diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index fb3548d117a..79516666b78 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -675,13 +675,15 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_climate_state(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection
   if (traits.get_supports_fan_modes() && climate->fan_mode.has_value())
     resp.fan_mode = static_cast<enums::ClimateFanMode>(climate->fan_mode.value());
   if (!traits.get_supported_custom_fan_modes().empty() && climate->has_custom_fan_mode()) {
-    resp.custom_fan_mode = StringRef(climate->get_custom_fan_mode());
+    auto mode = climate->get_custom_fan_mode();
+    resp.custom_fan_mode = StringRef(mode.data(), mode.size());
   }
   if (traits.get_supports_presets() && climate->preset.has_value()) {
     resp.preset = static_cast<enums::ClimatePreset>(climate->preset.value());
   }
   if (!traits.get_supported_custom_presets().empty() && climate->has_custom_preset()) {
-    resp.custom_preset = StringRef(climate->get_custom_preset());
+    auto preset = climate->get_custom_preset();
+    resp.custom_preset = StringRef(preset.data(), preset.size());
   }
   if (traits.get_supports_swing_modes())
     resp.swing_mode = static_cast<enums::ClimateSwingMode>(climate->swing_mode);
diff --git a/esphome/components/bedjet/climate/bedjet_climate.cpp b/esphome/components/bedjet/climate/bedjet_climate.cpp
index 716d4d42410..d8b2d40bb14 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bedjet/climate/bedjet_climate.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bedjet/climate/bedjet_climate.cpp
@@ -164,21 +164,21 @@ void BedJetClimate::control(const ClimateCall &call) {
       return;
     }
   } else if (call.has_custom_preset()) {
-    const char *preset = call.get_custom_preset();
+    auto preset = call.get_custom_preset();
     bool result;
 
-    if (strcmp(preset, "M1") == 0) {
+    if (preset == "M1") {
       result = this->parent_->button_memory1();
-    } else if (strcmp(preset, "M2") == 0) {
+    } else if (preset == "M2") {
       result = this->parent_->button_memory2();
-    } else if (strcmp(preset, "M3") == 0) {
+    } else if (preset == "M3") {
       result = this->parent_->button_memory3();
-    } else if (strcmp(preset, "LTD HT") == 0) {
+    } else if (preset == "LTD HT") {
       result = this->parent_->button_heat();
-    } else if (strcmp(preset, "EXT HT") == 0) {
+    } else if (preset == "EXT HT") {
       result = this->parent_->button_ext_heat();
     } else {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Unsupported preset: %s", preset);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Unsupported preset: %.*s", (int) preset.size(), preset.data());
       return;
     }
 
@@ -208,10 +208,11 @@ void BedJetClimate::control(const ClimateCall &call) {
       this->set_fan_mode_(fan_mode);
     }
   } else if (call.has_custom_fan_mode()) {
-    const char *fan_mode = call.get_custom_fan_mode();
-    auto fan_index = bedjet_fan_speed_to_step(fan_mode);
+    auto fan_mode = call.get_custom_fan_mode();
+    auto fan_index = bedjet_fan_speed_to_step(fan_mode.data());
     if (fan_index <= 19) {
-      ESP_LOGV(TAG, "[%s] Converted fan mode %s to bedjet fan step %d", this->get_name().c_str(), fan_mode, fan_index);
+      ESP_LOGV(TAG, "[%s] Converted fan mode %.*s to bedjet fan step %d", this->get_name().c_str(),
+               (int) fan_mode.size(), fan_mode.data(), fan_index);
       bool result = this->parent_->set_fan_index(fan_index);
       if (result) {
         this->set_custom_fan_mode_(fan_mode);
diff --git a/esphome/components/climate/climate.cpp b/esphome/components/climate/climate.cpp
index 2d355094937..7611d33cbfe 100644
--- a/esphome/components/climate/climate.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/climate/climate.cpp
@@ -682,19 +682,19 @@ bool Climate::set_fan_mode_(ClimateFanMode mode) {
   return set_primary_mode(this->fan_mode, this->custom_fan_mode_, mode);
 }
 
-bool Climate::set_custom_fan_mode_(const char *mode) {
+bool Climate::set_custom_fan_mode_(const char *mode, size_t len) {
   auto traits = this->get_traits();
-  return set_custom_mode<ClimateFanMode>(this->custom_fan_mode_, this->fan_mode, traits.find_custom_fan_mode_(mode),
-                                         this->has_custom_fan_mode());
+  return set_custom_mode<ClimateFanMode>(this->custom_fan_mode_, this->fan_mode,
+                                         traits.find_custom_fan_mode_(mode, len), this->has_custom_fan_mode());
 }
 
 void Climate::clear_custom_fan_mode_() { this->custom_fan_mode_ = nullptr; }
 
 bool Climate::set_preset_(ClimatePreset preset) { return set_primary_mode(this->preset, this->custom_preset_, preset); }
 
-bool Climate::set_custom_preset_(const char *preset) {
+bool Climate::set_custom_preset_(const char *preset, size_t len) {
   auto traits = this->get_traits();
-  return set_custom_mode<ClimatePreset>(this->custom_preset_, this->preset, traits.find_custom_preset_(preset),
+  return set_custom_mode<ClimatePreset>(this->custom_preset_, this->preset, traits.find_custom_preset_(preset, len),
                                         this->has_custom_preset());
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/climate/climate.h b/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
index 06adb580cf4..f6d3d10a937 100644
--- a/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
+++ b/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <string_view>
+
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
@@ -110,8 +112,12 @@ class ClimateCall {
   const optional<ClimateFanMode> &get_fan_mode() const;
   const optional<ClimateSwingMode> &get_swing_mode() const;
   const optional<ClimatePreset> &get_preset() const;
-  const char *get_custom_fan_mode() const { return this->custom_fan_mode_; }
-  const char *get_custom_preset() const { return this->custom_preset_; }
+  std::string_view get_custom_fan_mode() const {
+    return this->custom_fan_mode_ != nullptr ? std::string_view(this->custom_fan_mode_) : std::string_view();
+  }
+  std::string_view get_custom_preset() const {
+    return this->custom_preset_ != nullptr ? std::string_view(this->custom_preset_) : std::string_view();
+  }
   bool has_custom_fan_mode() const { return this->custom_fan_mode_ != nullptr; }
   bool has_custom_preset() const { return this->custom_preset_ != nullptr; }
 
@@ -266,11 +272,15 @@ class Climate : public EntityBase {
   /// The active swing mode of the climate device.
   ClimateSwingMode swing_mode{CLIMATE_SWING_OFF};
 
-  /// Get the active custom fan mode (read-only access).
-  const char *get_custom_fan_mode() const { return this->custom_fan_mode_; }
+  /// Get the active custom fan mode (read-only access). Returns std::string_view.
+  std::string_view get_custom_fan_mode() const {
+    return this->custom_fan_mode_ != nullptr ? std::string_view(this->custom_fan_mode_) : std::string_view();
+  }
 
-  /// Get the active custom preset (read-only access).
-  const char *get_custom_preset() const { return this->custom_preset_; }
+  /// Get the active custom preset (read-only access). Returns std::string_view.
+  std::string_view get_custom_preset() const {
+    return this->custom_preset_ != nullptr ? std::string_view(this->custom_preset_) : std::string_view();
+  }
 
  protected:
   friend ClimateCall;
@@ -280,7 +290,9 @@ class Climate : public EntityBase {
   bool set_fan_mode_(ClimateFanMode mode);
 
   /// Set custom fan mode. Reset primary fan mode. Return true if fan mode has been changed.
-  bool set_custom_fan_mode_(const char *mode);
+  bool set_custom_fan_mode_(const char *mode) { return this->set_custom_fan_mode_(mode, strlen(mode)); }
+  bool set_custom_fan_mode_(const char *mode, size_t len);
+  bool set_custom_fan_mode_(std::string_view mode) { return this->set_custom_fan_mode_(mode.data(), mode.size()); }
   /// Clear custom fan mode.
   void clear_custom_fan_mode_();
 
@@ -288,7 +300,9 @@ class Climate : public EntityBase {
   bool set_preset_(ClimatePreset preset);
 
   /// Set custom preset. Reset primary preset. Return true if preset has been changed.
-  bool set_custom_preset_(const char *preset);
+  bool set_custom_preset_(const char *preset) { return this->set_custom_preset_(preset, strlen(preset)); }
+  bool set_custom_preset_(const char *preset, size_t len);
+  bool set_custom_preset_(std::string_view preset) { return this->set_custom_preset_(preset.data(), preset.size()); }
   /// Clear custom preset.
   void clear_custom_preset_();
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/midea/air_conditioner.cpp b/esphome/components/midea/air_conditioner.cpp
index a6a8d525499..9f67296d2b9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/midea/air_conditioner.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/midea/air_conditioner.cpp
@@ -65,12 +65,14 @@ void AirConditioner::control(const ClimateCall &call) {
   if (call.get_preset().has_value()) {
     ctrl.preset = Converters::to_midea_preset(call.get_preset().value());
   } else if (call.has_custom_preset()) {
-    ctrl.preset = Converters::to_midea_preset(call.get_custom_preset());
+    // get_custom_preset() returns string_view; Converters expects null-terminated const char*
+    ctrl.preset = Converters::to_midea_preset(call.get_custom_preset().data());
   }
   if (call.get_fan_mode().has_value()) {
     ctrl.fanMode = Converters::to_midea_fan_mode(call.get_fan_mode().value());
   } else if (call.has_custom_fan_mode()) {
-    ctrl.fanMode = Converters::to_midea_fan_mode(call.get_custom_fan_mode());
+    // get_custom_fan_mode() returns string_view; Converters expects null-terminated const char*
+    ctrl.fanMode = Converters::to_midea_fan_mode(call.get_custom_fan_mode().data());
   }
   this->base_.control(ctrl);
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_climate.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_climate.cpp
index 77aabb2461e..9723a44638c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_climate.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_climate.cpp
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ bool MQTTClimateComponent::publish_state_() {
       }
     }
     if (this->device_->has_custom_preset())
-      payload = this->device_->get_custom_preset();
+      payload = this->device_->get_custom_preset().data();
     if (!this->publish(this->get_preset_state_topic(), payload))
       success = false;
   }
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ bool MQTTClimateComponent::publish_state_() {
       }
     }
     if (this->device_->has_custom_fan_mode())
-      payload = this->device_->get_custom_fan_mode();
+      payload = this->device_->get_custom_fan_mode().data();
     if (!this->publish(this->get_fan_mode_state_topic(), payload))
       success = false;
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/thermostat/thermostat_climate.cpp b/esphome/components/thermostat/thermostat_climate.cpp
index d5fb259dada..4d215262257 100644
--- a/esphome/components/thermostat/thermostat_climate.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/thermostat/thermostat_climate.cpp
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void ThermostatClimate::control(const climate::ClimateCall &call) {
   if (call.has_custom_preset()) {
     // setup_complete_ blocks modifying/resetting the temps immediately after boot
     if (this->setup_complete_) {
-      this->change_custom_preset_(call.get_custom_preset());
+      this->change_custom_preset_(call.get_custom_preset().data());
     } else {
       // Use the base class method which handles pointer lookup internally
       this->set_custom_preset_(call.get_custom_preset());
@@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ void ThermostatClimate::change_custom_preset_(const char *custom_preset) {
   if (config != nullptr) {
     ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Custom preset %s requested", custom_preset);
     if (this->change_preset_internal_(*config) || !this->has_custom_preset() ||
-        strcmp(this->get_custom_preset(), custom_preset) != 0) {
+        this->get_custom_preset() != custom_preset) {
       // Fire any preset changed trigger if defined
       Trigger<> *trig = this->preset_change_trigger_;
       // Use the base class method which handles pointer lookup and preset reset internally
diff --git a/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp b/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
index cab177c182f..0ff83a119a6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
@@ -1543,13 +1543,15 @@ std::string WebServer::climate_json_(climate::Climate *obj, JsonDetail start_con
     root[ESPHOME_F("fan_mode")] = PSTR_LOCAL(climate_fan_mode_to_string(obj->fan_mode.value()));
   }
   if (!traits.get_supported_custom_fan_modes().empty() && obj->has_custom_fan_mode()) {
-    root[ESPHOME_F("custom_fan_mode")] = obj->get_custom_fan_mode();
+    // get_custom_fan_mode() returns string_view pointing to null-terminated string literals from codegen
+    root[ESPHOME_F("custom_fan_mode")] = obj->get_custom_fan_mode().data();
   }
   if (traits.get_supports_presets() && obj->preset.has_value()) {
     root[ESPHOME_F("preset")] = PSTR_LOCAL(climate_preset_to_string(obj->preset.value()));
   }
   if (!traits.get_supported_custom_presets().empty() && obj->has_custom_preset()) {
-    root[ESPHOME_F("custom_preset")] = obj->get_custom_preset();
+    // get_custom_preset() returns string_view pointing to null-terminated string literals from codegen
+    root[ESPHOME_F("custom_preset")] = obj->get_custom_preset().data();
   }
   if (traits.get_supports_swing_modes()) {
     root[ESPHOME_F("swing_mode")] = PSTR_LOCAL(climate_swing_mode_to_string(obj->swing_mode));
diff --git a/tests/components/midea/common.yaml b/tests/components/midea/common.yaml
index fec85aee969..957e9830c91 100644
--- a/tests/components/midea/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/midea/common.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,25 @@ climate:
           x.set_mode(CLIMATE_MODE_FAN_ONLY);
     on_state:
       - logger.log: State changed!
+      - lambda: |-
+          // Test get_custom_fan_mode() returns std::string_view
+          if (id(midea_unit).has_custom_fan_mode()) {
+            auto fan_mode = id(midea_unit).get_custom_fan_mode();
+            // Compare with string literal using ==
+            if (fan_mode == "SILENT") {
+              ESP_LOGD("test", "Fan mode is SILENT");
+            }
+            // Log using %.*s format for string_view
+            ESP_LOGD("test", "Custom fan mode: %.*s", (int) fan_mode.size(), fan_mode.data());
+          }
+          // Test get_custom_preset() returns std::string_view
+          if (id(midea_unit).has_custom_preset()) {
+            auto preset = id(midea_unit).get_custom_preset();
+            // Check if empty
+            if (!preset.empty()) {
+              ESP_LOGD("test", "Custom preset: %.*s", (int) preset.size(), preset.data());
+            }
+          }
     transmitter_id: xmitr
     period: 1s
     num_attempts: 5