diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index f50944ffa4..20645fc47b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ message ListEntitiesFanResponse {
   bool disabled_by_default = 9;
   string icon = 10 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_ENTITY_ICON"];
   EntityCategory entity_category = 11;
-  repeated string supported_preset_modes = 12 [(container_pointer) = "std::set"];
+  repeated string supported_preset_modes = 12 [(container_pointer_no_template) = "std::vector<const char *>"];
   uint32 device_id = 13 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_DEVICES"];
 }
 // Deprecated in API version 1.6 - only used in deprecated fields
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 382c4acc16..33d5072d9c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_fan_info(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *con
   msg.supports_speed = traits.supports_speed();
   msg.supports_direction = traits.supports_direction();
   msg.supported_speed_count = traits.supported_speed_count();
-  msg.supported_preset_modes = &traits.supported_preset_modes_for_api_();
+  msg.supported_preset_modes = &traits.supported_preset_modes();
   return fill_and_encode_entity_info(fan, msg, ListEntitiesFanResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE, conn, remaining_size, is_single);
 }
 void APIConnection::fan_command(const FanCommandRequest &msg) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 3472707d3c..0673d35518 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ void ListEntitiesFanResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const {
   buffer.encode_string(10, this->icon_ref_);
 #endif
   buffer.encode_uint32(11, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->entity_category));
-  for (const auto &it : *this->supported_preset_modes) {
-    buffer.encode_string(12, it, true);
+  for (const char *it : *this->supported_preset_modes) {
+    buffer.encode_string(12, it, strlen(it), true);
   }
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
   buffer.encode_uint32(13, this->device_id);
@@ -376,8 +376,8 @@ void ListEntitiesFanResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const {
 #endif
   size.add_uint32(1, static_cast<uint32_t>(this->entity_category));
   if (!this->supported_preset_modes->empty()) {
-    for (const auto &it : *this->supported_preset_modes) {
-      size.add_length_force(1, it.size());
+    for (const char *it : *this->supported_preset_modes) {
+      size.add_length_force(1, strlen(it));
     }
   }
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index aa5c031ac7..89f16044d7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ class ListEntitiesFanResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
   bool supports_speed{false};
   bool supports_direction{false};
   int32_t supported_speed_count{0};
-  const std::set<std::string> *supported_preset_modes{};
+  const std::vector<const char *> *supported_preset_modes{};
   void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
   void calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const override;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
index 26065ed644..5b4f437f99 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,14 @@ void FanCall::validate_() {
 
   if (!this->preset_mode_.empty()) {
     const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
-    if (preset_modes.find(this->preset_mode_) == preset_modes.end()) {
+    bool found = false;
+    for (const auto &mode : preset_modes) {
+      if (strcmp(mode, this->preset_mode_.c_str()) == 0) {
+        found = true;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    if (!found) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "%s: Preset mode '%s' not supported", this->parent_.get_name().c_str(), this->preset_mode_.c_str());
       this->preset_mode_.clear();
     }
@@ -92,11 +99,12 @@ FanCall FanRestoreState::to_call(Fan &fan) {
   call.set_speed(this->speed);
   call.set_direction(this->direction);
 
-  if (fan.get_traits().supports_preset_modes()) {
+  auto traits = fan.get_traits();
+  if (traits.supports_preset_modes()) {
     // Use stored preset index to get preset name
-    const auto &preset_modes = fan.get_traits().supported_preset_modes();
+    const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
     if (this->preset_mode < preset_modes.size()) {
-      call.set_preset_mode(*std::next(preset_modes.begin(), this->preset_mode));
+      call.set_preset_mode(preset_modes[this->preset_mode]);
     }
   }
   return call;
@@ -107,11 +115,12 @@ void FanRestoreState::apply(Fan &fan) {
   fan.speed = this->speed;
   fan.direction = this->direction;
 
-  if (fan.get_traits().supports_preset_modes()) {
+  auto traits = fan.get_traits();
+  if (traits.supports_preset_modes()) {
     // Use stored preset index to get preset name
-    const auto &preset_modes = fan.get_traits().supported_preset_modes();
+    const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
     if (this->preset_mode < preset_modes.size()) {
-      fan.preset_mode = *std::next(preset_modes.begin(), this->preset_mode);
+      fan.preset_mode = preset_modes[this->preset_mode];
     }
   }
   fan.publish_state();
@@ -182,18 +191,25 @@ void Fan::save_state_() {
     return;
   }
 
+  auto traits = this->get_traits();
+
   FanRestoreState state{};
   state.state = this->state;
   state.oscillating = this->oscillating;
   state.speed = this->speed;
   state.direction = this->direction;
 
-  if (this->get_traits().supports_preset_modes() && !this->preset_mode.empty()) {
-    const auto &preset_modes = this->get_traits().supported_preset_modes();
+  if (traits.supports_preset_modes() && !this->preset_mode.empty()) {
+    const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
     // Store index of current preset mode
-    auto preset_iterator = preset_modes.find(this->preset_mode);
-    if (preset_iterator != preset_modes.end())
-      state.preset_mode = std::distance(preset_modes.begin(), preset_iterator);
+    size_t i = 0;
+    for (const auto &mode : preset_modes) {
+      if (strcmp(mode, this->preset_mode.c_str()) == 0) {
+        state.preset_mode = i;
+        break;
+      }
+      i++;
+    }
   }
 
   this->rtc_.save(&state);
@@ -216,8 +232,8 @@ void Fan::dump_traits_(const char *tag, const char *prefix) {
   }
   if (traits.supports_preset_modes()) {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(tag, "%s  Supported presets:", prefix);
-    for (const std::string &s : traits.supported_preset_modes())
-      ESP_LOGCONFIG(tag, "%s    - %s", prefix, s.c_str());
+    for (const char *s : traits.supported_preset_modes())
+      ESP_LOGCONFIG(tag, "%s    - %s", prefix, s);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
index 48509e5705..df345f9b04 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
@@ -1,15 +1,9 @@
-#include <set>
-#include <utility>
-
 #pragma once
 
-namespace esphome {
+#include <vector>
+#include <initializer_list>
 
-#ifdef USE_API
-namespace api {
-class APIConnection;
-}  // namespace api
-#endif
+namespace esphome {
 
 namespace fan {
 
@@ -36,27 +30,27 @@ class FanTraits {
   /// Set whether this fan supports changing direction
   void set_direction(bool direction) { this->direction_ = direction; }
   /// Return the preset modes supported by the fan.
-  std::set<std::string> supported_preset_modes() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
-  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan.
-  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::set<std::string> &preset_modes) { this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes; }
+  const std::vector<const char *> &supported_preset_modes() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
+  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan (from initializer list).
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<const char *> preset_modes) {
+    this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes;
+  }
+  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan (from vector).
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::vector<const char *> &preset_modes) { this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes; }
+
+  // Deleted overloads to catch incorrect std::string usage at compile time with clear error messages
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &preset_modes) = delete;
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<std::string> preset_modes) = delete;
+
   /// Return if preset modes are supported
   bool supports_preset_modes() const { return !this->preset_modes_.empty(); }
 
  protected:
-#ifdef USE_API
-  // The API connection is a friend class to access internal methods
-  friend class api::APIConnection;
-  // This method returns a reference to the internal preset modes set.
-  // It is used by the API to avoid copying data when encoding messages.
-  // Warning: Do not use this method outside of the API connection code.
-  // It returns a reference to internal data that can be invalidated.
-  const std::set<std::string> &supported_preset_modes_for_api_() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
-#endif
   bool oscillation_{false};
   bool speed_{false};
   bool direction_{false};
   int speed_count_{};
-  std::set<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<const char *> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace fan
diff --git a/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h b/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
index 4234fccae3..143c7c1853 100644
--- a/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <set>
-
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/binary_output.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/float_output.h"
@@ -22,7 +20,7 @@ class HBridgeFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_pin_a(output::FloatOutput *pin_a) { pin_a_ = pin_a; }
   void set_pin_b(output::FloatOutput *pin_b) { pin_b_ = pin_b; }
   void set_enable_pin(output::FloatOutput *enable) { enable_ = enable; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::set<std::string> &presets) { preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  void set_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<const char *> presets) { preset_modes_ = presets; }
 
   void setup() override;
   void dump_config() override;
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@ class HBridgeFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   int speed_count_{};
   DecayMode decay_mode_{DECAY_MODE_SLOW};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  std::set<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<const char *> preset_modes_{};
 
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
   void write_state_();
diff --git a/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h b/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
index 6537bce3f6..e9a389e0f3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <set>
-
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/binary_output.h"
 #include "esphome/components/output/float_output.h"
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ class SpeedFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_output(output::FloatOutput *output) { this->output_ = output; }
   void set_oscillating(output::BinaryOutput *oscillating) { this->oscillating_ = oscillating; }
   void set_direction(output::BinaryOutput *direction) { this->direction_ = direction; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::set<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  void set_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<const char *> presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
   fan::FanTraits get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
 
  protected:
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ class SpeedFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   output::BinaryOutput *direction_{nullptr};
   int speed_count_{};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  std::set<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<const char *> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace speed
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
index 7f5305ca48..b09352f4d4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <set>
-
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/components/fan/fan.h"
 
@@ -16,7 +14,7 @@ class TemplateFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_has_direction(bool has_direction) { this->has_direction_ = has_direction; }
   void set_has_oscillating(bool has_oscillating) { this->has_oscillating_ = has_oscillating; }
   void set_speed_count(int count) { this->speed_count_ = count; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::set<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  void set_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<const char *> presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
   fan::FanTraits get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
 
  protected:
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ class TemplateFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   bool has_direction_{false};
   int speed_count_{0};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  std::set<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<const char *> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace template_