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('-n', '--no-delete', action='store_true', help="Do not delete existing blocks")
+    parser.add_argument('--format', help="Export format: toml|markdown")
+    parser.add_argument('--private', action='store_true', help="When the flag is set private comment will also be "
+                                                               "exported.")
     args = parser.parse_args()
     if args.verbose:
         logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
@@ -64,6 +93,8 @@ def cli():
     else:
         token = os.getenv('MBD_TOKEN')
 
+
+
     """if there is a remote blocklist provided load this instead of fetching it from a server (for debugging reasons)"""
     if args.remote_blocklist:
         with open(args.remote_blocklist) as f:
@@ -89,12 +120,7 @@ def cli():
         diffs = Instance.list_diffs(local_blocklist, remote_blocklist)
         Instance.apply_blocks_from_diff(diffs, args.server, token, args.no_delete)
     elif args.action == "export":
-        if not args.output:
-            print(toml.dumps({"instances": [b.exportable_dict for b in remote_blocklist]}))
-        else:
-            with open(args.output, "w") as f:
-                toml.dump({"instances": [b.exportable_dict for b in remote_blocklist]}, f)
-
+        exporter(remote_blocklist, args.output, args.format, args.private)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     cli()
diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/helpers.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93d7b30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from mastodon_blocklist_deploy.models import Instance
+import toml
+
+
+def blocklist_to_markdown(blocklist: [Instance], private: bool = False):
+    if private:
+        markdown_string = "| Instance | Status | Reason | Private Comment |\n | --- | --- | --- |\n"
+    else:
+        markdown_string = "| Instance | Status | Reason |\n | --- | --- | --- |\n"
+    for instance in blocklist:
+
+        if private:
+            markdown_string += f"| {instance.domain} | {instance.severity} | {instance.public_comment} | {instance.private_comment} |\n"
+        else:
+            markdown_string += f"| {instance.domain} | {instance.severity} | {instance.public_comment} |\n"
+
+    return markdown_string
+
+def blocklist_to_toml(blocklist: [Instance], private: bool = False):
+    toml_string = toml.dumps({"instances": [b.as_dict(private) for b in blocklist]})
+    return toml_string
diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
index bf650d3..7b360a1 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
@@ -27,9 +27,10 @@ class Instance:
     def status_str(self):
         return f"{self.severity}\nReject reports: {self.reject_reports}\nReject media: {self.reject_media}\nObfuscate: {self.obfuscate}"
 
-    @property
-    def exportable_dict(self):
-        keys = ["domain", "severity", "public_comment", "private_comment", "obfuscate", "reject_media", "reject_reports"]
+    def as_dict(self, private=False):
+        keys = ["domain", "severity", "public_comment", "obfuscate", "reject_media", "reject_reports"]
+        if private:
+            keys.append("private_comment")
         exportable = {}
         for key in keys:
             exportable[key] = getattr(self, key)
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ class Instance:
             response = requests.put(f'https://{server}/api/v1/admin/domain_blocks/{block_id}', data=data,
                                     headers=headers)
         if response.status_code != 200:
-            raise ConnectionError(f"Could not apply block ({response.status_code}: {response.reason})")
+            raise ConnectionError(f"Could not apply block for {self.domain} ({response.status_code}: {response.reason})")
 
     def delete(self, server: str, token: str):
         """Deletes the instance from the blocklist on the remote server"""