diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
index 6c87248..c75d598 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/cli.py
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ def exporter(blocklist, output=None, format: str = "toml", private: bool = False
 
 
 def merge(input_file, merge_target, format: str = "toml", private: bool = False, overwrite=False):
+    """Shows a table in the CLI comparing the local and remote blocklist"""
+    from rich.table import Table
+    from rich.console import Console
     input_blocklist = load_blocklist_file(input_file)
     merge_target_blocklist = load_blocklist_file(merge_target)
     for input_instance in input_blocklist:
@@ -73,12 +76,12 @@ def merge(input_file, merge_target, format: str = "toml", private: bool = False,
             continue
         # Check if there is a domain in the merge target where the input domain is similar
         try:
-            merge_target_instance = [merge_target_instance for merge_target_instance in merge_target if input_instance.domain == merge_target_instance.domain][0]
+            merge_target_instance = [merge_target_instance for merge_target_instance in merge_target_blocklist if input_instance.domain == merge_target_instance.domain][0]
             if not overwrite:
                 key_input = ""
                 while key_input not in ("i", "O"):
                     print(f"Different settings for {input_instance.domain} detected.")
-                    print(f"In the input blocklist the setting is\n{input_instance} whereas it's {merge_target_instance} in the merge target")
+                    Instance.show_diff(input_instance, merge_target_instance)
                     key_input = input("Keep input (i) or original (o) [i/O]")
             elif key_input == "i":
                 merge_target_blocklist.append(merge_target_instance)
@@ -117,12 +120,14 @@ 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:
-            remote_blocklist = blocklist_json_to_instances(json.load(f))
-    else:
-        remote_blocklist = load_blocklist_from_instance(server=args.server, token=token)
+    """Get a remote blocklist only when necessary"""
+    if args.action in ["diff", "deploy"]:
+        """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:
+                remote_blocklist = blocklist_json_to_instances(json.load(f))
+        else:
+            remote_blocklist = load_blocklist_from_instance(server=args.server, token=token)
 
     """Load local blocklist only when needed"""
     if args.action in ["diff", "deploy", "merge"]:
diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
index b33e00d..1b87c9e 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
@@ -138,3 +138,18 @@ class Instance:
                 table.add_row(diff["local"].domain, diff["local"].status_str(), diff["remote"].status_str())
         console = Console()
         console.print(table)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def show_diff(instanceA, instanceB, column_names=('Input', 'Original')):
+        from rich.table import Table
+        from rich.console import Console
+        table = Table(title="Differences", expand=True, show_lines=True)
+
+        table.add_column("Attribute", style="cyan")
+        table.add_column(column_names[0], style="green")
+        table.add_column(column_names[1], style="magenta")
+        compare_attributes = ["domain", "severity", "obfuscate", "private_comment", "public_comment", "reject_media", "reject_reports"]
+        for attr in compare_attributes:
+            table.add_row(attr, str(getattr(instanceA, attr)), str(getattr(instanceB, attr)))
+        console = Console()
+        console.print(table)