Do I need a paid Apple developer license to connect authorization on the site using Apple ID?

Question

Apple Developer Program

The plugin on the site for authorization via Apple ID requires you to register an application on the Apple website, through which access to user data for authorization will be provided. To create such apps, you need to create a developer account. I went to the site and started the registration process for the developer program. At the next step, the Apple website offered me to pay for participation in the $99 program. Hence 2 questions:

1. Is it really necessary to have a paid Apple developer account to connect authorization on the site through an Apple ID?
2. If there is still a free way, then how to cancel the process of obtaining a paid license? The license is in pending status, but there is no link on the site to cancel the request.