hFE is DC current gain.
hfe is AC current gain.
The 2N3904 transistor has an hFE from 100 to 300 when its current is 10mA and its VCE is 1V. It is typically 230 on the graph.
Its hfe is typically 175 at 1kHz when its current is 10mA and its VCE is 10V.
Some European transistors have their hFE batched in A for low, B for medium and C for high groups. A BC549C has a typical hFE of 500 when its current is 10mA and its VCE is 5V.
A 2N5089 has a typical hFE of 600 when its current is 3mA (it drops at higher currents) and its VCE is 5V, and is a minimum of 400 at a current of 10mA.
Its hfe is from 450 to 1800 at 1kHz when its current is 1mA and its VCE is 5V.
This is current gain. The circuit determines the voltage gain.